To make a name for yourself in boxing, you need to be more than just a great fighter.
The likes of Floyd Mayweather Jr, Prince Naseem Hamed and Muhammad Ali could glue eyeballs to screens through their showmanship and charisma. Not many people have that natural talent… but Ben Whittaker does.
The 26-year-old from Darlaston, who won silver at the Olympics three years ago, may only be seven fights into his professional career but is quickly making a name for himself. Whittaker boasts 1.6 million followers on Instagram, and his highlight reel on YouTube has been watched 1.2 million times in the last two months.
Whittaker is also gaining prominence in the United States. O'Shea Jackson Jr, the Hollywood actor and son of legendary rapper Ice Cube, posted a clip of the light heavyweight's showboating on X. It's been watched more than 9.1 million times to date.
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"We're the new age now - everything is digital," Whittaker told Mirror Sport in New York. "Closed mouths don't get fed. In this sport, if you don't put yourself out there (you'll get nowhere). It might be risky. Some people don't like the limelight. But me, I love it."
It's Whittaker's showboating that has captured the public's imagination and turned him into a Marmite figure. Yet he doesn't mind. He explained: "Sports people all have their own opinion and it's love and hate… but I've said this many times - it's not disrespectful.
"If you look at Lionel Messi, if he puts it through someone's legs… is that disrespectful? I'm just doing the same in boxing, having fun. At the end of the day, as long as I'm getting the job done, I'm winning. If I was doing that and losing, then maybe we could say something."
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Whittaker is signed to Boxxer, the promotion that broadcasts fights on Sky Sports. Boxxer's founder Ben Shalom told Mirror Sport in New York: "People that don’t usually want to watch boxing want to watch Ben Whittaker, and that is such a unique position to be in.
"There’s not many fighters on the planet that have that ability to attract those sorts of (casual) fans. His dancing, his showboating, his ability to go viral, his quick-wittedness, his engaging character. It's something we think can grow the sport and make boxing cool."
Boxers often go too far when trying to wind up their opponent or sell pay-per-views. Yet that isn't Whittaker's style. He revealed: "My family has worked two jobs. I come from humble beginnings, so I don't think the (Derek) Chisora stuff with flipping tables is in me!
"I'm cheeky if anything. I find something cheeky to say, I find something to rub him (his opponent up) the wrong way. And when I'm in there (the ring), I probably do his head in where he wants to kill me!"
Conquering the light heavyweight division won't be easy. Artur Beterbiev is the current unified world champion, holding the WBC, IBF and WBO titles, while Dmitry Bivol holds the WBA belt. The two undefeated fighters are set to meet in Saudi Arabia in June.
There are other great light heavyweights out there, too. Joshua Buatsi is undefeated, while Dan Azeez, Callum Smith and Anthony Yarde are all in the top 10 of The Ring's light heavyweight rankings. Yet it isn't one of boxing's most glamorous weight classes. Whittaker believes he has the star quality needed to light up the division.
Whittaker admitted: "There are so many domestic fighters in the UK who are quite good. At the top level you've got Beterbiev and Bivol who are great fighters. But they all fight one way. Me, I bring a different type of excitement. And when you bring that different type of excitement, no matter who you fight they will want to tune in to watch you."
Shalom agrees. He accepts "the division needs a superstar" and thinks Whittaker will "make some big pay-per-view fights" in the future. And while the promoter accepts that Beterbiev and Bivol are "elite fighters", he doesn't believe the pair have the potential to transcend boxing. Whittaker does. Shalom added: "I think he’s going to elevate the whole division… no one’s got the superstar potential of Ben."
But above all else, what makes Whittaker one of British sport's most exciting talents is his boxing ability. "At the end of the day, my bread and butter is boxing," said Whittaker. "I know all of this is happening because of my boxing."
Whittaker made a slow start to his professional career. His debut didn't come until 11 months after the Tokyo Games thanks to "niggling injuries crossing over from the amateurs". Yet he's now steaming through opponents. Whittaker has picked up three wins since December and boasts a 7-0 record, with five wins coming by way of knockout.
That ring activity will be crucial to his success. Whittaker explained: "I'm in a great position where I want to go through the ranks. But it's all about building your profile and getting them right fights, keep getting different audiences involved and being active.
"And when you're active under the lights, you learn better. For me, hopefully five fights this year, maybe four to three the next year. And maybe when I'm in those bigger fights, it will slow down then."
And Whittaker believes those big fights aren't too far away. He hopes to be "knocking" on the door for a world title in "a year or two". Shalom also sees success on the horizon. He added: "He’s a showman, but he’s also an elite-level fighter who will go on to win world titles."
The toughest moment of Whittaker's career was his narrow defeat to Cuba's Arlen Lopez in the light-heavyweight final at the Tokyo Olympics. Lopez was awarded gold on a split decision, leaving Whittaker in tears. The Brit didn't even want to wear his medal.
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Although some people criticised Whittaker at the time for not appreciating his achievement, others applauded him for wanting to be the very best. Losing that fight will always sting, but Whittaker is using that tough experience to fuel his professional dreams.
He reflected: "If you'd have told me when I was 15 years old… 'In 2021 you're going to be an Olympic silver medalist' - I'd have been doing backflips!
"But it's one of those things. When you go through the process of winning things, slowly getting to your goals, slowly thinking, 'Oh, I can get a gold medal' - that's all your mind is thinking. So when you do fall short at the final hurdle, it's a bit of a shame. But looking back, it's opened up so many doors."
Whittaker can take inspiration from the great fighters who have fallen just short at the Olympics. Evander Holyfield, Roy Jones Jr, Amir Khan and even Mayweather all failed to win gold before going on to claim world titles.
Whittaker added: "They probably channelled that upset as well into the pro game - they never wanted to feel that loss again. That's the same journey I'm on."