Ben Whittaker heads back to class as fight preparations ramp up
Ben Whittaker went back to the classroom as part of his preparations for next month’s showdown with Benjamin Gavazi.
The Olympic silver medallist called in at the University of Wolverhampton’s state-of-the-art performance facility for a day of testing and analysis.
Whittaker underwent assessments on body composition, VO2 max and metabolic function during a visit arranged by his nutritionist.
For students, it provided a rare opportunity to work alongside an elite athlete.
Whittaker said: “To be fair they didn’t feel like students, they knew everything.
“This is home for me. I only live five minutes down the road, so hearing some local accents made it better as well.”
The university’s specialist equipment is among the most advanced in the region.
“Having an elite athlete of Ben’s calibre in the building not only showcases the level of applied sport science we deliver, but also highlights the benefit of having world-class sports science facilities here at the University of Wolverhampton,” said Doctor Ross Cloak, associate professor of sport and exercise science and laboratory director.
“The students involved on the day did a fantastic job, and it was great to hear such positive feedback from Ben and his team.”
Whittaker takes on Germany’s Gavazi at Birmingham’s NEC Arena on November 29 in his first fight since switching to Matchroom promotions.
The 28-year-old from Darlaston, unbeaten in 10 professional bouts, last week promised to turn his opponent into a “German doner kebab”.
