Whittaker keen to go all way for NZ-Aussie glory
A week after Jeff Horn grabbed one of the biggest wins in the history of Australian boxing, another Aussie gets his chance to make history in the world of combat sports.
Under the bright lights of Las Vegas, Robert Whittaker will face Cuba’s Yoel Romero for the UFC interim middleweight title.
If Whittaker wins, he will be the first Australian to claim gold in the UFC. He’s only the third to get the chance to do so, after Mark Hunt and Elvis Sinosic.
‘‘This is one of the biggest weekends of the sport,’’ Whittaker said . ‘‘To be one of the biggest draws on the card is an absolute honour.’’
It is the end of a very long and punishing road for the 26-yearold. Born in New Zealand, but billed out of Sydney, he is proud to represent both nations.
After cutting his teeth in Australian MMA promotions, Whittaker entered the UFC’s reality programme The Ultimate Fighter. He emerged victorious and had mixed results in the welterweight division before moving up to middleweight.
The switch did the trick: he is undefeated in the division and goes into the contest today a slight favourite.
‘‘Romero is a top calibre fighter . . . I need to go into this fight giving him the respect he deserves, but in no part of my mind is he unbeatable,’’ Whittaker said.
‘‘His wrestling is Olympic calibre. You can’t simulate that, you can’t prepare for that, it is what it is. But I’m going to control the fight with my striking.’’
Whittaker isn’t exaggerating. Romero claimed a silver medal in freestyle wrestling in Sydney in 2000, and it’s been nearly six years since he tasted defeat – the only time that has happened since he switched from wrestling to MMA.
The two will square off for the interim title, meaning the winner will then face brash Englishman Michael Bisping to unify the belts.
But ‘‘Bobby Knuckles’’ hasn’t thought that far ahead.
‘‘I’m fighting Yoel Romero, that’s all I have time for right now,’’ Whittaker said. ‘‘My one job is to make weight and to come in and fight Yoel Romero.
‘‘Everything else doesn’t matter to me. If I was paid to fight him down the road at the pub, I’d fight him!’’
Granted, it would be somewhat difficult to find a humble pub amid the glitz and glamour of Vegas’ slew of casinos.
It seems somewhat fitting that a place that has made or broken the dreams of so many people will serve as the backdrop for such a pivotal day, not just for Whittaker but for the popularity of UFC in his home country.
The respect between the two is clear, as they came face-toface at the public weigh-in on the day before the fight, and warmly shook hands. Both men made weight that morning at the private official weigh-in, although Romero was forced to strip down to his birthday suit and stand behind a towel to reach that 185-pound (84kg) mark.
With both men known for their striking, the fight could be over in the blink of an eye, but Whittaker – ‘‘The Reaper’’ – is ready for anything.
‘‘Every time I step into the octagon I fight for my life – I want to bring the absolute best out of myself,’’ he said.
‘‘I want to be regarded as one of the best fighters in the world.’’
And if he emerges with the title today, very few could begrudge him being placed in such high standing. The Sun Herald GETTY IMAGES