‘Changed my life’ – British boxer, 34, able to pay off mortgage after major contract blunder sees him bank huge sum
LIAM CAMERON landed life-changing money and can pay off his mortgage following a boxing contract cock-up.
The 34-year-old lost four prime years of his career when he was banned for a cocaine-related charge in 2019.
After overcoming mental health and addiction problems during his harsh exile, Cameron stunned 2020 Olympic silver Ben Whittaker in October.
Red-hot Whittaker, 27, was supposed to steamroll the underdog but the pair fell over the top rope together and the favourite pulled out with an ankle injury, resulting in a draw.
When the rematch contract – for the original 10-round Saudi Arabia clash – arrived, stating the rerun would be 12 rounds, Cameron quickly and shrewdly signed it, knowing Whittaker would not fancy it.
The bungle means Cameron landed an extra windfall of around £100,000 and can now make up for the years he lost.
Ahead of Sunday’s Birmingham return leg, Cameron revealed: “It has changed my life because after this I can buy my house outright.
“Mad isn’t it!
“I cannot go into the exact figure but the additional fee is more than I got paid for the whole purse of the first fight.
“I don’t know what else I might buy, I don’t even go shopping, that doesn’t interest me, I just like a good tracksuit.”
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At the end of six evenly matched rounds, when Whittaker was beginning to tire and look vulnerable, the pair clinched on the ropes and flipped over.
Flashy Whittaker’s critics claimed he felt the pressure and pulled his opponent over, in an effort to escape the first loss of his promising professional career.
The moment went viral and even the biggest wrestling company on the planet has tapped into the controversy.
Cameron explained: “When I see any YouTube videos featuring me and Ben now, they all carry an advert for WWE on them, honestly!”
Whittaker is a seriously proven amateur who went to the toughest parts of the world, to win dozens of events, against dangerous opponents.
So being labelled ‘Quittaker’ in the wake of the bizarre bout ending must have stung – but the tough nut is refusing to show it.
He hit back: “Critics don’t matter to me because you get them in every walk of life.
“They are only talking about me because I am THAT guy.
“If I go out and stop him the first round then people will still have things to say.
“I shimmied it off, I might get ‘Quittaker’ tattooed on me afterwards – or have it written on my shorts.
“But I will show the real Ben Whittaker on Sunday.”