medallist

British Olympic silver medallist Ben Whittaker has signed a long-term deal with Eddie Hearn’s Matchroom Boxing.

The 28-year-old won light-heavyweight silver at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics before turning professional in 2022.

He has an unbeaten 9-0-1 record in his professional career, with six of those wins within the distance.

“I think things happen for a reason. I’m at the right stage in my career now to pick the right platform and go for the right fights. So this move just made sense,” said Whittaker.

Hearn described Whittaker as a ” generational talent” who has “the world at his feet”.

“This long-term deal will propel Ben to global superstardom, solidifying his reputation as a household name and steering him towards future world titles. He will be number one,” added Hearn.

Whittaker’s last match was a second-round stoppage of Liam Cameron in their light-heavyweight rematch in April.

The first bout in October 2024 ended in a controversial draw, when both men fell over the ropes and Whittaker was unable to continue because of an injury.

THE widow of an Olympic hero and schoolteacher has paid tribute to “a proud Yorkshireman” after his tragic death at the age of 80.

John Sherwood lived in Hillsborough and shot to fame in 1968 when he won the bronze medal in the hurdles at the Mexico Olympics in 1968.

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He sadly passed away after a long illness at the palliative care unit at the Northern General Hospital on August 19. 

His heartbroken wife, Sheila, who also won an Olympic medal in Mexico has paid tribute to her husband who she said always gave his best whatever he did.

She went on to say: “There were never any half measures. He would do things properly and that was why he had such a great sporting career and was such a good teacher.

“We were unique in 1968, a married couple who both won medals. We’d married six months before the games.

“We were amateurs and both worked full time as teachers. John was at Intake School in Doncaster at that time, I was at Myers Grove.

“After we won our Olympic medals we just carried on as normal.”

John’s wife Shiela has received dozens of messages of condolence from John’s former pupils at Forth Park Comprehensive, where he worked for 37 years.

John, who is survived by his two grown up children, retired from teaching in 2005.

He and his wife trained for the games together and both took home medals.

Sheila said: “We were unique in 1968, a married couple who both won medals. We’d married six months before the games.

“We were amateurs and both worked full time as teachers. John was at Intake School in Doncaster at that time, I was at Myers Grove.

“After we won our Olympic medals we just carried on as normal.”

She taught at Myers Grove School and the pair returned to their careers following their Olympic success.

Sheila added: “He loved teaching, and didn’t want to go into an office as a head of year. He wanted to stay as a PE teacher.”

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