Photo by Lewis Storey/Getty ImagesBen Whittaker delivered a statement performance last Saturday, knocking out Braian Suarez in the first round at the Liverpool Arena in England.The Olympic silver medallist needed just over two minutes to secure the stoppage, overwhelming his opponent with precision and power in a dominant display.That performance reinforced his growing reputation, but Whittaker later revealed that a key change in his mindset played a major role in his recent approach.Ben Whittaker says Terence Crawford gave him game-changing advicePhoto by Kevin Sabitus/Getty ImagesSpeaking in the post-fight press conference, Whittaker opened up about a conversation with Terence Crawford that reshaped how he handles fights.Crawford, widely regarded as one of boxing’s elite fighters, has built a 42-0 professional record and multiple world titles across different weight classes. Therefore, when he speaks about boxing, it is worth listening.Whittaker explained that their exchange came during a meeting in Dubai, where ‘Bud’ offered a direct assessment of his style.The British boxer said (via Fight Hub TV): “I liked messing around and, when I was in Dubai for an event, I saw Terence Crawford and he said, ‘Trust me, bro, you’re a great fighter, you’ve got all the skill, but you play with your food too much.’ And I sat back and thought, ‘That’s true actually, I do play with my food too much.’“And ever since then I’ve been knocking them clean out but that’s just me as well, I do like to mess around, but I can do both.

I can hop on one foot, I can spin around, I can look into the crowd, but the shots there to take it that’s what I like to do now”The results support that shift. Across 12 professional fights, Whittaker has recorded 11 wins and one draw, with eight of those victories coming by knockout or technical knockout.That balance between showmanship and efficiency is now becoming a defining feature of his rise, with the Suarez stoppage serving as another example of his evolving approach.Read more:Ryan Garcia and Arman Tsarukyan agree to settle feud in sparring under unusual rulesDana White slams Eddie Hearn but does not deny fight backing outDana White shares thoughts on Ryan Garcia vs Conor Benn and hits out at rival promoters