Whittaker is in the driving seat for success

Whittaker learned he was to be upgraded from podium potential to full podium squad after reporting back for 2017, writes Craig Birch.

He officially makes the switch on Feburary 1, with his training base to remain at the English Institute of Sport in Sheffield.

He will be stationed there Monday to Thursday every week from next month, changing from Thursday-Sunday every two weeks when he was attached to podium potential.

He has been under the tutelage of podium potential head coach Bob Dillon, of Dudley and the founder of Lions Boxing Club.

To fight at next year's Commonwealth Games and the 2020 Olympics will now become more of a realistic goal for him.

The 19-year-old is on course to become the No 1 ranked unpaid middleweight in the country later this year with Anthony Fowler, now 25, set to turn pro after an opening round defeat at Rio 2016.

And Whittaker has got a ticket to ride through his sponsor Mark Bullock, a family friend who runs taxi firm ABC Cars, based on Ettingshall Road in Wolverhampton.

Bullock provides free transport for the teenager, who is learning to drive, whenever he needs to hit the road for competitions.

His vehicles took him from the Black Country to Heathrow Airport to fly out for the Commonwealth and European Youth Championships.

He also hailed one of their taxis for his GB tournament debut, where he headed off to Macedonia from Luton Airport to win a gold medal at the Golden Gong event.

Whittaker said: "Mark has been helping me out for a while now and, if I ever need something, he's there. He jumped on board and has been there ever since I started on my journey.

"I'm really to thankful to him, as I am to all of my sponsors. The more I achieve, the more help I am likely to need.

"It's a nice perk that Mark can sort out getting me to meet up with GB, because we will be going all over Europe and the world to fight.

"I pop into the taxi office and see him now and again and I've signed a picture of myself in the ring that is up on the wall there.

"I'm learning how to drive and I'm getting pretty good at it now. My parents (Tony and Karen Wilson) want me to pass my test, they are sick of ferrying me around as well!"

Whittaker's ascension has come at pace, just a year after stepping up to the seniors and joining the GB set-up.

At youth level, he took silver at the 2015 Commonwealth Youth Games and won two national titles at club level, making it a hat-trick with England Elite Championships glory in the seniors last April.

He has now switched club allegiances to Firewalker in Wolverhampton, although he has yet to box a bout for them. His godfather, Joby Clayton, is a coach at the gym.

He was previously under Steve O'Rourke and ex-pro Varuzh Varuzh at Wodensborough with his unpaid record now standing at 50 wins from 54, containing seven stoppages.

He became the West Midlands' first national middleweight champion in the Elites since 1884 last April. Previous titlists include George Groves, James DeGale, Carl Froch and Joe Calzaghe.

He considers DeGale, 2008 Olympic gold medallist and now IBF world champion, one of his idols and plans to emulate his achievements.

Whittaker said: "The first Olympics I remember watching was when James went all of the way in Beijing. He was at my weight, at the time, and someone I've always looked up to.

"I keep an open mind on everything and, as long as I keep learning and listening to my coaches, I see no reason why I can't get to to the top.

"Fowler is still around, at the moment, and I've sparred him before although it will become a bit more regular now. I've done with a few rounds with Joshua Buatsi (won bronze, Rio 2016), too.

"The bits of know-how that I'm picking up from them will only make me better, but the ultimate goal is to make me a complete fighter.

"My greatest skill is how I adapt, I work my opponent out and then impose my style onto them. I can box and fight.

"I'm no knockout artist, but I do have power. Punching is all about timing, if you catch someone clean they will be hurt, no matter what.

"I just want to keep performing and, most importantly, keep on winning. It's been a good start to the year and, come the end of 2017, I will want to finish it with a bang."

To sponsor Whittaker, get in contact at his Facebook page, Ben 'The Future Whittaker Team GB-Boxer, through Instagram (@bengwhittaker) and-or Twitter (@BenGWhittaker).