Ben has schtick to beat them with!

LISTENING to the crescendo of boos that followed Ben Whittaker's comprehensive victory over Liam Cameron, the controversial light-heavyweight's marketing strategy finally hit home.

- THE MIDLAND BOXING BEAT WITH MIKE LOCKLEY

The West Bromwich boxer bathed in the barracking and expletives that rained down from the cheap seats at Resorts World's BP Pulse Live Arena on Sunday.

To an extent, Whittaker even fuelled them by making a bee-line to Cameron's corner after his super second-round victory and firing a verbal salvo at one of the team.

There was an accusation of spitting, vehemently denied by Whittaker. "You had everyone boo me, they portray me as a bad guy," he said. "At the end of the day, I work very hard.

"I was roaring like a lion, if a little bit of dribble came out, then a little bit of dribble came out. But at the end of the day, Jesus is king.

"It was just the emotion, I was like, 'yeah, come on!' If a bit of dribble came out... He knows I'd never do something like that."

It was an unnecessary controversy following a clinical, controlled performance by Whittaker - a blowout that silenced the doubters.

Brash and glistening bravado, he has learned there is appeal in being a pantomime villain, I believe. And he plays the bad guy with more ability than most.

A gospel choir provided the soulful soundtrack to his ring entrance. He and his team wore ring attire that proclaimed, "Jesus Is King".

The former Olympic silver medallist has decided the Good Lord does not consider swagger and showmanship a sin.

His God understands the “schtick” makes sound business sense.