Jordan slams Ben’s “body-bag” remark

Ben Whittaker (far right, bottom row with Tyler Denny) holds court

BEN Whittaker’s opponent on the major Saturday night Resorts World show has publicly slated the Olympic silver medallist for “distasteful” comments made on social media.

Scot Jordan Grant told today’s (Thursday’s) press conference for the televised Boxxer promotion: “He said on Instagram he was going to put me in a body-bag. You don’t say things like that, especially to someone with a family and kids.”

Jordan Grant…admits he has a mountain to climb

If the alleged comment was made, I wholeheartedly agree with 25-year-old Grant. It’s too much.

And if anything happened to the underdog in this six rounder – heaven forbid, those words would haunt Ben, who appears to be revelling in the role of a cocky ring genius.

The West Brom light-heavy takes part in his third pro fight on the stellar show after being side-lined for nine months with a shoulder injury. He is destined for big things and Grant, who has lost three of nine, is not going to derail those grand plans.

His chances are more non-existent than slim.

At the Hilton Birmingham Metropole Hotel conference, Grant acknowledged the scale of the task ahead. “I’m under no illusions,” he said. “It’s a mountain to climb, but anyone who knows me knows I don’t roll over. I’m ready for a war.

“If you’re an Olympian, a medallist, you’re right up there in the boxing world. It’s a tough task, but I wouldn’t take it if I wasn’t confident.”

For Whittaker, also 25, the rebuke was water off the proverbial duck’s back.

He said: “I’m injury free, baby. A lot of people want to see me live, in the flesh. This is the first time local people are going to see me perform live and I’m excited.

“They (the critics) call me flash because they can’t do it. On Saturday, you’ll see more flash. I know my potential, but the game is about performing.”

Ben Shalom, boss of Boxxer, said: “Ben is a central figure for Boxxer and Sky Sport. He’s itching to be headlining. He’ll be a huge star in the Midlands.”

That, I’m sure, he will.