BRITISH champion boxer Ben Whittaker was hauled away by airport security in Saudi Arabia for smashing a fan’s phone.
It came hours after the former Olympian, 27, drew his bout with Liam Cameron at the Kingdom Arena in farcical fashion on Saturday, having injured his leg on toppling over the ropes.
He was taken out in a wheelchair before punching a wall in frustration prior to being taken to hospital.
IBF light-heavyweight champion Whittaker was spotted walking through security at King Khalid International Airport in Riyadh just after midnight this morning with his ankle bandaged.
A witness, who was at the fight and booked on the same Saudi Airlines flight to Heathrow, said he was in duty free when he saw the confrontation.
He told The Sun: “I spotted Ben Whittaker coming through security and then a fan who had a boxing T-shirt on went up with his phone and went to take a photo.
“Ben said ‘don’t take no photos of me’ and snatched the phone out of his hand and smashed it straight on the floor.
“Ben stepped towards him, looked like he was gonna punch him and some of Ben’s team jumped in between them and it got really heated – they were shouting at each other.”
The witness, who did not wish to be named, said airport security detained the pair.
He added that both men – with the fan aged around 30 and wearing merchandise from the fight – initially had their passports taken off them.
“It caused a big scene,” he continued.
“Ben said he would pay for the phone and they both were made to write down their details… and they were allowed to go on the flight.”
It is understood the pair quickly calmed down and swapped details.
The witness said, strangely, the pair were taken into a nearby coffee shop and wrote their details while sitting side by side at the same table.
Whittaker offered to cover the cost of the phone and they parted on good terms.
“They literally did it at the Costa or Starbucks in front of everyone,” he said.
The witness said Whittaker appeared to be hobbling a bit and his ankle was bandaged at the time of the altercation.
“When he went to the fan, he sort of forgot and had no problem running up to him. His face was lumpy and bruised from the fight.”
He said Whittaker was “fuming at first” but then calmed down once security were involved.
“He looked quite chilled out towards the end,” he added.
Whittaker told The Sun: “This was a really unfortunate event and I’m grateful to the gentleman that he sat down to talk about it straight afterwards and accepted my apology.
“Unfortunately I can’t comment further on the alleged video recording as I have not seen it.
“In any case, we are in touch about replacing his phone and coming along to a future event as our guest.”
During Saturday’s match, Whittaker and Cameron fell over the top rope at the end of the fifth round.
Cameron made his way back to his feet but Whittaker stayed down, clutching his right leg.
The fight – part of the Riyadh Season – IV Crown Showdown card – went to a technical decision with all three judges unable to come to an agreement.
Both boxers were then awarded a 58-57 score by two judges and 58-58 even by a third, resulting in the split decision draw.
