'The Surgeon' made his Matchroom debut on Saturday at bp pulse LIVE, and needed less than a single round to defeat Benjamin Gavazi.

It further underscores the Tokyo 2020 favourite's status as a potential threat near the top end of the light heavyweight division heading forward.

Speaking afterwards in the ring, Hearn laid out his belief that the star can do more than that however, even with a crowded domestic slate.

"All that showboating, I think you're going to see less of that now, because it's starting to get serious," he told DAZN. "Forget the showmanship.

"This is a good man with a good heart that works day in, day out to be the best he can be. He has so much ability to go and win world championships. 

"We're excited to be on that journey. We've got all these domestic guys, and with great respect, we're going to attempt to go through all of them.

"There's many levels to go. We're dying for a superstar and Ben Whittaker is him. We're going to take him around the world. He's exactly what we want and what we need."

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