Tag: Alexander Povetkin

Good, bad, worse: Shakur Stevenson was good and boring

Good, bad, worse: Shakur Stevenson was good and boring against Jeremiah Nakathila on Saturday in Las Vegas.

A critical look at the past week in boxing

GOOD

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O7hqu3ZbkDM

The “good” for Shakur Stevenson was that his unusual skill set was on full display against Jeremiah Nakathila on Saturday in Las Vegas.

Stevenson schooled his overmatched Namibian opponent from beginning to end, winning every round on all three scorecards and throwing in a knockdown to boot in the 12-round 130-pound bout. Nakathila could barely touch Stevenson, averaging 2.3 punches landed per round, according to CompuBox.

One could argue it was a masterful boxing exhibition by the 2016 Olympic silver medalist and former 126-pound titleholder.

The problem for Stevenson was that he also delivered plenty of “bad,” which was the talk of the ESPN-televised fight afterward.

Stevenson fancies himself a budding superstar, which makes sense given his ability. He didn’t perform like one against Nakathila, a far inferior boxer who didn’t have the tools to compete with an elite opponent.

Stevenson won every minute of every round but didn’t take the risks necessary to give himself a realistic chance of taking out Nakathila, which everyone watching was waiting for him to do. He took a safe approach because of Nakathila’s power.

Safe is boring, which is not what a superstar is.

Stevenson presumably will have learned a lesson in that fight. Yes, the main objective is to have your hand raised. However, the biggest stars in the sport are also entertainers. And he seems to understand that concept. He apologized for his performance on social media, which is a good sign.

He should take more risks, particularly against overmatched opponents. The rewards can be great.

[lawrence-related id=21040]

***

BAD

Referee Celestino Ruiz became a topic of discussion during the main event in Las Vegas. AP Photo / John Locher

A referee is on the wrong path when he or she steals attention away from the fighters.

That happened during the main event on ESPN, when referee Celestino Ruiz was unnecessarily obsessed with the feet of the southpaw Stevenson and Nakathila, who fights from an orthodox stance.

Southpaws and orthodox boxers typically step on one another because their lead feet are on the same side. It simply can’t be avoided entirely.

Nevertheless, Ruiz constantly – and annoyingly – warned the fighters to avoid each other’s feet. He even threatened once to take a point away from the next one to step on a foot, which was surrealistic.

The fighters are concentrating on their game plans and protecting themselves. The last thing they need is a referee badgering them about where they place their feet.

I try to assume the best about refs. Ruiz obviously wanted to avoid potential foot-on-foot problems. That said, he was out of control. I’ve watched thousands of fights in my career and I can’t recall any referee doing what Ruiz did.

I hope he behaved in that manner on his own. It would be more disturbing if it turns out he was instructed to issue such warnings, which I doubt is the case given the reputation of Nevada officials.

I trust that the powers that be in that state will prevent such nonsense from happening again.

***

WORSE

Jeremiah Nakathila (right) barely touched Shakur Stevenson in 36 minutes of fighting. AP Photo / John Locher

How did Nakathila end up as the WBO’s No. 2-ranked 130-pounder?

An argument can be made that all regions in the world should have representation in the rankings. Nakathila is African. And, of course, one never knows how a relatively obscure fighter will do in his first major test until he gets an opportunity.

At the same time, no one should rise to No. 2 without beating a contender or someone close to that status. Nakathila, who has fought outside his continent only once, has no such victories.

Obviously, his handlers are well connected because merit doesn’t seem to have played a role in his ascent.

As a result, the fight on Saturday was garbage. Nakathila, who appears to have power but little else, was out of his depth. And that isn’t supposed to be the case when the Nos. 1- and 2-ranked fighters face off.

I can’t be too critical of Top Rank, ESPN or the Nevada State Athletic Commission, all of which approved the bout. They obviously saw No. 1 and No. 2 and ran with it. The problem was with the WBO, which demonstrated again why sanctioning bodies can’t be trusted to get it right.

The alphabet organizations rank fighters based primarily on how much money they can collect in sanctioning fees, not on resume. That’s obvious to anyone paying attention.

Is boxing ever going to emerge from this frustrating cycle?

***

RABBIT PUNCHES

Stevenson won the WBO “interim” title with his victory over Nakathila, meaning his next fight could be a title challenge of champion Jamel Herring. I have tremendous respect for the 35-year-old Herring, who is on an impressive run of victories over established opponents. That includes a knockout of former Fighter of the Year Carl Frampton in his most-recent bout. I just don’t believe he’s as talented as Stevenson, whose gifts are rare. I believe Stevenson would outbox him and win a major title in a second division even if he doesn’t dazzle us in the process. … Jose Pedraza looked sharp in his victory over previously unbeaten Julian Rodriguez in a scheduled 10-round 140-pound bout on the Stevenson-Nakathila card, which ended after eight rounds with a beaten Rodriguez sitting on his stool. Pedraza demonstrated once again that he’s one of better technicians in the world, schooling and ultimately breaking down his less-experienced opponent to remain in title contention at 32 years old. All three judges somehow had it 77-75 for Pedraza at the time of the stoppage, five rounds to three. I thought Pedraza won every round. …

The “good” in this column could’ve been the four featured fights – all involving heavyweights — on the July 24 Tyson Fury–Deontay Wilder III card: Fury vs Wilder, Robert Helenius vs. Adam Kownacki II, Frank Sanchez vs. Efe Ajagba and Jared Anderson vs. Vladimir Treshkin. That’s going to be entertaining as hell. And it’s further proof that competing entities – Top Rank and Premier Boxing Champions, in this case – can work together when they have to. Can we build on this? … Claressa Shields deserves credit for her victory in her MMA debut on Thursday. Things looked bleak for two rounds, during which jiu-jitsu expert Brittney Elkin controlled the battle on the ground. However, Shields, obviously determined, rallied to win when Elkin tried for a takedown but failed and was met with a flurry of hard punches. “I just had never-quit attitude every round,” Shields said. She should be proud of herself. …

Longtime heavyweight contender Alexander Povetkin, 41, has announced his retirement. The Russian had a good career, which started with a super heavyweight gold medal in the 2004 Olympics. He never won a major professional title – losing badly to Wladimir Klitschko and Anthony Joshua in his only tries — but he was a contender for more than a decade. He defeated Larry Donald, Chris Byrd, Eddie Chambers, Ruslan Chagaev, Marco Huck, Hasim Rahman and several other capable heavyweights. And he saved one of his best for second to last, a stunning one punch knockout of Dillian Whyte last August. Whyte stopped Povetkin in the rematch, prompting him to call it quits. Povetkin also will be remembered for his failed drug tests.

[lawrence-related id=21001,20998,21036,18905,13130]

Good, bad, worse: Shakur Stevenson was good and boring

Good, bad, worse: Shakur Stevenson was good and boring against Jeremiah Nakathila on Saturday in Las Vegas.

A critical look at the past week in boxing

GOOD

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O7hqu3ZbkDM

The “good” for Shakur Stevenson was that his unusual skill set was on full display against Jeremiah Nakathila on Saturday in Las Vegas.

Stevenson schooled his overmatched Namibian opponent from beginning to end, winning every round on all three scorecards and throwing in a knockdown to boot in the 12-round 130-pound bout. Nakathila could barely touch Stevenson, averaging 2.3 punches landed per round, according to CompuBox.

One could argue it was a masterful boxing exhibition by the 2016 Olympic silver medalist and former 126-pound titleholder.

The problem for Stevenson was that he also delivered plenty of “bad,” which was the talk of the ESPN-televised fight afterward.

Stevenson fancies himself a budding superstar, which makes sense given his ability. He didn’t perform like one against Nakathila, a far inferior boxer who didn’t have the tools to compete with an elite opponent.

Stevenson won every minute of every round but didn’t take the risks necessary to give himself a realistic chance of taking out Nakathila, which everyone watching was waiting for him to do. He took a safe approach because of Nakathila’s power.

Safe is boring, which is not what a superstar is.

Stevenson presumably will have learned a lesson in that fight. Yes, the main objective is to have your hand raised. However, the biggest stars in the sport are also entertainers. And he seems to understand that concept. He apologized for his performance on social media, which is a good sign.

He should take more risks, particularly against overmatched opponents. The rewards can be great.

[lawrence-related id=21040]

***

BAD

Referee Celestino Ruiz became a topic of discussion during the main event in Las Vegas. AP Photo / John Locher

A referee is on the wrong path when he or she steals attention away from the fighters.

That happened during the main event on ESPN, when referee Celestino Ruiz was unnecessarily obsessed with the feet of the southpaw Stevenson and Nakathila, who fights from an orthodox stance.

Southpaws and orthodox boxers typically step on one another because their lead feet are on the same side. It simply can’t be avoided entirely.

Nevertheless, Ruiz constantly – and annoyingly – warned the fighters to avoid each other’s feet. He even threatened once to take a point away from the next one to step on a foot, which was surrealistic.

The fighters are concentrating on their game plans and protecting themselves. The last thing they need is a referee badgering them about where they place their feet.

I try to assume the best about refs. Ruiz obviously wanted to avoid potential foot-on-foot problems. That said, he was out of control. I’ve watched thousands of fights in my career and I can’t recall any referee doing what Ruiz did.

I hope he behaved in that manner on his own. It would be more disturbing if it turns out he was instructed to issue such warnings, which I doubt is the case given the reputation of Nevada officials.

I trust that the powers that be in that state will prevent such nonsense from happening again.

***

WORSE

Jeremiah Nakathila (right) barely touched Shakur Stevenson in 36 minutes of fighting. AP Photo / John Locher

How did Nakathila end up as the WBO’s No. 2-ranked 130-pounder?

An argument can be made that all regions in the world should have representation in the rankings. Nakathila is African. And, of course, one never knows how a relatively obscure fighter will do in his first major test until he gets an opportunity.

At the same time, no one should rise to No. 2 without beating a contender or someone close to that status. Nakathila, who has fought outside his continent only once, has no such victories.

Obviously, his handlers are well connected because merit doesn’t seem to have played a role in his ascent.

As a result, the fight on Saturday was garbage. Nakathila, who appears to have power but little else, was out of his depth. And that isn’t supposed to be the case when the Nos. 1- and 2-ranked fighters face off.

I can’t be too critical of Top Rank, ESPN or the Nevada State Athletic Commission, all of which approved the bout. They obviously saw No. 1 and No. 2 and ran with it. The problem was with the WBO, which demonstrated again why sanctioning bodies can’t be trusted to get it right.

The alphabet organizations rank fighters based primarily on how much money they can collect in sanctioning fees, not on resume. That’s obvious to anyone paying attention.

Is boxing ever going to emerge from this frustrating cycle?

***

RABBIT PUNCHES

Stevenson won the WBO “interim” title with his victory over Nakathila, meaning his next fight could be a title challenge of champion Jamel Herring. I have tremendous respect for the 35-year-old Herring, who is on an impressive run of victories over established opponents. That includes a knockout of former Fighter of the Year Carl Frampton in his most-recent bout. I just don’t believe he’s as talented as Stevenson, whose gifts are rare. I believe Stevenson would outbox him and win a major title in a second division even if he doesn’t dazzle us in the process. … Jose Pedraza looked sharp in his victory over previously unbeaten Julian Rodriguez in a scheduled 10-round 140-pound bout on the Stevenson-Nakathila card, which ended after eight rounds with a beaten Rodriguez sitting on his stool. Pedraza demonstrated once again that he’s one of better technicians in the world, schooling and ultimately breaking down his less-experienced opponent to remain in title contention at 32 years old. All three judges somehow had it 77-75 for Pedraza at the time of the stoppage, five rounds to three. I thought Pedraza won every round. …

The “good” in this column could’ve been the four featured fights – all involving heavyweights — on the July 24 Tyson Fury–Deontay Wilder III card: Fury vs Wilder, Robert Helenius vs. Adam Kownacki II, Frank Sanchez vs. Efe Ajagba and Jared Anderson vs. Vladimir Treshkin. That’s going to be entertaining as hell. And it’s further proof that competing entities – Top Rank and Premier Boxing Champions, in this case – can work together when they have to. Can we build on this? … Claressa Shields deserves credit for her victory in her MMA debut on Thursday. Things looked bleak for two rounds, during which jiu-jitsu expert Brittney Elkin controlled the battle on the ground. However, Shields, obviously determined, rallied to win when Elkin tried for a takedown but failed and was met with a flurry of hard punches. “I just had never-quit attitude every round,” Shields said. She should be proud of herself. …

Longtime heavyweight contender Alexander Povetkin, 41, has announced his retirement. The Russian had a good career, which started with a super heavyweight gold medal in the 2004 Olympics. He never won a major professional title – losing badly to Wladimir Klitschko and Anthony Joshua in his only tries — but he was a contender for more than a decade. He defeated Larry Donald, Chris Byrd, Eddie Chambers, Ruslan Chagaev, Marco Huck, Hasim Rahman and several other capable heavyweights. And he saved one of his best for second to last, a stunning one punch knockout of Dillian Whyte last August. Whyte stopped Povetkin in the rematch, prompting him to call it quits. Povetkin also will be remembered for his failed drug tests.

[lawrence-related id=21001,20998,21036,18905,13130]

Good, bad, worse: Dillian Whyte reclaims spot in pecking order

Good, bad, worse: Dillian Whyte reclaimed spot in the heavyweight pecking order by stopping Alexander Povetkin on Saturday.

A critical look at the past week in boxing

GOOD

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-Qw7eEOmFOw

Dillian Whyte’s achievement on Saturday in Gibraltar shouldn’t be underestimated.

The last time he was face to face with Alexander Povetkin he took an uppercut that knocked him flat on his back and rendered him unconscious, a fate that can be difficult to overcome under any circumstances.

Whyte’s response? He got back into the ring with Povetkin as soon as possible, showed no signs of being gun shy and beat the you know what out of his nemesis. It was as if the first fight never happened, which says something about Whyte’s mental strength.

As promoter Eddie Hearn put it, “He carried on where he left off before the knockout last time.”

The 32-year-old Londoner was overeager in the first round, in which he winged wild punches in an apparent effort to get his revenge in the first three minutes. However, he soon settled down and began to fight more methodically. He jabbed, he started to land straight right hands and he quickly broke down his opponent.

Povetkin had already taken considerable punishment by the time Whyte connected on two damaging rights and the left hook that ended the fight in Round 4.

Whyte (28-2, 19 KOs) followed in some large footsteps. Joe Louis avenged a brutal knockout loss by stopping Max Schmeling in their rematch. Lennox Lewis did the same against both Oliver McCall and Hasim Rahman. And Wladimir Klitschko got his revenge against Lamon Brewster.

Of course, Whyte is no Louis, Lewis or Klitschko. He has done nothing his career to prove he’s anywhere near that level.

However, at least now, after regaining his place among the top contenders for the heavyweight championship, he’s once again in position to make the most of his potential. And he almost certainly will receive the opportunity he has earned at some point.

***

BAD

Dillian Whyte holds his “interim” belt after his victory over Alexander Povetkin. He hopes to fight for the full championship soon. Dave Thompson / Matchroom Boxing

Whyte is back at the front of the line for a shot at a major heavyweight title. What does that mean? Not much at the moment. As Hearn put it in a post-fight interview Saturday night, “We know there’s a logjam.”

The logjam comes in the form of beltholders Tyson Fury and Anthony Joshua, who recently agreed upon a two-fight deal to unify all four major heavyweight titles. That leaves every other heavyweight out in the cold until things are sorted out.

Fury and Joshua haven’t even agreed upon a date yet, although organizers are targeting the summer. And if they fight twice, their series could extend into next year.

Of course, one or more of the sanctioning bodies could decide to strip either or both of the champions after their first fight for failing to defend against mandatory challengers. That might be Whyte’s best hope of fighting for a title soon.

Whyte could also be elevated to full champion after earning the WBC’s “interim” status on Saturday.

No matter what happens he isn’t likely to face one of the big two or wear a meaningful belt soon, which seems to be OK with him. He mentioned after the fight that he’d like to face a relative pushover after back-to-back meetings with Povetkin to pad his bank account.

That sort of fight could happen in three or four months. After that, Hearn, who also handles Joshua, is going to have to figure out the best path toward a title for Whyte.

For the record: The fact Fury and Joshua are freezing out the other top heavyweights temporarily is perfectly fine with me. I’m not alone when I say I’d like to see a unified heavyweight champion, which has become a rarity.

Whyte and the others will get their turns.

***

WORSE

We might’ve seen the last of Povetkin (right) on Saturday. Mark Robinson / Matchroom Boxing

Povetkin might’ve stepped into the ring on Saturday at less than 100 percent.

WBC President Mauricio Sulaiman believes the Russian was unable to reach full fitness after a difficult battle with the coronavirus, which forced organizers to push back the rematch with Whyte twice. And Sulaiman might be right.

Povetkin seemed to have trouble with his balance from the outset, as he stumbled multiple times in the first few rounds. And while he took some hard shots, Whyte broke him down fairly quickly.

That’s a shame for Povetkin, who was coming off a spectacular one-punch knockout in the first fight that instantaneously pumped life into his career. Now, sadly for him, his dreams of one last shot at a heavyweight championship might be dashed.

Povetkin’s handlers have indicated that they will encourage him to retire after almost 16 years as a professional. And they obviously have the best handle on what their man has – or doesn’t have – left at 41 years old.

Remember: Povetkin went down twice and appeared to be on his way to a knockout loss before he landed that big uppercut in the first fight with Whyte. Landing one big punch doesn’t mean you still have it.

Povetkin had a good career. His won a gold medal in the 2004 Olympics. And while he never won a major belt as a professional – he lost title fights against Wladimir Klitschko and Anthony Joshua – and twice tested positive for performance-enhancing drugs, he has been a legitimate contender for more than a decade.

He’ll always have his Olympic title. And he can say truthfully that he was one of the better big men of his era.

RABBIT PUNCHES

Amanda Serrano demonstrated again on Thursday in Puerto Rico why she’s one of the best boxers in the world, stopping rugged Daniela Bermudez (29-4-3, 10 KOs) with a one-two to the body in Round 9. The seven-division titleholder is a versatile boxer, she can punch (30 knockouts?) and she can take a punch. And, as important as anything to me, she’s fun to watch. Serrano (40-1-1, 30 KOs) is special. … Junior middleweights Ted Cheeseman (17-2-1, 10 KOs) and James Metcalf (21-1, 13 KOs) gave fans a riveting back-and-forth brawl on the Whyte-Povetkin card. Cheeseman ended up with an 11th-round stoppage but both fighters should be proud of their efforts. … Campbell Hatton fought with fire reminiscent of his famous dad in his pro debut on The Whyte-Povetkin card. The son of Ricky Hatton easily outpointed tough, but overmatched Spaniard Jesus Ruiz (0-11, 0 KOs) in a four-round lightweight bout. It’s difficult to gauge Hatton’s ability against a winless opponent but he seems to have the determination to succeed.

[lawrence-related id=18977,18905,18857]

Good, bad, worse: Dillian Whyte reclaims spot in pecking order

Good, bad, worse: Dillian Whyte reclaimed spot in the heavyweight pecking order by stopping Alexander Povetkin on Saturday.

A critical look at the past week in boxing

GOOD

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-Qw7eEOmFOw

Dillian Whyte’s achievement on Saturday in Gibraltar shouldn’t be underestimated.

The last time he was face to face with Alexander Povetkin he took an uppercut that knocked him flat on his back and rendered him unconscious, a fate that can be difficult to overcome under any circumstances.

Whyte’s response? He got back into the ring with Povetkin as soon as possible, showed no signs of being gun shy and beat the you know what out of his nemesis. It was as if the first fight never happened, which says something about Whyte’s mental strength.

As promoter Eddie Hearn put it, “He carried on where he left off before the knockout last time.”

The 32-year-old Londoner was overeager in the first round, in which he winged wild punches in an apparent effort to get his revenge in the first three minutes. However, he soon settled down and began to fight more methodically. He jabbed, he started to land straight right hands and he quickly broke down his opponent.

Povetkin had already taken considerable punishment by the time Whyte connected on two damaging rights and the left hook that ended the fight in Round 4.

Whyte (28-2, 19 KOs) followed in some large footsteps. Joe Louis avenged a brutal knockout loss by stopping Max Schmeling in their rematch. Lennox Lewis did the same against both Oliver McCall and Hasim Rahman. And Wladimir Klitschko got his revenge against Lamon Brewster.

Of course, Whyte is no Louis, Lewis or Klitschko. He has done nothing his career to prove he’s anywhere near that level.

However, at least now, after regaining his place among the top contenders for the heavyweight championship, he’s once again in position to make the most of his potential. And he almost certainly will receive the opportunity he has earned at some point.

***

BAD

Dillian Whyte holds his “interim” belt after his victory over Alexander Povetkin. He hopes to fight for the full championship soon. Dave Thompson / Matchroom Boxing

Whyte is back at the front of the line for a shot at a major heavyweight title. What does that mean? Not much at the moment. As Hearn put it in a post-fight interview Saturday night, “We know there’s a logjam.”

The logjam comes in the form of beltholders Tyson Fury and Anthony Joshua, who recently agreed upon a two-fight deal to unify all four major heavyweight titles. That leaves every other heavyweight out in the cold until things are sorted out.

Fury and Joshua haven’t even agreed upon a date yet, although organizers are targeting the summer. And if they fight twice, their series could extend into next year.

Of course, one or more of the sanctioning bodies could decide to strip either or both of the champions after their first fight for failing to defend against mandatory challengers. That might be Whyte’s best hope of fighting for a title soon.

Whyte could also be elevated to full champion after earning the WBC’s “interim” status on Saturday.

No matter what happens he isn’t likely to face one of the big two or wear a meaningful belt soon, which seems to be OK with him. He mentioned after the fight that he’d like to face a relative pushover after back-to-back meetings with Povetkin to pad his bank account.

That sort of fight could happen in three or four months. After that, Hearn, who also handles Joshua, is going to have to figure out the best path toward a title for Whyte.

For the record: The fact Fury and Joshua are freezing out the other top heavyweights temporarily is perfectly fine with me. I’m not alone when I say I’d like to see a unified heavyweight champion, which has become a rarity.

Whyte and the others will get their turns.

***

WORSE

We might’ve seen the last of Povetkin (right) on Saturday. Mark Robinson / Matchroom Boxing

Povetkin might’ve stepped into the ring on Saturday at less than 100 percent.

WBC President Mauricio Sulaiman believes the Russian was unable to reach full fitness after a difficult battle with the coronavirus, which forced organizers to push back the rematch with Whyte twice. And Sulaiman might be right.

Povetkin seemed to have trouble with his balance from the outset, as he stumbled multiple times in the first few rounds. And while he took some hard shots, Whyte broke him down fairly quickly.

That’s a shame for Povetkin, who was coming off a spectacular one-punch knockout in the first fight that instantaneously pumped life into his career. Now, sadly for him, his dreams of one last shot at a heavyweight championship might be dashed.

Povetkin’s handlers have indicated that they will encourage him to retire after almost 16 years as a professional. And they obviously have the best handle on what their man has – or doesn’t have – left at 41 years old.

Remember: Povetkin went down twice and appeared to be on his way to a knockout loss before he landed that big uppercut in the first fight with Whyte. Landing one big punch doesn’t mean you still have it.

Povetkin had a good career. His won a gold medal in the 2004 Olympics. And while he never won a major belt as a professional – he lost title fights against Wladimir Klitschko and Anthony Joshua – and twice tested positive for performance-enhancing drugs, he has been a legitimate contender for more than a decade.

He’ll always have his Olympic title. And he can say truthfully that he was one of the better big men of his era.

RABBIT PUNCHES

Amanda Serrano demonstrated again on Thursday in Puerto Rico why she’s one of the best boxers in the world, stopping rugged Daniela Bermudez (29-4-3, 10 KOs) with a one-two to the body in Round 9. The seven-division titleholder is a versatile boxer, she can punch (30 knockouts?) and she can take a punch. And, as important as anything to me, she’s fun to watch. Serrano (40-1-1, 30 KOs) is special. … Junior middleweights Ted Cheeseman (17-2-1, 10 KOs) and James Metcalf (21-1, 13 KOs) gave fans a riveting back-and-forth brawl on the Whyte-Povetkin card. Cheeseman ended up with an 11th-round stoppage but both fighters should be proud of their efforts. … Campbell Hatton fought with fire reminiscent of his famous dad in his pro debut on The Whyte-Povetkin card. The son of Ricky Hatton easily outpointed tough, but overmatched Spaniard Jesus Ruiz (0-11, 0 KOs) in a four-round lightweight bout. It’s difficult to gauge Hatton’s ability against a winless opponent but he seems to have the determination to succeed.

[lawrence-related id=18977,18905,18857]

Tyson Fury, Anthony Joshua, Deontay Wilder: Who’s next for Dillian Whyte?

Who will Dillian Whyte fight after his spectacular stoppage of Alexander Povetkin in their rematch Saturday?

Editor’s note: This article was originally published on DAZN.com.

***

Dillian Whyte’s fourth-round knockout of Alexander Povetkin on Saturday has restored the Londoner’s positioning as a future world title contender. However, with current heavyweight rulers Anthony Joshua and Tyson Fury set to face each other and unify, it makes Whyte’s immediate next step uncertain.

So with his promoter, Eddie Hearn, revealing he hopes to get Whyte back in action as early as this summer, who will be next for “The Body Snatcher”?

Here are some things to consider, as well as interesting betting odds on the situation.

WILL DILLIAN WHYTE’S NEXT BOUT BE FOR A WORLD TITLE?

Although Whyte has regained the “interim” WBC title and is likely to be installed as the sanctioning body’s mandatory challenger (Fury is the current titleholder), Hearn evidently wants to get his man one more “keep-busy” fight before they attempt to muscle in on the championship picture.

If A.J. and Fury fight twice in succession, one or more sanctioning bodies might pull their belts after the first meeting because of the time involved.

So if Whyte takes a safe challenge around the time of Joshua-Fury I, he could be in position to fight for the vacant WBC belt after that. In fact, he could even be elevated by the body to full champion.

However, that scenario precludes an attractive fight between Whyte and Deontay Wilder from happening next. And maybe that’s for the best, since the American could also really use a fight to shake off rust from a year-plus absence from the ring.

WHO WOULD BE DILLIAN WHYTE’S ‘KEEP-BUSY’ OPPONENT?

The heavyweight ranks feature a large number of respectable second-tier competitors that could give Whyte extra rounds while he waits for his world title opportunity. And as long as such a fight isn’t the main event of a pay-per-view card — as both Povetkin fights were in the U.K. — it would be fair enough.

In fact, Whyte blasting a 15th-20th-ranked adversary on the undercard of Fury-Joshua I before calling out the winner and/or Wilder would be a productive use of an undercard few will care about while keeping the narrative fresh in viewers’ minds.

COULD DILLIAN WHYTE’S NEXT FIGHT BE A BIG ONE, INSTEAD?

Certainly. And with a tinge of doubt surrounding the Joshua-Fury talks, Whyte could hold out hope of either man being available to him instead of each other or of the WBC losing patience and favoring Whyte vs. Wilder sooner rather than later.

The latest Betfair odds lean toward Whyte facing a formidable foe such as Luis Ortiz or Andy Ruiz Jr. next, while Wilder, Joshua and Fury all have tempting value under the circumstances. The current favorite is Poland’s Adam Kownacki, who is ranked sixth by the WBA and has a 20-1 record that lacks names any bigger than Chris Arreola and Charles Martin.

ODDS ON DILLIAN WHYTE’S NEXT OPPONENT

  • Adam Kownacki: 5-4
  • Luis Ortiz: 3-1
  • Deontay Wilder: 9-2
  • Andy Ruiz Jr: 6-1
  • Tyson Fury: 10-1
  • Anthony Joshua: 14-1

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Tyson Fury, Anthony Joshua, Deontay Wilder: Who’s next for Dillian Whyte?

Who will Dillian Whyte fight after his spectacular stoppage of Alexander Povetkin in their rematch Saturday?

Editor’s note: This article was originally published on DAZN.com.

***

Dillian Whyte’s fourth-round knockout of Alexander Povetkin on Saturday has restored the Londoner’s positioning as a future world title contender. However, with current heavyweight rulers Anthony Joshua and Tyson Fury set to face each other and unify, it makes Whyte’s immediate next step uncertain.

So with his promoter, Eddie Hearn, revealing he hopes to get Whyte back in action as early as this summer, who will be next for “The Body Snatcher”?

Here are some things to consider, as well as interesting betting odds on the situation.

WILL DILLIAN WHYTE’S NEXT BOUT BE FOR A WORLD TITLE?

Although Whyte has regained the “interim” WBC title and is likely to be installed as the sanctioning body’s mandatory challenger (Fury is the current titleholder), Hearn evidently wants to get his man one more “keep-busy” fight before they attempt to muscle in on the championship picture.

If A.J. and Fury fight twice in succession, one or more sanctioning bodies might pull their belts after the first meeting because of the time involved.

So if Whyte takes a safe challenge around the time of Joshua-Fury I, he could be in position to fight for the vacant WBC belt after that. In fact, he could even be elevated by the body to full champion.

However, that scenario precludes an attractive fight between Whyte and Deontay Wilder from happening next. And maybe that’s for the best, since the American could also really use a fight to shake off rust from a year-plus absence from the ring.

WHO WOULD BE DILLIAN WHYTE’S ‘KEEP-BUSY’ OPPONENT?

The heavyweight ranks feature a large number of respectable second-tier competitors that could give Whyte extra rounds while he waits for his world title opportunity. And as long as such a fight isn’t the main event of a pay-per-view card — as both Povetkin fights were in the U.K. — it would be fair enough.

In fact, Whyte blasting a 15th-20th-ranked adversary on the undercard of Fury-Joshua I before calling out the winner and/or Wilder would be a productive use of an undercard few will care about while keeping the narrative fresh in viewers’ minds.

COULD DILLIAN WHYTE’S NEXT FIGHT BE A BIG ONE, INSTEAD?

Certainly. And with a tinge of doubt surrounding the Joshua-Fury talks, Whyte could hold out hope of either man being available to him instead of each other or of the WBC losing patience and favoring Whyte vs. Wilder sooner rather than later.

The latest Betfair odds lean toward Whyte facing a formidable foe such as Luis Ortiz or Andy Ruiz Jr. next, while Wilder, Joshua and Fury all have tempting value under the circumstances. The current favorite is Poland’s Adam Kownacki, who is ranked sixth by the WBA and has a 20-1 record that lacks names any bigger than Chris Arreola and Charles Martin.

ODDS ON DILLIAN WHYTE’S NEXT OPPONENT

  • Adam Kownacki: 5-4
  • Luis Ortiz: 3-1
  • Deontay Wilder: 9-2
  • Andy Ruiz Jr: 6-1
  • Tyson Fury: 10-1
  • Anthony Joshua: 14-1

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Dillian Whyte turns tables on Alexander Povetkin in Round 4

Dillian Whyte avenged his knockout loss against Alexander Povetkin on Saturday, stopping the Russian in Round 4.

Dillian Whyte got it right this time.

The Londoner, who was stopped by Alexander Povetkin with a single uppercut in August, returned the favor by knocking out his rival in the fourth round Saturday at Europa Point Sports Complex in the British territory of Gibraltar.

In the process, Whyte regained the status he lost in the first fight. He’s now the WBC “interim” titleholder and next in line to fight for a world title.

“I still believe I can be world champion, that I can beat anyone. I carry the power to beat anyone,” he said afterward.

Whyte (28-2, 19 KOs) used his jab well but certainly wasn’t gun shy after the disaster of the first meeting, aggressively attacking Povetkin (36-3-1, 25 KOs) almost from the opening bell.

By Round 2, Whyte began to find his range. By Round 3, he began to land hard, accurate right hands that might’ve stopped a less durable opponent. And by Round 4, with Povetkin already worn down, he ended the fight in spectacular fashion.

Whyte sent Povetkin into the ropes with a big straight right with about 35 seconds left in the round. He followed with another right that staggered his prey. And he finished the job with a huge left hook that put Povetkin onto his behind.

The Russian staggered to his feet but was in no condition to continue, which prompted referee Victor Loughlin to save Povetkin from taking further punishment.

The official time of the stoppage was 2:39 of Round 4.

And just like that Whyte corrected the misstep of seven months ago, which had plunged his career into uncertainty. Now he’s in a good position to fight for a major belt once the title-unification fight (or fights) between Tyson Fury and Anthony Joshua plays out.

Whyte said afterward that he would consider a third fight with Povetkin but no one will want to see that after his complete dominance on Saturday.

He was asked how he felt after turning the tables on is rival.

“I’m ready to run it back again if he wants it again. That’s how I feel,” he said. “If he wants a rematch and they pay me the right money, I’ll fight him again because I shouldn’t have lost the first time. …

“It’s just one of those things. I’m annoyed at myself for losing the first time. All I had to do was be a bit smarter, not make a silly mistake and pay for it.”

Whyte has an idea for his next fight: Good money for a less threatening opponent, at least while he waits to see how the title picture evolves.

“[Promoter] Eddie [Hearn] likes to put me in these hard fights,” he said. “This time get me an easy fight so I can make some damn money without so much risk.”

Hearn evidently is on board with that.

“Firstly, there was a lot of talk about his career being on the line,” he said. “There was a lot of pressure. And what he did tonight was he carried on where he left off before the knockout last time. He manhandled Povetkin from the first round. He never recovered.

“… His world championship dreams were on the line tonight. I think he’s right. I would like to see him box quickly again this summer, maybe go to the United States and fight there because you know there’s a logjam.”

But …

“The ultimate aim has always been for Dillian Whyte to challenge for the world heavyweight title,” Hearn added. “Everyone knows in boxing he’s a handful for anyone in the division. Tonight was about getting his career back on track, getting his world title ambitions back on track.

“Coming back from that knockout wasn’t easy. He showed tonight that he wasn’t going to be denied. … We’re back where we want to be.”

Dillian Whyte turns tables on Alexander Povetkin in Round 4

Dillian Whyte avenged his knockout loss against Alexander Povetkin on Saturday, stopping the Russian in Round 4.

Dillian Whyte got it right this time.

The Londoner, who was stopped by Alexander Povetkin with a single uppercut in August, returned the favor by knocking out his rival in the fourth round Saturday at Europa Point Sports Complex in the British territory of Gibraltar.

In the process, Whyte regained the status he lost in the first fight. He’s now the WBC “interim” titleholder and next in line to fight for a world title.

“I still believe I can be world champion, that I can beat anyone. I carry the power to beat anyone,” he said afterward.

Whyte (28-2, 19 KOs) used his jab well but certainly wasn’t gun shy after the disaster of the first meeting, aggressively attacking Povetkin (36-3-1, 25 KOs) almost from the opening bell.

By Round 2, Whyte began to find his range. By Round 3, he began to land hard, accurate right hands that might’ve stopped a less durable opponent. And by Round 4, with Povetkin already worn down, he ended the fight in spectacular fashion.

Whyte sent Povetkin into the ropes with a big straight right with about 35 seconds left in the round. He followed with another right that staggered his prey. And he finished the job with a huge left hook that put Povetkin onto his behind.

The Russian staggered to his feet but was in no condition to continue, which prompted referee Victor Loughlin to save Povetkin from taking further punishment.

The official time of the stoppage was 2:39 of Round 4.

And just like that Whyte corrected the misstep of seven months ago, which had plunged his career into uncertainty. Now he’s in a good position to fight for a major belt once the title-unification fight (or fights) between Tyson Fury and Anthony Joshua plays out.

Whyte said afterward that he would consider a third fight with Povetkin but no one will want to see that after his complete dominance on Saturday.

He was asked how he felt after turning the tables on is rival.

“I’m ready to run it back again if he wants it again. That’s how I feel,” he said. “If he wants a rematch and they pay me the right money, I’ll fight him again because I shouldn’t have lost the first time. …

“It’s just one of those things. I’m annoyed at myself for losing the first time. All I had to do was be a bit smarter, not make a silly mistake and pay for it.”

Whyte has an idea for his next fight: Good money for a less threatening opponent, at least while he waits to see how the title picture evolves.

“[Promoter] Eddie [Hearn] likes to put me in these hard fights,” he said. “This time get me an easy fight so I can make some damn money without so much risk.”

Hearn evidently is on board with that.

“Firstly, there was a lot of talk about his career being on the line,” he said. “There was a lot of pressure. And what he did tonight was he carried on where he left off before the knockout last time. He manhandled Povetkin from the first round. He never recovered.

“… His world championship dreams were on the line tonight. I think he’s right. I would like to see him box quickly again this summer, maybe go to the United States and fight there because you know there’s a logjam.”

But …

“The ultimate aim has always been for Dillian Whyte to challenge for the world heavyweight title,” Hearn added. “Everyone knows in boxing he’s a handful for anyone in the division. Tonight was about getting his career back on track, getting his world title ambitions back on track.

“Coming back from that knockout wasn’t easy. He showed tonight that he wasn’t going to be denied. … We’re back where we want to be.”

Ricky Hatton confident son Campbell will adapt to big stage

Ricky Hatton is confident that son Campbell will adapt to the big stage as a professional boxer.

Editor’s note: This article was originally published on DAZN.com.

***

Campbell Hatton, the son of Ricky Hatton, begins his professional boxing journey on the Alexander Povetkin-Dillian Whyte card Saturday in Gibraltar (DAZN).

Hatton, 19, will face Jesus Ruiz (0-10) in a scheduled four-round lightweight contest, with his father by his side.

While taking in the picturesque views in the British territory ahead of fight night, the senior Hatton addressed concerns that Campbell’s first pro fight was taking place on such a high-profile card.

“To be completely honest, the first time he stepped into the boxing gym and picked those gloves up, I just knew it was going to happen because it’s in the genes,” the former world champion told Sky Sports.

“He’s got a lot of pressure on his shoulders, a lot to live up to, and I’m very, very proud of him and the build-up that Sky Sports and Matchroom and 258 Management have given him. But it does put a lot of pressure on the little man’s shoulders.

“I wouldn’t have let him do this, though, if I didn’t think he was able to cope with it all. He’s got a great platform here and I think people are gonna like what they see.

“It’s a little bit different to [the town of] Widnes! I was very fortunate that I was able to box in the big shows, a lot of Naseem Hamed undercards. I fought my second professional bout at Madison Square Garden underneath Nassem against Kevin Kelley, and I coped with it well enough.

“I think he will cope with it well enough too on stages like this. And it’s beautiful, isn’t it? Getting used to fighting on stages like this will stand him in good stead further down the line when he gets where, hopefully, we think he’s going to get.”

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Ricky Hatton confident son Campbell will adapt to big stage

Ricky Hatton is confident that son Campbell will adapt to the big stage as a professional boxer.

Editor’s note: This article was originally published on DAZN.com.

***

Campbell Hatton, the son of Ricky Hatton, begins his professional boxing journey on the Alexander Povetkin-Dillian Whyte card Saturday in Gibraltar (DAZN).

Hatton, 19, will face Jesus Ruiz (0-10) in a scheduled four-round lightweight contest, with his father by his side.

While taking in the picturesque views in the British territory ahead of fight night, the senior Hatton addressed concerns that Campbell’s first pro fight was taking place on such a high-profile card.

“To be completely honest, the first time he stepped into the boxing gym and picked those gloves up, I just knew it was going to happen because it’s in the genes,” the former world champion told Sky Sports.

“He’s got a lot of pressure on his shoulders, a lot to live up to, and I’m very, very proud of him and the build-up that Sky Sports and Matchroom and 258 Management have given him. But it does put a lot of pressure on the little man’s shoulders.

“I wouldn’t have let him do this, though, if I didn’t think he was able to cope with it all. He’s got a great platform here and I think people are gonna like what they see.

“It’s a little bit different to [the town of] Widnes! I was very fortunate that I was able to box in the big shows, a lot of Naseem Hamed undercards. I fought my second professional bout at Madison Square Garden underneath Nassem against Kevin Kelley, and I coped with it well enough.

“I think he will cope with it well enough too on stages like this. And it’s beautiful, isn’t it? Getting used to fighting on stages like this will stand him in good stead further down the line when he gets where, hopefully, we think he’s going to get.”

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