Alexander Povetkin’s knockout of Dillian Whyte opened the door for a title-unification bout between Tyson Fury and Anthony Joshua.
Tyson Fury and Anthony Joshua might want to thank Alexander Povetkin.
The Russian’s stunning one-punch knockout of Dillian Whyte on Saturday opened the door for an all-U.K. heavyweight title-unification bout next year if Fury, the WBC beltholder, beats Deontay Wilder in their third fight and Joshua gets past Kubrat Pulev.
That was confirmed by WBC President Mauricio Sulaiman, who had made it clear before Saturday that the Fury-Wilder winner must defend against mandatory challenger Whyte next or risk losing the belt. That changed with Povetkin’s upset.
“We don’t speculate, but the time limitations which were put [into place] by the WBC board, which, had Dillian Whyte won, the winner of the third Fury-Wilder fight has to fight [Whyte] without an intervening bout,” Sulaiman told Sky Sports.
“That now has changed. Dillian has lost, so there are no limitations at the moment for the winner of Fury-Wilder to do any fight whatsoever.”
Sulaiman was referring to the title-unification matchup when he added: “Yes, that includes [Joshua’s title] defense. … In the WBC, there will be no restrictions whatsoever right now. An ultimate unification would be something that everyone would like to see. It’s a matter that brings boxing to the highest level.”
Povetkin became the mandatory challenger with his victory but no timetable has been set for a title challenge involving him.
Sulaiman added that Whyte could regain his mandatory status if he beats Povetkin in a rematch. Povetkin is contractually obliged to fight Whyte a second time.
“Most likely so,” the WBC executive said. “This is a fight that created a great interest. This fight might have been underestimated, underrated in the world scene and maybe also in the U.K. Povetkin is a former champion, a fighter who has fought some of the best in the division in the last decade, and he showed it in the ring.”
Alexander Povetkin’s knockout of Dillian Whyte opened the door for a title-unification bout between Tyson Fury and Anthony Joshua.
Tyson Fury and Anthony Joshua might want to thank Alexander Povetkin.
The Russian’s stunning one-punch knockout of Dillian Whyte on Saturday opened the door for an all-U.K. heavyweight title-unification bout next year if Fury, the WBC beltholder, beats Deontay Wilder in their third fight and Joshua gets past Kubrat Pulev.
That was confirmed by WBC President Mauricio Sulaiman, who had made it clear before Saturday that the Fury-Wilder winner must defend against mandatory challenger Whyte next or risk losing the belt. That changed with Povetkin’s upset.
“We don’t speculate, but the time limitations which were put [into place] by the WBC board, which, had Dillian Whyte won, the winner of the third Fury-Wilder fight has to fight [Whyte] without an intervening bout,” Sulaiman told Sky Sports.
“That now has changed. Dillian has lost, so there are no limitations at the moment for the winner of Fury-Wilder to do any fight whatsoever.”
Sulaiman was referring to the title-unification matchup when he added: “Yes, that includes [Joshua’s title] defense. … In the WBC, there will be no restrictions whatsoever right now. An ultimate unification would be something that everyone would like to see. It’s a matter that brings boxing to the highest level.”
Povetkin became the mandatory challenger with his victory but no timetable has been set for a title challenge involving him.
Sulaiman added that Whyte could regain his mandatory status if he beats Povetkin in a rematch. Povetkin is contractually obliged to fight Whyte a second time.
“Most likely so,” the WBC executive said. “This is a fight that created a great interest. This fight might have been underestimated, underrated in the world scene and maybe also in the U.K. Povetkin is a former champion, a fighter who has fought some of the best in the division in the last decade, and he showed it in the ring.”
Here are highlights of Alexander Povetkin’s stunning one-punch knockout of Dillian Whyte on Saturday.
Alexander Povetkin stunned Dillian Whyte and the boxing world with one punch at Fight Camp Saturday in Brentwood, England.
Whyte, who had put Povetkin down twice in Round 4 and seemed to be in control of the fight, was nailed by vicious left uppercut and rendered unconscious instantaneously the following round. The ref stopped the fight without counting.
Thus, Whyte’s march toward a shot at the WBC title came to at least a temporary halt and Povetkin became the sanctioning body’s “interim” titleholder.
Here are highlights from one of the more memorable heavyweight battles in recent years. Video courtesy of DAZN.
Here are highlights of Alexander Povetkin’s stunning one-punch knockout of Dillian Whyte on Saturday.
Alexander Povetkin stunned Dillian Whyte and the boxing world with one punch at Fight Camp Saturday in Brentwood, England.
Whyte, who had put Povetkin down twice in Round 4 and seemed to be in control of the fight, was nailed by vicious left uppercut and rendered unconscious instantaneously the following round. The ref stopped the fight without counting.
Thus, Whyte’s march toward a shot at the WBC title came to at least a temporary halt and Povetkin became the sanctioning body’s “interim” titleholder.
Here are highlights from one of the more memorable heavyweight battles in recent years. Video courtesy of DAZN.
Editors’s note: This article was originally published on SportingNews.com. *** Dillian Whyte felt he was “bossing” Alexander Povetkin prior to his devastating knockout loss and looks forward to a rematch. Whyte’s hopes of landing an immediate shot …
Editors’s note: This article was originally published on SportingNews.com.
***
Dillian Whyte felt he was “bossing” Alexander Povetkin prior to his devastating knockout loss and looks forward to a rematch.
Whyte’s hopes of landing an immediate shot at the WBC championship against the winner of Tyson Fury-Deontay Wilder III were dashed following the No. 1 contender’s stunning defeat to Povetkin on Saturday at Fight Camp in Brentwood, England.
After dominating the opening four rounds and downing Povetkin twice in the fourth, Whyte was sensationally knocked out with a massive uppercut in the fifth.
Whyte (27-2) asked promoter Eddie Hearn in a video Matchroom Boxing tweeted, “Can we get the rematch in December?”
Hearn responded in the affirmative.
“OK cool,” Whyte said. “I’m good, I’m good. It’s one of them things where he just landed. I was bossing it. It is what it is. Rematch, it’s all good. That’s what heavyweight boxing is about.”
A stunned Hearn said immediately after the fight that Whyte will exercise his rematch clause with Povetkin.
“I can’t quite believe it,” Hearn said. “When he landed the punch, it felt like some dream. The fight was over virtually. Povetkin started well. Dillian Whyte was just measuring him and then he had the great finish to the round before, when he knocked Povetkin down. … I felt it was over, a lot of people felt it was over.
“The drama of the sport we love, the drama of heavyweight boxing is one punch can change everything.”
He added: “I’m pretty much lost for words, if I’m honest with you. We have a rematch clause. The first thing Dillian said was, ‘Get me that rematch, get me that rematch.
“Povetkin is mandatory now, but the only person who would get called to negotiate fighting the winner of Fury-Wilder was Dillian Whyte. We’ll exercise that rematch clause. We’ll look to make that before the end of the year, and it’s a huge fight.”
It was a memorable evening for Povetkin (36-2-1), who said through a translator: “I didn’t feel I would finish the fight like this. I was pretty confident in the fourth round. I went down but I was OK. It wasn’t too much damage so ….”
Editors’s note: This article was originally published on SportingNews.com. *** Dillian Whyte felt he was “bossing” Alexander Povetkin prior to his devastating knockout loss and looks forward to a rematch. Whyte’s hopes of landing an immediate shot …
Editors’s note: This article was originally published on SportingNews.com.
***
Dillian Whyte felt he was “bossing” Alexander Povetkin prior to his devastating knockout loss and looks forward to a rematch.
Whyte’s hopes of landing an immediate shot at the WBC championship against the winner of Tyson Fury-Deontay Wilder III were dashed following the No. 1 contender’s stunning defeat to Povetkin on Saturday at Fight Camp in Brentwood, England.
After dominating the opening four rounds and downing Povetkin twice in the fourth, Whyte was sensationally knocked out with a massive uppercut in the fifth.
Whyte (27-2) asked promoter Eddie Hearn in a video Matchroom Boxing tweeted, “Can we get the rematch in December?”
Hearn responded in the affirmative.
“OK cool,” Whyte said. “I’m good, I’m good. It’s one of them things where he just landed. I was bossing it. It is what it is. Rematch, it’s all good. That’s what heavyweight boxing is about.”
A stunned Hearn said immediately after the fight that Whyte will exercise his rematch clause with Povetkin.
“I can’t quite believe it,” Hearn said. “When he landed the punch, it felt like some dream. The fight was over virtually. Povetkin started well. Dillian Whyte was just measuring him and then he had the great finish to the round before, when he knocked Povetkin down. … I felt it was over, a lot of people felt it was over.
“The drama of the sport we love, the drama of heavyweight boxing is one punch can change everything.”
He added: “I’m pretty much lost for words, if I’m honest with you. We have a rematch clause. The first thing Dillian said was, ‘Get me that rematch, get me that rematch.
“Povetkin is mandatory now, but the only person who would get called to negotiate fighting the winner of Fury-Wilder was Dillian Whyte. We’ll exercise that rematch clause. We’ll look to make that before the end of the year, and it’s a huge fight.”
It was a memorable evening for Povetkin (36-2-1), who said through a translator: “I didn’t feel I would finish the fight like this. I was pretty confident in the fourth round. I went down but I was OK. It wasn’t too much damage so ….”
Alexander Povetkin stopped Dillian Whyte with a single left uppercut in Round 5 Saturday in Brentwood, England.
Dillian Whyte, the longtime WBC mandatory title challenger, was in position to face the winner of the third Tyson Fury-Deontay Wilder fight for the championship sometime next year. All he had to do was beat the aging Alexander Povetkin on Saturday in Brentwood, England.
Oops.
Povetkin, who had been down twice in Round 4, stunned everyone watching by knocking Whyte down and out with a single uppercut 30 seconds into Round 5 to pump life into his career by winning the “interim” title and turn Whyte’s upside down.
The good news for Whyte could be that there was a rematch clause in the contract and he evidently plans to exercise it before the end of the year.
“There was a rematch clause,” promoter Eddie Hearn said. “When [Whyte] was leaving the ring, he said, ‘Get the rematch, get the rematch.”
Dillian Whyte (left) put Alexander Povetkin down twice in Round 4 and seemed to be in control Mark Robinson / Matchroom Boxing
Whyte (27-2, 18 KOs) had a miserable 2019, when a drug test after his victory over Oscar Rivas in July revealed an “adverse finding” and he was suspended only to be exonerated in December. Still, ranked No. 1 for two-plus years, he was in good position to get another shot at a title.
And things went well for four rounds Saturday at Fight Camp. The bigger man fought cautiously the first few rounds, jabbing nicely, going to the body on occasion, but taking no significant chances.
Then, in Round 4, he seemed to take full control of the fight. He landed two rights and then a short left hook forced Povetkin (36-2-1, 25 KOs) to one knee about 30 seconds into the round. A few minutes later a left uppercut put Povetkin on his side, giving Whyte a 10-7 round and all the momentum.
At that moment, it seemed only a matter of time before Whyte would put his seemingly tired, 40-year-old opponent away. However, heavyweight fights often provide surprises.
“I was pretty confident in the fourth round,” Povetkin said through a translator. “I went down but I was OK. It wasn’t too much damage so ….”
Jaws dropped when Povetkin did this to Whyte in Round 5. Mark Robinson / Matchroom Boxing
So it turned out he was right. About 20 seconds into Round 5, Povetkin slipped a lazy right from Whyte and landed a perfect left uppercut of his own that relieved Whyte of his senses before his back hit the canvas. Referee Mark Lyson didn’t bother count. Instead, he waved his arms immediately, ending the fight.
Whyte seemed dazed for several minutes after the knockout but, as Hearn pointed out, he was clear on what he must do if he wants to regain his status and fight for a major title.
“I can’t quite believe it,” Hearn said. “When he landed the punch, it felt like some dream. The fight was over virtually. Povetkin started well. Dillian Whyte was just measuring him and then he had the great finish to the round before, when he knocked Povetkin down. … I felt it was over, a lot of people felt it was over.
“The drama of the sport we love, the drama of heavyweight boxing is one punch change everything.”
The victory was arguably the greatest in the career of Povetkin, who turned pro in 2005, shortly after winning the heavyweight gold medal in the 2004 Olympics in Athens. He has twice fought for a major title but fell short both times, to Wladimir Klitschko in 2013 and Anthony Joshua in 2018.
Povetkin seemed to be as surprised as everyone else when he put Whyte away. Mark Robinson / Matchroom Boxing
A loss on Saturday might’ve been the end of his career as an elite heavyweight. Instead, he shocked Whyte and the world by winning a fight he had been losing via what might be the Knockout of the Year.
The question now is: Can he do it again? If what Hearn said is accurate, then Povetkin will have to beat Whyte a second time to have a realistic chance of fighting for a major title. That seems to be unlikely based on what we saw for four rounds.
At the same time, Povetkin just proved he can deliver the unlikely.
Alexander Povetkin stopped Dillian Whyte with a single left uppercut in Round 5 Saturday in Brentwood, England.
Dillian Whyte, the longtime WBC mandatory title challenger, was in position to face the winner of the third Tyson Fury-Deontay Wilder fight for the championship sometime next year. All he had to do was beat the aging Alexander Povetkin on Saturday in Brentwood, England.
Oops.
Povetkin, who had been down twice in Round 4, stunned everyone watching by knocking Whyte down and out with a single uppercut 30 seconds into Round 5 to pump life into his career by winning the “interim” title and turn Whyte’s upside down.
The good news for Whyte could be that there was a rematch clause in the contract and he evidently plans to exercise it before the end of the year.
“There was a rematch clause,” promoter Eddie Hearn said. “When [Whyte] was leaving the ring, he said, ‘Get the rematch, get the rematch.”
Dillian Whyte (left) put Alexander Povetkin down twice in Round 4 and seemed to be in control Mark Robinson / Matchroom Boxing
Whyte (27-2, 18 KOs) had a miserable 2019, when a drug test after his victory over Oscar Rivas in July revealed an “adverse finding” and he was suspended only to be exonerated in December. Still, ranked No. 1 for two-plus years, he was in good position to get another shot at a title.
And things went well for four rounds Saturday at Fight Camp. The bigger man fought cautiously the first few rounds, jabbing nicely, going to the body on occasion, but taking no significant chances.
Then, in Round 4, he seemed to take full control of the fight. He landed two rights and then a short left hook forced Povetkin (36-2-1, 25 KOs) to one knee about 30 seconds into the round. A few minutes later a left uppercut put Povetkin on his side, giving Whyte a 10-7 round and all the momentum.
At that moment, it seemed only a matter of time before Whyte would put his seemingly tired, 40-year-old opponent away. However, heavyweight fights often provide surprises.
“I was pretty confident in the fourth round,” Povetkin said through a translator. “I went down but I was OK. It wasn’t too much damage so ….”
Jaws dropped when Povetkin did this to Whyte in Round 5. Mark Robinson / Matchroom Boxing
So it turned out he was right. About 20 seconds into Round 5, Povetkin slipped a lazy right from Whyte and landed a perfect left uppercut of his own that relieved Whyte of his senses before his back hit the canvas. Referee Mark Lyson didn’t bother count. Instead, he waved his arms immediately, ending the fight.
Whyte seemed dazed for several minutes after the knockout but, as Hearn pointed out, he was clear on what he must do if he wants to regain his status and fight for a major title.
“I can’t quite believe it,” Hearn said. “When he landed the punch, it felt like some dream. The fight was over virtually. Povetkin started well. Dillian Whyte was just measuring him and then he had the great finish to the round before, when he knocked Povetkin down. … I felt it was over, a lot of people felt it was over.
“The drama of the sport we love, the drama of heavyweight boxing is one punch change everything.”
The victory was arguably the greatest in the career of Povetkin, who turned pro in 2005, shortly after winning the heavyweight gold medal in the 2004 Olympics in Athens. He has twice fought for a major title but fell short both times, to Wladimir Klitschko in 2013 and Anthony Joshua in 2018.
Povetkin seemed to be as surprised as everyone else when he put Whyte away. Mark Robinson / Matchroom Boxing
A loss on Saturday might’ve been the end of his career as an elite heavyweight. Instead, he shocked Whyte and the world by winning a fight he had been losing via what might be the Knockout of the Year.
The question now is: Can he do it again? If what Hearn said is accurate, then Povetkin will have to beat Whyte a second time to have a realistic chance of fighting for a major title. That seems to be unlikely based on what we saw for four rounds.
At the same time, Povetkin just proved he can deliver the unlikely.
Here are Dillian Whyte’s Top 5 best performances in his career.
Heavyweight contender Dillian Whyte has had a number of big victories in his almost-decade-long professional career.
The Londoner’s consistency is the reason he’s the WBC’s “interim” titleholder and, if he can beat Alexander Povetkin on Saturday night, next in line to face the winner of Tyson Fury-Deontay Wilder III for the full heavyweight championship.
Whyte (27-1, 18 KOs) will take on Povetkin (35-2-1, 24 KOs) at Fight Camp in Brentwood, England, about 30 miles outside London. The card will be streamed on DAZN in the U.S.
Here are Whyte’s Top 5 best performances in his career. The video is courtesy of DAZN.
Here are Dillian Whyte’s Top 5 best performances in his career.
Heavyweight contender Dillian Whyte has had a number of big victories in his almost-decade-long professional career.
The Londoner’s consistency is the reason he’s the WBC’s “interim” titleholder and, if he can beat Alexander Povetkin on Saturday night, next in line to face the winner of Tyson Fury-Deontay Wilder III for the full heavyweight championship.
Whyte (27-1, 18 KOs) will take on Povetkin (35-2-1, 24 KOs) at Fight Camp in Brentwood, England, about 30 miles outside London. The card will be streamed on DAZN in the U.S.
Here are Whyte’s Top 5 best performances in his career. The video is courtesy of DAZN.
