Dillian Whyte wants the chance to avenge his stunning loss by Alexander Povetkin with a rematch before the end of 2020 – ideally in December.
The 32-year-old Brixton star (now 27-2) saw his world-title dreams shattered by a beautiful left uppercut from the 40-year-old Povetin (now 36-2-1), which landed him flat on his back in round 5.
The stoppage loss costs Whyte his chance to challenge the winner of Tyson Fury vs Deontay Wilder 3 for the WBC world heavyweight title – all the more agonising given ‘The Body Snatcher’ had been the mandatory contender for more than 1000 days.
Despite his victory, Povetkin does not earn that shot at Fury or Wilder, and instead the rematch clause with Whyte will almost certainly come into play immediately.
Whyte told his promoter Eddie Hearn on Instagram: “Can we get the rematch in December?”
Dillian – who took a while to get up after the punch that shattered his dreams of world-title glory – said afterwards that he was fine physically.
“Okay cool. I’m good, I’m good, it’s one of them things where he just landed,” he explained.
“I was bossing it. It is what it is. Rematch, it’s all good. That’s what heavyweight boxing is about.”
Hearn meanwhile confirmed that there is the rematch clause, and it will be activated – hopefully allowing the return to take place before the end of 2020.
He told Sky Sports Box Office: “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.”
Whyte vs Povetkin 2 would only add to what is shaping up to be a stellar end to 2020 for what is now an intriguing heavyweight division.
Anthony Joshua (23-1) is expected to defend his IBF, WBA and WBO titles against Bulgarian Kubrat Pulev (28-1) at London’s O2 Arena in early December. And that Fury vs Wilder 3 trilogy fight is tentatively set for Saturday December 19 – likely in Las Vegas.
Andy Ruiz Jr (33-2) meanwhile – who handed Joshua his only professional loss so far in that stunner at Madison Square Garden last year – is expected to return to action late in the year against Chris Arreola.
