Whyte promises to KO Povetkin in rematch

Dillian Whyte has promised to knock out Alexander Povetkin in their rematch after his devastating defeat by the Russian on Saturday night.

‘The Body Snatcher’ (now 27-2) fell at the final hurdle in his bid to land a WBC world-title shot against the winner of Tyson Fury vs Deontay Wilder 3 early in 2021.

He appeared to be in total control for the first four rounds against the 40-year-old Povetkin (36-2-1) at Matchroom Fight Camp, scoring two knockdowns of his own in the fourth, but things went horribly south for the 32-year-old Brixton man in the fifth.

Povetkin produced a peach of a left uppercut through Whyte’s guard and connected right on the point of his chin. Dillian went down and was never beating the count as he suffered just the second defeat of his professional career (the first coming at the hands of Anthony Joshua in 2015).

Dillian Whyte vs. Alexander Povetkin
Dillian Whyte and Alexander Povetkin are expected to meet again later this year.

Whyte took to Instagram to reassure his fans of his wellbeing, and promise a different outcome in the expected rematch.

“Thanks everyone for their support. I’m fine, I’m well, I’m good. We didn’t get the victory I wanted, we set off alright and I was bossing the fight.

“I was bossing the fight but that’s heavyweight boxing. You get caught and you get stopped, that’s how it goes.

“You fight good fighters, you will get stopped at some point. You will get knocked down and knocked out.”

Whyte’s promoter Eddie Hearn said immediately after Saturday’s fight that the rematch clause will be exercised immediately with the hope the fight can happen before the end of 2020.

Whyte added: “But yeah the rematch, we reckon we can get it, November or December time. I’ll just gonna have another 10-12 days of and rest then I’ll get straight back in the gym and I’ll get ready.

“In the rematch I’ll knock Povetkin out, I promise that. Watch this space.”

Saturday’s Whyte vs Povetkin fight was screened on Sky Sports Box Office along with the rematch between Katie Taylor and Delfine Persoon. As yet there is news on how successful the bill was from a PPV perspective.