Alexander Povetkin vs Dillian Whyte 2 has been rescheduled to take place on the new date of Saturday March 6 as UK boxing hopes to once again emerge from the COVID-19 pandemic.
The big heavyweight showdown does not yet have a confirmed venue, but Wembley Arena behind closed doors appears to be the favourite. That venue staged both Oleksandr Usyk vs Dereck Chisora in October and Anthony Joshua vs Kubrat Pulev in December.
Originally the rematch had been planned for Saturday November 21, but had to be cancelled when Povetkin was hospitalised after contracting COVID-19. Then a planned January 30 date had to be shelved with the Russian taking his time to recover from the virus.
Now of course boxing in the UK is closed down until February at least due to a third national lockdown of the pandemic. But at least there is now a date planned for Whyte’s revenge mission.
Whyte title hopes scuppered by Povetkin
‘The Body Snatcher’ (27-2) was WBC heavyweight mandatory contender and looking set for a title shot against Tyson Fury when he twice had Povetkin on the floor in round four of their first meeting back on August 22. Povetkin (36-2-1) though, from somewhere, found an astonishing left uppercut in the fifth to knock out Whyte in sensational fashion.
Now the rematch is once again set, with Eddie Hearn telling DAZN’s Ak And Barak Show: “This is obviously one that people know was gonna happen, but we will be announcing the official date of Whyte-Povetkin II, which is March the 6th.
“Of course, the first one was the final fight of fight camp, August 22. I mean, I can still see it in my mind. And that’s a big fight for the heavyweight division. Of course, while we’re trying to finalize AJ against Fury, Whyte-Povetkin’s right up there.
Big fight for Whyte…again
“You know, it’s for the mandatory position in the WBC. It’s a great heavyweight fight. So, that will be lodged into the opening part of our 2021 schedule. So, big, big fight for Dillian Whyte. It’s a must-win fight. And if he wins that fight, I know he wants a shot at the WBC title.”
Even if Whyte does settle the score with Povetkin and again assume the WBC mandatory mantle, he will have to wait for a title shot. The body has already given the go-ahead for Fury and Joshua to meet this year, and those two would likely rematch straight afterwards.
So any title shot for Whyte would appear to be in 2022 at the very earliest. First though, he must get revenge on the veteran Russian.
It is likely Povetkin vs Whyte 2 will again be a pay-per-view show on Sky Sports Box Office in the UK. Streaming platform DAZN meanwhile will likely air the bout in its 200 global markets – including the United States.
