This is a preview of Alexander Povetkin vs Dillian Whyte. You can click here for a full report on how Whyte stopped Povetkin in four rounds on Saturday March 27 in Gibraltar.
Alexander Povetkin vs Dillian Whyte 2 will finally happen on Saturday March 27, 2021.
The rematch between these two elite behemoths had been due to happen on November 21 last year. But then Povetkin was hospitalised with COVID-19. The Russian’s recovery was not a swift one, meaning a revised plan for January 30 also had to be shelved. Then March 6 was postponed due to COVID-19 travel restrictions.
The Brixton man knows he cannot lose to the Russian again after suffering a devastating fifth-round stoppage at the hands of the former world heavyweight champion at Matchroom Fight Camp on Saturday August 22.
IT’S FIGHT SEASON ON DAZN: Sign up now to watch Povetkin vs Whyte 2!
That shock, defeat courtesy of a beautiful left uppercut, wrecked Whyte’s dream of a shot at the winner of Tyson Fury vs Deontay Wilder 3 for the WBC world heavyweight title, and now his very career at the top is under threat.
A win would see him regain his spot as WBC mandatory contender, but would give no guarantee of when his title shot may come. Last time he waited more than 1000 days for his chance before falling at the very last hurdle.
The WBC has already said that mandatory benefits will not be immediate after backing a unification match between reigning title holder Tyson Fury and IBF, WBA and WBO ruler Anthony Joshua.
Povetkin vs Whyte 2 date, time and venue
As stated, the date for Povetkin vs Whyte 2 will finally take place on Saturday March 27, 2021.
The bout will take place on Gibraltar after the venue switch from London due to those COVID-19 travel restrictions.
The main event will start between 2200 GMT and 2300 GMT, and in the United States between 1700 ET and 1800 ET.
Povetkin vs Whyte 2 TV channel and live stream
Povetkin vs Whyte 2 will, like their first meeting, be aired live on pay-per-view in the UK by Sky Sports Box Office, priced at £19.95.
Streaming platform DAZN meanwhile will show Whyte vs Povetkin in the United States as part of its relationship with Hearn’s Matchroom Boxing. The service is now live in more 200 markets globally.
The DAZN service can be streamed live through all major platforms – including smart TVs, set-top boxes, streaming sticks, smartphones, tablets, PCs and game consoles – and costs either $19.99 in the United States for a monthly subscription or $99 for an annual subscription.
DAZN is now available in the UK after that global launch last December, but Hearn’s contract with Sky in the UK means Povetkin vs Whyte will not air on the platform there.
Povetkin vs Whyte 2 weights
Official weights for Alexander Povetkin vs Dillian Whyte 2 were announced at the weigh-in in Gibraltar on Friday March 26.
Whyte tipped the scales at 247lbs (17st 9lbs) – some 5lbs lighter than he had been for the meeting. Povetkin meanwhile came in at 228lbs (16st 4lbs) – 4lbs heavier than he had for their first meeting.
Povetkin vs Whyte 2 odds
Despite that shock in the first fight the UK bookmakers still make Dillian Whyte an odds-on favourite to gain revenge. ‘The Body Snatcher’ is a best-priced 2/7 to win. Povetkin meanwhile is generally a 5/2 shot with the draw a best-priced 47/1.
Povetkin vs Whyte 2 predictions
Our expert has previewed Saturday night’s big fight and you can read his full predictions here.
His standout tip is Whyte to win in Rounds 1-6 at odds of 4/1.
Alexander Povetkin record and profile
Alexander Povetkin has fought 39 times as a professional – registering 36 victories against two defeats with one draw. A total of 25 of Povetkin’s victories have come inside distance.
Povetkin was born in Kursk, Russa on September 2, 1979 and is currently 41 years old. He stands 6ft 2ins tall and has a reach of 75 ins. He weighed in at 224lbs at for his most recent bout – that stunning fifth-round stoppage of Whyte in Brentwood, Essex on Saturday August 22.
Earlier in his career, Povetkin became WBA world heavyweight champion when he scored a unanimous points victory over Ruslan Chagaev. That win in Erfurt, Germany in August 2011 earned him the vacant belt. He defended the title successfully on four occasions.
The first defeat of Povetkin’s career came when he lost his WBA world heavyweight title to Wladimir Klitschko in Moscow, Russia on October 5, 2013. Klitschko claimed the belt with a victory by unanimous decision.
Povetkin did not taste defeat again until September 22, 2018. That was when he was stopped by Anthony Joshua in his challenge for the IBF, WBA and WBO world heavyweight titles at London’s Wembley Stadium. Povetkin started well and gave Joshua problems in the early going. But his bigger and stronger opponent gradually took control before forcing a stoppage in round 7.
Dillian Whyte record and profile
Dillian Whyte, known as ‘The Body Snatcher’, has fought 29 times professionally. He has registered 27 victories against just two defeats. Eighteen of those victories have come inside distance.
Whyte, born in Port Antonio, Jamaica on April 11, 1988, is now 32 years old. He fights out of Brixton in London, England. He turned professional on May 13, 2011 and won his first 16 fights in the paid ranks.
Whyte’s first professional defeat came at the hands of current IBF, WBA and WBO world heavyweight champion Anthony Joshua. The pair had a cracking scrap at London’s O2 Arena on December 12, 2015. Whyte eventually went down to defeat via a seventh-round TKO.
After that Joshua setback, Whyte racked up 11 victories on the bounce before the stunning loss to Povetkin.
Whyte stands 6ft 4ins tall and has a reach of 78 ins. He weighed 252lbs (18st) for his most recent bout. That of course was the first match with Povetkin.
Dillian had Xavier Miller heading up his corner for the first time in the first fight with Povetkin. He had split shortly before from Mark Tibbs. Whyte and Tibbs had teamed up for 11 straight victories after the loss to Joshua.
Povetkin vs Whyte 2 undercard
Chief support for Povetkin vs Whyte 2 is still to be announced, while Bermondsey’s Ted Cheeseman (16-2-1, 9 KOs) takes on Liverpool’s James Metcalf (21-0, 13 KOs) for the vacant British Super-Welterweight Title.
Ipswich Heavyweight talent Fabio Wardley (10-0, 9 KOs) steps-up again against USA’s former World Title challenger Eric Molina (27-6, 19 KOs). Meanwhile while Manchester Super-Featherweight Campbell Hatton – son of British great Ricky Hatton – makes his professional debut and Wembley Super-Featherweight Youssef Khoumari ( 11-0-1, 4 KOs) faces Birmingham’s Kane Baker (14-7).
Bermondsey Chris Kongo (12-0, 7 Kos) defends his his WBO Global Title against Michael McKinson.
