This article is about the first meeting between Dillian Whyte and Alexander Povetkin in August 2020. You can click here for details of their weigh-in for the rematch in Gibraltar on Saturday night.
Dillian Whyte looked in terrific condition at the weigh-in for his date with destiny against Alexander Povetkin on Saturday night – coming in more than a stone lighter than for his last fight.
‘The Body Snatcher’ (27-1), who has been preparing for the bout at camp in Portugal during the COVID-19 lockdown, tipped the scales at 252lbs (18st) ahead of his meeting with the dangerous Russian at Matchroom Fight Camp in Brentwood, Essex.
That was some 19lbs lighter than for his last outing against Poland’s Mariusz Wach on the Anthony Joshua vs Andy Ruiz Jr undercard in Saudi Arabia last December.
Whyte had come in at 271lbs (19st 5lbs) against Wach – the heaviest of his career, almost a stone heavier than his previous outing against Oscar Rivas in July 2019 and two stones heavier than for his rematch with Dereck Chisora in December 2018.
Dillian admitted earlier this week that he had not been in a great place for that bout after going through a difficult year in 2019 – saying his “mind was all over the place”.
He said: “People were saying things about me and you can’t defend yourself. My stock and value plummeted. I’m in a good place now. I’m back where I should be. I have an opportunity to shine against a good fighter and a credible world-ranked one.”
Povetkin meanwhile came in at 224lbs (16st) on Friday – 5lbs lighter than for his last fight, a draw with American Michael Hunter last December (again on the Joshua vs Ruiz 2 undercard). Then Povetkin had tipped the scales at 229lbs (16st 5lbs).
Saturday’s bout sees the WBC interim heavyweight title on the line along with the WBC Diamond Belt. And Whyte knows that if he comes out victorious, he will finally get his shot at the world title after a wait of more than 1000 days as mandatory contender.
The WBC ratified at its recent annual Convention that the winner will face the winner of current champion Tyson Fury vs Deontay Wilder 3. It is hope that fight – delayed twice already – will finally take place on Saturday December 19.
Saturday’s Whyte vs Povetkin card will be aired live on pay-per-view in the UK by Sky Sports Box Office (price £19.95). Meanwhile streaming platform DAZN will show the fight in nine markets – the United States, Canada, Germany, Japan, Brazil, Spain, Italy, Austria and Switzerland.
