Povetkin vs Whyte : Alexander Povetkin is knocked out by Dillian Whyte in round four of the high-stakes heavyweight match
Alexander Povetkin was defeated by Dillian Whyte in his second fight. Whyte blended destruction with discipline to win the fourth round.
Alexander Povetkin was flattened by Dillian Whyte with a big left hook following an inspiring performance in Gibraltar.
Whyte put Povetkin at the brink of a knockout during their second heavyweight fight and ended the show dramatically, returning the favor after his defeat to the Russian last January.
Whyte’s fight with Whyte was a mix of destruction and discipline that has brought him back to the front of the pack of contenders in the division, where Tyson Fury and Anthony Joshua are poised to determine the undisputed champion.
If Whyte lost again, his world title hopes would be in ruins. He had seen his status as WBC mandatory competitor after a 1,000-day wait disappear when he was knocked out previously by Povetkin.
He delivered a career-best performance punctuated with a vicious conclusion following a trademark left hook.
Povetkin was left with a bruise and was tumbling around in the first minute. It was an exciting start, where both heavyweights were within the danger zone and hurled punches that would end the fight right away.
Povetkin was already bloodied and unstable when Whyte hit him with another right-hand, just inside the first round.
Whyte ignored Povetkin’s request to touch gloves before the second round. Instead, he hammered home a straight right-hand that left a mark.
Whyte’s accurate attack was just as important as his defense against Povetkin’s left hand.
His new trainer Harold ‘The Shadow” Knight told Whyte, who was recruited because of his ability to win rematches following his work with Lennox Lewis.
The third round saw Whyte land a devastating overhand.
Povetkin was left stunned when Whyte landed a second, more severe right hand in the fourth round. However, Povetkin had learned from their fight last year and was cautious with his follow up.
However, Povetkin’s resistance to the fourth was broken by Whyte 30 seconds after the end of the fifth. Whyte hit Povetkin with a left-hook.
The Russian fighter, who had lost only to Joshua and Wladimirklitschko in 39 fights before, fell and the referee disqualified the fight.
Whyte quickly found a stool to seat his rival, and they hugged after Povetkin had regained his feet.
Whyte won the WBC interim heavyweight title. He had entered with a tribute boxing legend Marvin Hagler.
He spoke of a third fight against Povetkin (now 41), while the world titles would be tied up with Joshua or Fury.
Eddie Hearn suggested Deontay wilder as his next opponent.
