1 month ago
1 The rematch between Dillian Whyte and Alexander Povetkin is off – for now – following news that the Russian has tested positive for coronavirus.
The two were set to meet again later this month following Povetkin’s stunning win over the summer.
Dillian Whyte and Alexander Povetkin will meet in their rematch on November 21Mark Robinson/MatchroomWhyte controlled their clash in August for the first four rounds but was then caught by a sickening blow from Povetkin at the start of the fifth. The Brixton native hit the deck out cold in an incredible turn around.
Whyte had wanted to avenge that loss before the end of the year but Povetkin is now in self-isolation having contracted COVID-19.
Following that news, boxing supremo Eddie Hearn offered Tyson Fury the chance to fight Whyte as a replacement but the WBC champion’s promoter, Frank Warren, has ruled that out.
Whyte is now set to wait for Povetkin rather than take on anyone else and so here’s what we know about when the rematch could take place…
Whyte vs Povetkin 2: Date and time
These two went head-to-head on August 22 at the Matchroom HQ as Povetkin claimed his stunning win.
They were set to meet again in a 12-round heavyweight contest on Saturday, November 21 at Wembley Arena in London but that date had to scrapped.
With no other fights on the horizon, Whyte is prepared to wait for the WBC interim heavyweight champion and a new date is being pencilled in for Saturday, January 20, 2021.
Alexander Povetkin knocked Dillian Whyte out cold in the fifth round of their first fightMark Robinson/MatchroomWhyte vs Povetkin 2: What has been said?
Hearn had teased Whyte facing Fury after Povetkin’s withdrawal.
But Fury’s promoter, Warren, has ruled out the idea of Whyte facing the ‘Gypsy King’.
He told talkSPORT: “Correct me if I’m wrong, but didn’t Dillian Whyte get absolutely poleaxed in his last fight?
“At that time, he was the mandatory challenger to Tyson, he kept going on about it, he was going to sue everybody. Then stupidly, they put him in with Povetkin and he poleaxed him.
Frank Warren suggests Dillian Whyte fight dangerous unbeaten Croatian heavyweight, rather than Tyson Fury like Eddie Hearn wants
“That’s it, he’s lost his chance. We don’t need him. What is in it for us?”
Following Warren’s comments, Whyte’s promoter, Eddie Hearn, said: “If not Fury then Povetkin.
“The fight he wants more than anything is Povetkin because he has to rectify that defeat.
“There was one other fight he would take, and that was Fury on December 5. I’m not sure we expect that to happen.
“Realistically we will postpone the fight with Povetkin to January 30.”
Whyte vs Povetkin 2: Tale of the tape
Whyte – Povetkin
Nationality: British – Russian
Age: 32 – 41
Height: 6ft 4 – 6ft 2
Stance: Orthodox – Orthodox
Reach: 78 – 75in
Record: 27-2-0 – 36-2-1
KOs: 18 – 25
Rounds: 160 – 260
Debut: 13/5/2011 – 11/6/2005
Alias: The Body Snatcher – Russian Vityaz
English (United States)