Dillian Whyte intent on revenge as he faces Povetkin on November 21

BY RICHARD CAWLEY
richard@slpmedia.co.uk

Dillian Whyte will get the chance to avenge his shock loss to Alexander Povetkin when the two heavyweights rematch on November 21.

The Brixton fighter looked on his way to victory after flooring his Russian opponent twice – but was knocked clean out by a brutal uppercut in the fifth round.

Whyte, 32, made it clear he wanted to invoke a clause for an immediate return. The loss – his first since being halted by Anthony Joshua in 2015 – saw him loss his interim WBC world title and also that organisation’s Diamond belt.

The South Londoner’s promoter Eddie Hearn had revealed recently that Povetkin, 41, was perfectly happy to head into a swift rematch.

Whyte said: “I can’t wait to get back in the ring and get back what is rightfully mine. I’m looking to do what I said I would the first time and that’s beat Alexander Povetkin.

“There won’t be any major adjustments, but I just need to be more switched on and not get distracted. He was able to use his experience against me.

“I will be a lot more focused and sharper in the rematch. I’m coming to win and knock him out. I’m coming to even the score and the only way to do that is by knocking him out.”

Povetkin said: “I’ve rested well, spent time with my family, and now that the date of the rematch is known, I will soon return to my training camp and prepare as thoroughly as I did for the first fight.

“As I said before the first fight and after it too, Dillian Whyte is a good, strong boxer.

“I will be ready to enter the ring on November 21. I hope it will be another beautiful fight for the fans.”

The bout will be shown again on Sky Box Office and could be in front of a live audience if spectators are allowed back into arenas towards the end of 2020.

Whyte-Povetkin took place at Matchroom Boxing’s Brentwood HQ  – Hearn opting for an outdoor setting to try as part of their Fight Camp series, with the aim being to give a different feel to events which didn’t have the atmosphere of a crowd.

Hearn said: “It’s so important to continue the momentum and as we leave behind an epic Fight Camp series, we now hope to see fans return to arenas. As those talks continue with the government, we are committed to running these shows with or without fans.”

Croydon light-heavyweight Joshua Buatsi  (12-0, 10 KOs) makes his return to the ring on Sunday October 4 as he faces undefeated Croatian and former amateur standout Marko Calic (11-0, 6 KOs).

The 27-year-old has not fought since stopping Ryan Ford at Greenwich’s 02 Arena in August 2019.

Brixton’s John Harding Jr (8-1-1, 2KOs) challanges Luton’s Linus Udofia (15-0, 7 KOs) for his English middleweight title on the same show.

Pictures by Mark Robinson