Former interim WBC Heavyweight Champion Dillian Whyte took to Instagram and shared a statement with fans regarding his KO loss. ‘The Body Snatcher’ was stopped by challenger Alexander Povetkin in what was a shocking turn of events. The scheduled bout took place in the Matchroom Fight Camp in Brentwood and produced a possible ‘KO of the Year’ performance.
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Chiefly, Dillian Whyte was dominating the striking exchanges in the pocket and exhibited a strong sense of overall defense. He landed heavy strikes that dropped Povetkin twice in the fourth round. ‘The White Lion’ mounted a comeback and ended Whyte’s night in the fifth round with a lethal left uppercut.
Dillian Whyte x Alexander Povetkin: A look ahead
Whyte has now suffered his second career defeat after losing to Anthony Joshua back in 2015 in the 02 arena. He lost his mandatory WBC challenger status and thus his opportunity to fight Tyson Fury in a unification bout. The Brixton native will seek to operate the rematch clause in his contract for a bout against Povetkin in December.
The newly minted interim champion was denied the unification opportunity that was extended to Whyte. The WBC confirmed that Alexander ‘Sasha’ Povetkin won’t be a mandatory challenger to ‘The Gypsy King’ despite holding the gold strap. The 41-year-old will be keen to extend his winning performance against Whyte in a rematch and turn towards more lucrative opportunities.
Additionally, he too has suffered a brutal loss to multi-institutional champion AJ and will be keen to run it back. The marquee names in the sport of boxing are all booked in high-profile match-ups that have combat sports fans excited. What’s more, the heavyweight division has been producing electrifying finishes amongst its top draws, breathing new life into the sport.
As for Dillian Whyte, he will have to return to the drawing board and aim on reclaiming his top spot. The KO was a reminder that a single punch can change the narrative of a scrap in the heavyweight division.
Watch: Highlights: Dillian Whyte vs Alexander Povetkin
