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Nick Parkinson
Dillian Whyte is back in the heavyweight world title after taking revenge on Alexander Povetkin with a fourth-round TKO win on Saturday.
Whyte regained the WBC intertitle after flattening Povetkin with a left hook at the Europa Point Sports Complex in Gibraltar, a British overseas territory located at the southern tip of Spain.
Povetkin knocked out Whyte last August, but he couldn’t repeat the feat as he was beaten as a pro for the third time. His two other losses came on points to Wladimir Klitschko for the WBA, IBF and WBO titles in 2013 and by hiatus to Anthony Joshua for the same ties three years ago.
While Povetkin may be considering retiring, Whyte has given his career a much-needed boost. However, with rival world champions Tyson Fury (WBC) and Joshua (WBA, IBF, WBO) in advanced talks over a two-fight deal, Whyte will be waiting a while for a first world title.
“If he wants a rematch and it’s the right money, I’ll fight him again because I shouldn’t have lost the first time – I get annoyed with myself,” Whyte said of Povetkin.
“I had played him through from the first round, then I thought I should relax and not blow up. He’s only lost to Klitschko and Joshua – that shows how good he is. I can beat anyone.”
This was a dangerous, indispensable fight for Whyte. Povetkin may turn 41, but in recent years he has proven that his strength continues to make him one of the leading heavyweights in boxing. Last August, Povetkin (36-3-1, 25 KO’s) recovered from two knockdowns in the fourth round and knocked out Whyte with a left uppercut in the fifth.
Whyte (28-2, 19 KO’s), 32, simply couldn’t afford a third career loss, after also being stopped by Joshua in 2015. The loss to Povetkin cost Whyte first place in the queue for a WBC title . to No. 6 in the ranking of that governing body. The other three governing bodies don’t even place Whyte in their top 10.
Saturday’s win repairs the damage done to Whyte’s career last summer after beating the most experienced heavyweights.
“ Tonight was all about getting his career back on track, and he showed tonight that he would not be turned down. We are back where we wanted to be and the goal remains the same – to give Dillian a shot at the world title, ”said Matchroom promoter Eddie Hearn, who expects Whyte to fight again in the summer.
Whyte, who moved from Jamaica to London at the age of 12, let go of his hands in the first round and Povetkin was sent dizzy from two shots before recovering quickly.
Povetkin, who had tested positive for COVID-19, delaying the rematch from November, saw a different side of Whyte in the second, as the Londoner patiently blocked his shot.
Whyte hurt Povetkin with a right in the third round, and the English boxer came out swinging in the fourth. Later in the fourth, Whyte Povetkin staggered with a one-two, and when the Russian tripped over the ring, Whyte jumped with a right and left hook. Povetkin hit the canvas and when he got up again on shaky legs, the fight was called off.
Afterward, Whyte pulled out a stool for the dazed Povetkin to sit on before partying in front of a crowd limited to 500 due to coronavirus restrictions.
On the undercard, Campbell Hatton – son of former two-way world champion Ricky Hatton – made a successful professional debut with a 40-36 point victory over Spaniard Jesus Ruiz (0-11). Hatton, 20, attacked the body like his dad always did, winning every round in a lightweight four-round bout.
“I don’t think I’ve tried my best. I think my nerves are getting to me; it can only get better next time,” said Hatton.
Ted Cheeseman (17-2-1, 10 KOs) claimed the British Super Welterweight title with a dramatic finish in an 11th round win over James Metcalf (21-1, 13 KOs).
Cheeseman, a Londoner nicknamed ‘The Big Cheese’, landed a barrage of shots and ended Metcalf with a left hook to the jaw at the end of the 11th.
England heavyweight Fabio Wardley (11-0, 10 KOs), trained by Ricky Hatton, scored a fifth round knockout victory over 38-year-old Texan Eric Molina (27-7, 19 KOs). Molina, who was stopped by Joshua and Deontay Wilder from world titles in 2016 and 2015, did well until 26-year-old Wardley fights back from the ropes to great effect.