DILLIAN WHYTE brutally stopped Alexander Povetkin in the fourth round as the Body Snatcher avenged his loss in Gibraltar.
There was no repeat of last summer as Whyte boxed on the front foot and knocked out Povetkin in stunning fashion.
Follow ALL of the latest reaction below…
FAN FAIR
It really was great to see fans back last night, even if it was just 500 spectators.
WHAT A PHOTO
Credit: Mark Robinson Matchroom Boxing DILL THE DAD
Dillian Whyte revealed he is yet to meet his four-month-old son due to his intense training camps for the Alexander Povetkin rematch.
Speaking to iFL TV behind the scenes after the fourth-round KO against the Russian, Whyte detailed the extent of his sacrifice.
He said: “My child hasn’t seen me. I’ve never met my son. Never. My son is four months old and I’ve never seen him.
“I call everyday and his mother has been great.
“It’s all good man but I worry because that’s what worriers do. You can’t be a half-term worrier you have to put everything in.”
Credit: Dave Thompson Matchroom Boxing
NO BAD BLOOD
HEARN ON WHAT’S NEXT FOR WHYTE
“I’d like to see him box quickly again in the summer, maybe go over to the States and have a fight over there,” the promoter said.
“We called for the Deontay Wilder fight for a long, long time. [Wilder] actually DM’d Dillian Whyte and said I will never, ever give you that fight.
“And now he got knocked out and he’s calling for the fight with Dillian Whyte.
“For me that’s a stadium fight, that’s a colossal fight. I’d like to get him back out quickly, maybe to the States for a big fight.
“The ultimate aim for Dillian Whyte has always been to challenge for the world heavyweight title.
“Everyone knows in boxing, he’s a handful for anyone in the division.
“Tonight was about getting his career back on track, getting the title ambition back on track, coming back from that KO.
“Now we regroup, we go again and the aim remains the same for Dillian Whyte to get a shot at a world heavyweight title.
“He’ll stay active. He loves to train, he loves to fight, he doesn’t want to rest, he wants to get out and fight.
“If that involves getting out quickly in the summer we’ve got to plan accordingly.”
POVETKIN DONE?
Will Povetkin retire after that pummeling last night?
The Russian is 41 now and has been in some real hard fights over the last few years.
He is further away from another world title shot than he was 12 months ago, so what else does he have left to achieve?
Let’s remember, he won Olympic gold in 2004. 2004!
Credit: Mark Robinson Matchroom Boxing WILDER, RUIZ, BRYANT?
What next for Whyte then?
Deontay Wilder and Andy Ruiz are big names being talked about. Whyte also mentioned that he would like to fight Trevor Bryant for the WBA regular title.
That’s the same belt David Haye won back in the day. Would we like to see that?
WHYTE FLAG
Dillian waved the Whyte flag after KOing Alexander Povetkin – by grabbing a stool for his defeated opponent in a classy gesture.
Povetkin – whose only two previous pro losses were to Wladimir Klitschko and Anthony Joshua – was getting treatment from his team standing in his corner.
But the Body Snatcher picked up a stool and brought it over for Povetkin to take a seat.
And then he poured water on the battered boxer to help cool him down.
The two fighters clearly had plenty of respect for one another afterwards as they embraced in the ring.
RUMBLE ON THE ROCK
Listen to Dillian Whyte’s post-fight comments!
REVENGE
What a performance from Dillian Whyte!
WHAT’S NEXT?
Promoter Eddie Hearn has given his thoughts on where Dillian Whyte’s next fight will be.
And all signs point towards a colossal fight in America.
Hearn said: “Let’s go over to the States and have a fight there.
“We’ve called for the [Deontay] Wilder fight for a long time. He DM’d and said he’d never give you [Whyte] the fight.
“But he got knocked out and now wants it, that’s a stadium fight.
“The ultimate game for him [Whyte] is to challenge for the heavyweight world title.”
Could we see Wilder vs Whyte?
TRILOGY?
Dillian Whyte gave his assessment on tonight’s thunderous win and has hinted at a third fight between the pair: “I’m sad it didn’t finish in the first round.
“I could’ve finished him early.
“I’m willing to run it back again, if he wants the rematch? I’m annoyed, I shouldn’t have lost the first time.
“All I had to do was be a bit smarter.
“I believe I can beat anybody. I t was a bit of an annoying camp, due to the reschedule.
“I changed up my nutrition. He had to pay tonight, man.”
AND NEW!
Dillian Whyte gets his redemption and wins back the belt he felt he should never have lost.
Whyte is WBC interim world heavyweight champion once again!
from summer shock to spring clean up – Whyte’s back on top!
WHYTE VS POVETKIN: WHYTE WINS
WOW!
Now that’s what you call a main event!
Whyte sent Povetkin stumbling backwards with a straight jab – the Russian bounced back off the ropes and right back into the path of a man on a mission.
The Brit hit the Russian with a wonderful left and right hook combination.
And then charged up his powerful left hook and knocked Povetkin out!
He’s not called The Body Snatcher for nothing!
AND IT’S ALL OVER!
WHYTE GETS IT ALL RIGHT AND HE KNOCKS POVETKIN OUT!
WHAT A PERFORMANCE FROM WHYTE!
ROUND 4: WHYTE VS POVETKIN
Whyte gets off to a thunderous start in round four and unloads some heavy right hooks!
Povetkin looks hurt – but we’ve seen it all before.
The Russian has the ability to pull a win from nothing. The last fight between the two is a prime example of that.
Whyte is getting some joy with the straight jab.
Both fighters are going for the knockout.
ROUND 3: WHYTE VS POVETKIN
Povetkin comes out fighting, he’s trying to get as close to Whyte as possible to land some heavy body shots.
Whyte has a slight wobble but is quickly back to his feet.
The Brit then lands a stiff shot to Povetkin’s body and the Russian is feeling the effects.
Whyte is trying to keep his distance whilst using his reach advantage.
ROUND 2: WHYTE VS POVETKIN
Povetkin steps in and Whyte sends the Russian stumbling again. Whyte looks switched on.
He can’t afford to let his concentration slip this time, he needs to finish the job!
Povetkin lands a nice combination to push Whyte towards the ropes, but the Brit responds with some shots of his own.
Whyte is leading his his left hand, looking to connect a couple shots to Povetkin’s body.
The pair are trading punches in the middle of the ring.
ROUND 1: WHYTE VS POVETKIN
Here we go. Twelve rounds of boxing!
Whyte has Povetkin STUMBLING across the ring after a series of wild swings! What a start by the Brit!
Povetkin manages to regain his composure and the pair are facing off in the middle of the ring.
Whyte lands another strong right hand – Povetkin has started very slow.
TALE OF THE TAPE
Here’s how both fighters shape up!
WHYTE VS POVETKIN
Whilst Sky follow Dillian Whyte with their cameras from his locker room, the crowd inside the Europa Point Sports Complex are singing their hearts out to Kings of Leon!
Here’s Whyte! He’s pumped up and looks ready to go. Revenge is very much on his mind.
David Diamante then welcomes WBC interim world heavyweight champion, Alexander Povetkin.
It’s main event time!
RUMBLE ON THE ROCK
Here’s what both fighters had to say ahead of tonight’s fight.
Whyte says Povetkin – who had been dropped twice – was about to be pulled out by his corner before his miracle punch last summer in their first fight, but Povetkin says this wasn’t the case.
Whyte said: “I lost to him but he was done – they were saying ‘we are pulling you out at the end of this round.
“They know him better than me. It’s hard for me to say what they were thinking, but don’t worry, I’ll try and help their hand this time. I definitely want to knock him out, one hundred percent.
Povetkin replied: “There was no such conversation in the corner [to stop the fight last time round].
“The people who know me know that I fight until the end. You can’t throw the towel in until the referee stops the fight.”
Source: Boxing - thesun.co.uk
