Boxing

DILLIAN WHYTE has been given a 28-day medical suspension after his brutal knock out by Alexander Povetkin.
It puts him out of action and unable to spar for four weeks, with the British Board of Boxing Control able to impose the ban on any fighter who has been stopped from punches.

2

Dillian Whyte has been given a 28-day medical suspension having been brutally knocked out by Alexander PovetkinCredit: Mark Robinson/Matchroom
Whyte’s promoter Eddie Hearn insists it does not affect plans for a rapid rematch, which is targeted for the end of the year, with Whyte having already planning for a short rest period.
Hearn told Boxing Social: “Dillian has to go at the end of November at the latest.
“That would mean a three week rest now and getting back into camp.
“He’s physically fine, we know it was a bad knockout and there will be a 28-day suspension which won’t really affect this fight.”

Whyte – who was controlling the fight – saw his WBC mandatory position go up in smoke after being stopped for the second time in his career.
The Brit banger was caught by a Povetkin uppercut that left him sparko on the canvas.

2

He now has the chance to win back his right to challenge Tyson Fury, 32, by enacting revenge of veteran Povetkin, 40.
But rival matchmaker Frank Warren fears the beaten 32-year-old is being rushed back into a rerun too soon – a decision he calls “crazy”.

Warren said to talkSPORT: “I’m a bit surprised they’re talking about trying to get it on in November.
“Straight away when you get knocked out, the British Boxing Board of Control give a minimum 28/30 days before you can even get back into the gym and resume sparring.

HARRY COMES ACROPOLIS
Maguire says ‘truth can’t be hidden’ after cop assault conviction

Exclusive

HARRY’S HIDEAWAY
Inside luxury £21,000-a-week villa where Harry Maguire stayed before brawl

STRUCK DOWN
Bolt’s agent confirms positive coronavirus test as police probe birthday party

heart scare
Ex-Utd ace Blind COLLAPSES mid-game as Dutch star’s heart problems resurface

LEO HINT?
Wantaway Messi follows just four clubs on Twitter including Man City and Chelsea

“But when you get a bad knockout, and that was a bad knockout, sometimes they extend that to maybe 45 days.
“To be saying they’re gonna put that fight back on again in November is crazy.
“Anybody around Dillian Whyte – and I’m sure Dillian would fight him tomorrow – but anyone around him needs to protect him and ensure that doesn’t happen.”

Eddie Hearn says Dillian Whyte will rematch against Alexander Povetkin by the end of the year More

TONY BELLEW warned Dillian Whyte’s career is on the line when he rematches Alexander Povetkin.
Whyte surrendered his WBC mandatory position after Povetkin, 40, pulled off an upset by knocking out the 32-year-old.

3

Alexander Povetkin warned Whyte’s career is on the line when he rematches PovetkinCredit: Mark Robinson Ltd

3

Tony Bellew believes if the fight goes late it favours Fury
He has the chance to enact revenge against the former champion and win back his right to challenge Tyson Fury, 32, in a rerun targeted for November.
But Bellew believes there is more at stake than just a heavyweight ranking when Whyte risks back-to-back defeats by immediately rematching Povetkin.
He told talkSPORT: “I definitely believe Dillian Whyte will still get to the final destination and become a heavyweight champion of the world.
“Just the right opponents at the right time. We’ve gotta remember, 1,000 days he’s been waiting to challenge for the WBC world title.

“And for 800 of them days Deontay Wilder’s been the world champion – a man who didn’t want to face Dillian Whyte, didn’t wanna know.

3

“He was facing taxi drivers instead of facing Dillian Whyte.
“It’s wrong what’s been done to the lad, but he’s now in this very strange position where he’s gotta go into the rematch and his career is on the line.
“I believe Dillian will beat Povetkin. I think he needs to go in there and perform basically the same.

“Just, when you go in for the final finish, you’ve got to be alert and aware.”
Whyte had been ordered to face the winner between Fury and 34-year-old Deontay Wilder – who are signed to a trilogy bout.
Wilder had remained radio silent since losing the belt to the Gypsy King in February.

Exclusive

HARRY’S HIDEAWAY
Inside luxury £21,000-a-week villa where Harry Maguire stayed before brawl

HARRY COMES ACROPOLIS
Maguire says ‘truth can’t be hidden’ after cop assault conviction

STRUCK DOWN
Bolt’s agent confirms positive coronavirus test as police probe birthday party

heart scare
Ex-Utd ace Blind COLLAPSES mid-game as Dutch star’s heart problems resurface

LEO HINT?
Wantaway Messi follows just four clubs on Twitter including Man City and Chelsea

Gossip

PEP TALK
Messi ‘contacts Pep’ to tell him he wants City transfer after forcing Barca exit

But he could not help but send an indirect message to rival Whyte, after his second career loss.
Wilder tweeted: “I believe in glaz da glaz!!!”
The phrase ‘glaz da glaz’ translates from Russian into ‘an eye for an eye’ – poking fun at Whyte’s defeat to Russia’s Povetkin.

Eddie Hearn says Dillian Whyte will rematch against Alexander Povetkin by the end of the year More

DILLIAN WHYTE is in line to rematch Alexander Povetkin in November to try and salvage his shot at the WBC title next year.
Whyte saw his mandatory position for Tyson Fury’s belt go up in smoke after Alexander Povetkin, 40, brutally knocked him out.

3

Dillian Whyte plans to rematch Alexander Povetkin by the end of the year
It meant his guaranteed title fight for next year was instead handed over to Povetkin, with the gutted 32-year-old now needing to win the right to fight for the belt back from the Russian.
But with Anthony Joshua, 30, facing Kubrat Pulev in December and Fury, 32, hoping to get his rematch with Wilder in before Christmas, promoter Eddie Hearn revealed Whyte’s pay-per-view rematch will need to happen a month earlier.
Hearn told Boxing Social: “Dillian, really, has to go at the end of November at the latest.
“That would mean a three week rest now and getting back into camp.

“He’s physically fine, we know it was a bad knockout and there will be a 28-day suspension but which won’t really affect this fight.”

3

Whyte had threatened to scupper an undisputed title decider between Joshua and Fury, having been mandated to challenge for the WBC crown.
Now his 1,000-day wait as No1 challenger has vanished, and he could be made to wait another year, per the WBC’s rules.
But Hearn warned should he enact revenge on Povetkin before the year’s out, they could lobby to have Whyte face the winner between 34-year-old Wilder and Fury.

That would mean sticking to the original plan mapped out before the upset loss in the back garden of Matchroom’s HQ.
Hearn said: “There is going to be a big advantage for Povetkin and Whyte to do that fight before Wilder – Fury fight.
“Because then they can push their position with the WBC.

I think all being well this fight could happen as early as November, but we’ll have to see how things go
Hearn on Whyte vs Povetkin 2

“That’s something we’ve got to speak to Povetkin about. I think Dillian would be right and ready to box at the end of November.
“Lets see if Povetkin – we know he’s under contract for the rematch – but he’s got to be comfortable to take that fight at that period as well.
“I think all being well this fight could happen as early as November, but we’ll have to see how things go.”
Whyte appeared to be cruising against Povetkin, twice flooring him in the fourth.
But the following round saw the unfancied Russian land a lethal left uppercut, leaving Whyte for the second time in his career unconscious.
The beaten Brit remained modest in his shock loss, but vowed to return the favour in the rematch.

HARRY COMES ACROPOLIS
Maguire says ‘truth can’t be hidden’ after cop assault conviction

Exclusive

HARRY’S HIDEAWAY
Inside luxury £21,000-a-week villa where Harry Maguire stayed before brawl

STRUCK DOWN
Bolt’s agent confirms positive coronavirus test as police probe birthday party

heart scare
Ex-Utd ace Blind COLLAPSES mid-game as Dutch star’s heart problems resurface

FRANKLY SPEAKING
Whyte given 28-day suspension as Warren fears he’s rushing Povetkin rerun

LEO HINT?
Wantaway Messi follows just four clubs on Twitter including Man City and Chelsea

Whyte said on Instagram: “We are working on the rematch now, hopefully we can get it November/December time.
“I’m probably going to have another ten or 12 days of rest and then I’ll get straight back into the gym and get ready.
“Trust me in the rematch I’ll knock Povetkin out, promise that. Watch this space.”

3

Tyson Fury and Deontay Wilder are signed to fight by the end of 2020

Alexander Povetkin given hero’s welcome on return to Russia after stunning Dillian Whyte KO More

DILLIAN WHYTE’S trainer Dave Coldwell has taken to social media to defend the British heavyweight in the wake of his defeat to Alexander Povetkin. The 32-year-old was shockingly KO’d in the fifth round of Saturday night’s Fight Camp bout with Povetkin, 40. And while the result will go into the great library of heavyweight shocks, […] More