Dillian Whyte dominated Alexander Povetkin for four rounds until a huge uppercut in the fifth changed everything. Now, his last chance to salvage his world title aspirations has been given a date.
Dillian Whyte (27-2, 18 KOs) and Alexander Povetkin (36-2-1, 25 KOs) will indeed rematch for the interim WBC heavyweight championship, Matchroom Boxing have announced.
COVID-19 restrictions have forced a three-week delay to the long-awaited rematch.
Dillian Whyte will have to wait just a little bit longer to try and avenge his surprising loss to Alexander Povetkin, with their rematch moved from March 6 to Match 27 with a new location of Gibraltar.
“In the current environment, we are always having to think on our feet,” Whyte’s promoter at Matchroom Boxing Eddie Hearn said. “We did everything to try and make March 6 happen, but with the new travel restrictions, it was impossible.”
Whyte controlled the first four rounds against Povetkin at Fight Camp in August only to be flattened by a tremendous uppercut out of nowhere in the fifth.
The Londoner must win his contracted rematch to revive his hopes of challenging for a world heavyweight title. The second meeting was postponed from its initial November date when the Russian contracted the coronavirus.
Hearn’s planned January reschedule was thwarted when the veteran struggled to fully recover from the illness, but March 6 was confirmed as part of their spring schedule. Further restrictions due to the pandemic have forced an additional delay.
Details on the venue will be confirmed in due course, but the card will still air on Sky Sports Box Office in the UK and Ireland and on DAZN everywhere else across the globe.
“Now we have something outside the box, compelling, and a unique setting for one of the Heavyweight Fights of the Year – roll on the Rumble on the Rock!,” Hearn said.
