Dillian Whyte is hoping to resurrect his world title ambitions when he rematches Alexander Povetkin in Gibraltar on Saturday evening.
The Briton was firmly in control of the pair’s first fight, flooring Povetkin twice in the early rounds, but was knocked out cold by a breathtaking uppercut in the fifth round.
The shock defeat left Whyte’s world title dreams in tatters, having spent over 1,000 days as the WBC’s mandatory challenger, with Deontay Wilder instead going on to defend his belt against Tyson Fury. With a clause in the contract, Whyte immediately sought a rematch against Povetkin, however, the bout was initially postponed after the Russian was hospitalised after contracting coronavirus.
Follow live: Whyte vs Povetkin: Live stream, latest updates, undercard results and how to watch online
Meanwhile, Whyte was training in Portgual, which was subsequently placed on the government’s Red List. Due to not being able to return to the UK without quarantining and severely disrupting his training camp, the card instead takes place on the rock of Gibraltar. Whyte’s protege, Fabio Wardley, will star on the undercard, taking a significant step up against former Anthony Joshua victim Eric Molina, while Ricky Hatton’s son, Campbell, makes his professional debut. Here is everything you need to know:
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When is the fight?
The bout will take place on 27 March at the Europa Point Sports Complex in Gibraltar.
What time are the ringwalks?
The undercard will begin at 6pm with the main event expected to start at around 10.30pm.
How can I watch it online and on TV?
The fight will be broadcast live on Sky Sports Box Office and will cost £19.95 to purchase.
Who is on the undercard?
- Ted Cheeseman vs JJ Metcalf (British super-welterweight title)
- Fabio Wardley vs Eric Molina (heavyweight)
- Youssef Khoumari vs Kane Baker (super-featherweight)
- Chris Kongo vs Michael Mickinson (WBO global welterweight title)
- Eric Pfeifer vs Nick Webb (heavyweight)
- Campbell Hatton vs Jesus Ruiz (debut)
What have the fighters said?
Whyte: “It’s the most important fight of my career,” said Whyte. “But I’ve been through ups and downs my whole life; I’m used to coming back and proving people wrong, I’m used to showing people what I can do if they write me off. The main thing is to win. I’m a competitor and I hate losing at anything so I want to make it 1-1. That’s the plan.”
Povetkin: “I’ve almost forgotten the last fight because this is another story and I think Dillian will be better in the second fight than the first one,” said Povetkin. “But at the same time I will try to be more careful and pay attention to my defence.
“I don’t have this feeling that I will knock him out. I just (want) to come over and win. It could (go) the distance. I’m not focused on the knockout, I just need to follow my plan.”
What are the odds?
Whyte - 2/7, KO - 8/11, Decision - 3/1
Povetkin - 5/2, KO - 3/1, Decision - 12/1
