Boxing: Alexander Povetkin stuns Dillian Whyte with a fifth round KO

Boxing: Alexander Povetkin stuns Dillian Whyte with a fifth round KO

• Povetkin stuns the boxing world by knocking out Whyte in the fifth round
• Whyte looked heading to a win and dropped the Russian twice in the fourth round
• Povetkin landed an deep uppercut in the fifth round that sent the Brit to the canvas and secured the win
• Mental Health and Psychosocial considerations during the COVID-19 pandemic

Povetkin stuns Whyte with a fifth round knockout.

It was billed as the ‘stepping-stone’ fight for Whyte. After waiting for more than 1000 days for a chance at the WBC title. Standing on his path to a mega-fight against the Gypsy King Tyson Fury was a 40-year old Russian heavyweight.

In their pre-fight conference, Whyte reiterated his plan to end the fight early with a knock-out.

True to his plan, he started brightly, dominating the scorecards in the opening rounds.

Jabbing and landing heavy body-shots on the Russian.

Whyte sent Povetkin to the canvas twice in the fourth round.

It looked all settled.

In the fifth round, Povetkin turned the fight around.

A devastating uppercut from the 40-year old saw Whyte sent to the canvas all cold.

So heavy was the punch that the Brit needed oxygen as he stumbled back to his feet.

Not only had he suffered a bitter loss but his hopes of a mandatory shot at Fury’s WBC heavyweight title now dashed in the most shocking of fashions.

It was Whyte’s second career defeat – the other coming in a KO loss to Anthony Joshua.

Immediately after the fight, the 32-year old Brit was baying for revenge.

Speaking to promoter Eddie Hearn via Matchroom’s Instagram, Whyte said:

‘Can we get the rematch in December?’

‘Okay cool. I’m good, I’m good, it’s one of them things where he just landed.

‘I was bossing it.

‘It is what it is. Rematch, it’s all good. That’s what heavyweight boxing is about.’

Matchroom Boxing supremo Hearn has confirmed that Whyte will be able to trigger a clause in his contract to force through a highly-anticipated rematch.