Alexander Povetkin got interesting greeting in Russia Sunday

The day after his devastating one punch KO of WBC Heavyweight number one contender Dillian Whyte at the Matchroom Boxing headquarters, Russian Alexander Povetkin returned to home Russian soil. And his re-entry was definitely something to behold.

Povetkin was greeted by a “welcoming committee” of Russian performers in full regalia, who immediately put a cloak and Russian hat on him at the airport baggage claim and proceeded to serenade him with part of the Russian folk song:

This is how Alexander Povetkin was greeted when he returned to Russia today after knocking out Dillian Whyte ???

? Russian Boxing Federation pic.twitter.com/yJSAeg8cLu

— Boxing on BT Sport ? (@BTSportBoxing) August 23, 2020

It has certainly been a whirlwind turn of events for the former Olympic Gold Medalist, who had been all but forgotten in the Heavyweight picture worldwide for the last couple of years. But, he certainly is relevant again after flattening Whyte with a left uppercut that left him laid out barely into the fifth round.

Povetkin, who will turn 41 in 10 days, is now 36-2-1 with 25 KOs and back in the picture for either a rematch with Whyte or something even bigger.

Now, Povetkin had been in trouble himself, down twice in the fourth round, before the dramatic reversal of fortune on a single left uppercut that sent shockwaves through the internet and the fight game in the “Fight Camp” series finale’ Saturday night.

Whyte had been hoping for a spectacular victory to put him in position to potentially fight WBC Heavyweight champion, Tyson Fury in 2021. Of course, that is provided Fury defeats former champ, Deontay Wilder, in their third fight, which is reportedly going to happen either in December or January.

Instead, he was left Sunday trying to rationalize how he was on the verge of winning and then, bombed out by a single punch. He told Sky Sports Sunday,

“I have no regrets. It was a great fight and obviously, Povetkin done well. I know I could beat him. I showed it from round one….he pulled out one of the best punches of his career. That’s boxing. It’s full of drama,” Whyte said, in part, to Sky.

Instead it was Povetkin, who vaulted himself now into conversations involving Heavyweight contenders and possible championship shots, again. Povetkin was last on the biggest stage when Unified Champ, Anthony Joshua, defeated him by TKO in London and took away his IBF Crown in September 2018.

Now, the Russian is a hero, again. That’s what will one punch can do.