Dillian Whyte Career On Line Saturday Night?

Looking for a boxing win on an exotic island is an interesting enough sub-plot for any fighter. But for British Heavyweight contender Dillian Whyte, he has to know that anything short of victory Saturday night will likely eliminate him from any serious consideration for future contender, much less championship, battles.

That’s what’s at stake as Whyte rematches the man who destroyed him with a single punch last August, Russian Alexander Povetkin on the Isle of Gibraltar in a scheduled 12 rounder. And, we discussed it further on the Big Fight Weekend podcast in the preview mode. Hear David Payne from England give his insight and analysis along with Marquis Johns and Manouk Akopyan of Boxingscene.com and the L.A. Times

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“He’s got to clean this up, if he (Whyte) wants to be the top 3 or 4 guy, the next guy in line (for a title shot). If it was just the fluke, that he hopes it is. I think it’s closer to a 50-50, Payne told us. “They are two guys in the top 10 and they’re ready to have a go of it, for our entertainment. And, I think that’s good.

As for that first fight, the former WBA World champ, Russian Povetkin got off the canvas twice in their August to cold-cock Whyte with a single left uppercut in the fifth round dropping the WBC top contender. Whyte laid motionless for several seconds and the referee did not bother to count, as Povetkin scored one of the biggest recent victories of his career.

And, that upset derailed any chance that Whyte, who hasn’t won a significant fight in over two and a half years, had to try to maneuver his way into a mandatory title shot with the WBC and it’s champ, Tyson Fury.

The two had scheduled a rematch for November, but the now 42 year old Povetkin contracted Covid 19 and had to be hospitalized briefly in Russia. Matchroom and Whyte had pushed for the rematch to happen in January, but the Russian had only begun to train around that time.

So, now hear we are.

Despite the KO loss last time out, Whyte is still the betting favorite with odds listed at an average of -400, while Povetkin’s odds are listed at +280 currently at sportsbettingdime.com. 

Whyte at 32 years of age and fighting in his 30th pro fight does theoretically have “tread left on the tires.” However, another loss, especially if it’s a KO, would be his third. And, it means he’s not relevant for any title opportunity anytime soon, if ever again.

That’s what he is facing tonight, in addition to dangerous punching Povetkin.

And, Whyte better handle the challenge, while watching out for the haymaker again, too.