Povetkin stuns Whyte with 5th-round KO to win WBC interim heavyweight title
Alexander Povetkin defeated Dillian Whyte in stunning fashion with a fifth-round knockout to claim the interim WBC heavyweight title on Saturday, along with the vacant WBC diamond championship.
Whyte had been cruising while winning the early rounds and knocking Povetkin down twice in the fourth. The bell narrowly saved the Russian veteran at the end of Round 4. But just 30 seconds into the fifth, Povetkin landed a monstrous left uppercut to knock Whyte out cold.
Povetkin knocking Whyte out 🥊🥊 pic.twitter.com/DrtYYh49hx
— Chris Chambers (@CapitalChambo) August 22, 2020
Whyte required oxygen following the blow, but he eventually recovered and was able to leave the ring under his own power, according to Ritah Al-Samarrai of the Daily Mail.
"I didn't think I would finish the fight like this," Povetkin said post-fight, according to DAZN's Liam Happe. "But after four rounds I still felt OK, I still felt confident even after the knockdowns.
"I watched his fights and took into account that he was open to uppercuts, both from the right and the left. It was probably the best finish of my career."
The loss temporarily ends Whyte's hopes of fighting for the WBC heavyweight belt held by Tyson Fury. He had been angling to face Fury following the Gypsy King's scheduled trilogy fight with Deontay Wilder this December.
Dillian Whyte waited over 1,000 days for a WBC title shot and it was doubtful it would materialize early next year, either, with Fury-Joshua more likely if Tyson wins. Now, none of it matters #WhytePovetkin
— Mike Coppinger (@MikeCoppinger) August 22, 2020
Promoter Eddie Hearn quickly revealed he'll be exercising Whyte's rematch clause, and his fighter hopes to meet Povetkin before the end of 2020, according to Mike Coppinger of The Athletic. Hearn added Povetkin wouldn't be named the immediate mandatory heavyweight challenger, potentially opening the door for a blockbuster Fury-Anthony Joshua unification bout if Fury can beat Wilder for a second time.
The 40-year-old Povetkin improves his career record to 36-2-1. This was his 25th knockout win.
Whyte, meanwhile, suffered just the second loss of his career, and first since being knocked out by Joshua in 2015.