Povetkin-Whyte rematch to be pushed back?

By Gabriel F. Cordero

Andrei Ryabinsky, promoter of WBC interim heavyweight champion Alexander Povetkin, has indicated that Povetkin will not be able to fight in the rematch against Dillian White on January 30 as planned.

“Alexander had to go to the hospital again to be examined. Days after he was discharged and now he had just started training. We will increase the workload in stages, under the supervision of doctors. For now, he looks like he won’t be able to fight White in January. We must face the consequences of the virus and we will not allow Povetkin’s health to be put at risk,” Ryabinsky told TASS.

Povetkin knocked out Whyte in September. A quick rematch was lined up for November, but the bout was postponed when Povetkin test positive for COVID.

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  • Whyte should fight someone else in the meantime, rematch with Povetkin later, another time. Whyte wont get a title shot in the near future anyhow.

  • The sad part about this fight is that these are two of the top contenders in this Division. Same could be said if Pulev and we know/knew what was going to happen.

    I loved the Joyce vs Dubois matchup, but was a little disappointed by the outcome. Both were and are legitimate prospects, but with Dubois looking exposed as a bit too one dimensional to contend in the next year or two we’re left with a 32 year old that looks legit as a contender now, but only because the Division is so bad.

    Does anyone think the top 3 guys lose to anyone mentioned above? Does anyone really want to see the guys mentioned above in with Fury, AJ or Wilder?

    For me, Wilder is the only one that has any doubts at this point and that is only because coming off a brutal KO loss always leaves some concerns over a fighter’s pyschi. How about Wilder vs Joyce?

    • I actually said Wilder vs Joyce would be good straight after the Joyce win last month. I think Wilder could get a load of respect again if he wipes out a few prospects and stops bitching about Fury. Wilder would be an awesome scalp for Joyce aswell.

  • I look forward to the rematch but I’m not sure Whyte will get his ranking back even if he wins.
    The last time I looked Wilder was number 1 contender again – maybe because of his devastating performances since losing to Fury?
    The more I look back Whyte should have taken the AJ fight when offered. Sure he’d have taken less than he wanted for that fight but it would still have been a career high and should he have won , the 3rd fight would have generated even more money. Losing would not have meant the end either.
    I think he’ll want to avenge the defeat anyway but you get the feeling that he’d not be much closer to his shot if he did win. I’d be looking to try and gain a mandatory shot with the WBO or IBF as they seem to be more transparent/fair to their mandatories

  • He can fight. His team doesn’t want the fight to go through. They want a shot at the title which will make them infinitely more money . Wake up yall.

  • Look Covid 19 takes it toll on the body way after it has left, weak Muscle’s and heavy breathing are all side affects of this virus even in athletes. Its only fair he gets more time to get over it and train hard.
    Povetkin in 2!

  • Is this the first time povetkin tested positive for something that isn’t a banned substance?

    • well you can be sure no drug testing is going on now. hes had time to complete a cycle since the last fight

  • No need for a rematch here. Those who say Sasha was on his way out because he got put on his knees twice in the fight, don’t know anything about boxing. Povetkin could fight Dillian five times and he would knock him out every single time. The Russian just has the Brits number.

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