WBC interim heavyweight champion Dillian Whyte (27-1, 18 KOs) and former WBA champion Alexander Povetkin (35-2-1, 24 KOs) speak about Saturday’s ‘Fight Camp’ clash outside London for the WBC interim and diamond titles.
Alexander Povetkin: “First of all I would like to thank Eddie for doing this event during a pandemic. I’m very happy to be here. Thanks to Dillian also for taking this fight. Hopefully it will be a great fight in the heavyweight division. I have taken responsibility to train for this fight, understanding how serious it is. You have to take Dillian seriously. I don’t like to make predictions – but it will be fireworks…”
Dillian Whyte: “I had two fights last year but my mind wasn’t right. I put weight on. For my last fight I was nearly 20st. I got myself in shape slowly. I knew who I was fighting, and what it would take. I got into shape. The story of my life is pressure. I’ve been under pressure my entire life. This is just another puzzle. There is more pressure because of the future, but that’s in the future.
“I’m fighting a consummate professional so I’m not bothered about Tyson Fury. I’m bothered about Povetkin. Povetkin is the most technical fighter I’ve fought. He has beaten a lot of top guys. He’s an Olympic gold medallist. He’s only lost two fights. When the bell goes it doesn’t matter if there’s 100,000 people there or 100 people. You are zoned in.
“When I’m in shape, you’ve got problems, because I can do what I like to do. I don’t mind blowing up because I can recover, go again. Whatever he wants to do, I’m cool with it. I don’t like to make predictions. He is very experienced and can look after himself. He’s a tough guy. But listen, if I land early? It is night night early. But he can do the same, as well.
“I deal with pressure well. I could have taken an easier fight. These are the fights you need to grow. This guy has seen everything, probably 20 guys like me. To beat him, I will bank his experience. This motivates me. I will have to think more than I normally do. It gives me an extra edge.
“I’m ready for chaos and violence. I am focused on Povetkin. I will try to hurt him from the first bell. It will be war – that’s what he does. The great thing is that we both do similar things. It’s up to me to do things to make the fight in my favour, and I am capable of that. He is more experienced but I know how to fight, which isn’t something anyone can teach.”
Alexander Povetkin – Russia – 35-2-1, 24 KOs – fighting Dillian Whyte for the Interim WBC Heavyweight World Title and WBC Diamond Title:
“First of all I would like to thank Eddie for doing this event during a pandemic. I’m very happy to be here. Thanks to Dillian also for taking this fight. Hopefully it will be a great fight in the Heavyweight division. I have taken responsibility to train for this fight, understanding how serious it is. You have to take Dillian seriously. I don’t like to make predictions – but it will be fireworks…”
This should be a very good competitive fight with a little edge going to Whyte…
Whyte better display nice skills in an outstanding victory or else the bigger Heavyweight dogzz and other significant boxing folks will look at you and ZZZZZZZZZZZ!!!
Dillion Whyte is probably the only contender out there that consistently faces other contenders. I think he’s a cut below the top 3, but would give him a chance against Wilder or AJ. He’s come a long way since his loss to AJ and I’m not sure AJ has improved since they last met.
Bottomline, if he defeats Povetkin he’ll be the most deserving mandatory challenger in any of the Divisions. It’s hard not to root for him.
Whoa, Eddie Hearn looks like he’s a big dude himself.
He is 6’5” tall
Good matchup, but I believe this Povetkin’s version is way below the best once we saw, maybe five years ago. Nonetheless Povetkin still very capable and could pull a massive upset, we shouldn’t forget that his boxing record is one of the best and his only two loses have been against two outstanding guys: V Klitschko and A Joshua.
I believe this is the best match up we’ve seen since the pandemic began. Really looking forward to this one.
Good competitive fight, Whyte has to be on his A game to win, not like how he was against Wach.
Take Whyte to win by a late TKO as long as he is on form.