British brawler Dillian Whyte wants an immediate rematch with Alexander Povetkin after having his world title hopes shattered by the Russian technician.
The 40-year-old Povetkin knocked out Whyte with a perfect left uppercut in the fifth round of their fight in Brentwood, England on Sunday (NZT).
Whyte, in line to fight the winner of the third instalment of Tyson Fury v Deontay Wilder, had Povetkin on the canvas twice but fell victim to a lack of concentration and now must plot a way back.
That starts by him exercising his rematch clause with Povetkin.
“You have to strike while the iron is hot. The time is now. There’s no point waiting into next year. He’s in shape, I’m in shape, let’s get it on. Immediate rematches are usually on fire,” Whyte told Sky Sports in the UK a day after the major setback.
“I’m still one of the top heavyweights around. It’s not like I’m old or beaten up. I’m still learning. I learned from a harsh mistake.
“I’m still the same me, ready to go, I can’t wait to get back in there.
“He is a very dangerous guy. I was bossing it, winning the fight, but I got caught. It wasn’t like I got beaten up round after round. I just got clocked!
“Fair play to him, he set it up and landed a punch. He’s a good fighter who has beaten a lot of top guys.
“In the rematch, I will handle business.”
This was the highest profile fight since boxing make a tentative return to action amidst the global health crtisis. Whyte took a huge risk and it backfired. But, like Povetkin’s deadly left glove, he took it on the chin.
“I have no regrets,” Whyte, whose 2018 win over former WBO champion Joseph Parker launched him into title contention, told Sky Sports.
“It was a great fight and Povetkin did well. I know I can beat him, I showed that from round one. Obviously he is very experienced.
“His corner was on the verge of pulling him out. But he pulled out one of the best punches of his career. That’s heavyweight boxing, full of drama, ups and downs.
“I didn’t rush him in the fourth round because he is dangerous – when he’s hurt he swings big punches.”
On the knockout blow, Whyte said: “It was a silly mistake. I blocked that punch 100 times in training. The one time it needed to be blocked, I was too late.
“He was on his last legs and I was pressing him.
“But that’s heavyweight boxing, man. That’s what happens.”
British promoter Eddie Hearn sees value in the rematch.
“The first thing Dillian said was: ‘Get me that rematch, get me that rematch’,” Hearn said.
“We’ll exercise that rematch clause. We’ll look to make that before the end of the year and it’s a huge fight.”
