Dillian Whyte Destructs & Destroys Povetkin

The late, great Marvelous Marvin Hagler’s last fight against Sugar Ray Leonard in 1987 was one year before Dillian Whyte was born in Port Antonio, Jamaica.

But yet entering into the ring in Gibraltar, Whyte paid tribute to Marvelous Marvin wearing a robe acknowledging the sudden passing this month of arguably the greatest middleweight of all time.  He also sported  a shaven head and goatee beard similar to Hagler’s menacing, intimidating look during his reign of terror in the 80’s.

Having suffered a stunning 5th round knockout defeat against Povetkin last August,  “The Body Snatcher”  has had to endure a lengthy wait to face Povetkin with the fight postponed on two occasions due to the Russian suffering from Covid-19.

However Povetin was made to pay for The Bodysnatcher’s 7 month wait for a rematch with a clinical performance resulting in a crushing 4th round TKO which puts Whyte back in the mix to challenge for a world title having regained the WBC interim heavyweight title.

With former heavyweight champion Lennox Lewis’s trainer Harold Knight a new addition in his corner, Whyte looked sharp from the start with the jab playing a predominant weapon in keeping Povetkin on the back foot.

From their first encounter, Whyte had proved that he could hurt Povetkin having knocked him down twice in the 4th round.  But what was impressive in the rematch was the timing of his right hand which caused most of the damage to Povetkin before the trademark left hook ended the contest.

With heavyweight champions Fury and Joshua apparently signing a two-fight contract, the frustration will continue for Whyte in his quest for a world title challenge.   Realistically, he will have to wait until 2022 before that dream will become reality.

Whyte will not be waiting until next year to fight, and a proposed blockbuster fight between Andy Ruiz or Deontay Wilder would certainly excite fight fans should either fight be on the horizon this year.

Marvelous Marvin Hagler loved the catchphrase “Destruction and Destroy” during his fight career and Whyte’s destruction of Povetkin was just that.