I think the jab will be the key here. Whyte's got a decent one while Pov's is non-existent. I also think Whyte's superior height and weight and willingness to fight dirty is going to cause Povetkin issues. I wouldn't be surprised at a controversial stoppage to be honest.
Whyte KTFO Povetkin, like he did with iron granite chin Chisora. He will retire Povetkin and show Hunter how to get the job done. Whyte is the most versatile heavyweight boxer right now, with a plethora of attacks: - Great jab, used at varying speed and power - The strongest left hook in the universe - A right cross that can daze and wobble Iron Granite chin Chisora in the 1st round of a boxing fight - Body shots that can crumble the toughest of opponents Dillian Whyte D E M O L I T I O N job. Whyte always fights the best versions of fighters, he is as seasoned as they come, doesn't take easy fights.
Christ, I could see this going either way, and it would be much better for boxing if Whyte got it. But I have this feeling that Povetkin is going to resurrect himself for a fight. Whyte has had a LOt of luck on his good run. The breaks have to start going against him at some point.
Whyte hasn't looked great recently but he's looked awful before vs Chisora and Helenius and then went on to beat Browne, Parker and then KO'ed Chisora in a rematch. So him looking poor vs Rivas and Wach 2 opponents he wasn't motivated for based on his higher than normal weight isn't something that concerns me overly. As for Povetkin, he's way past his best. I thought Hunter beat him and was unlucky not to get the decision, honestly can't see how anyone scored for Povetkin with him being hurt repeatedly by Hunter. Hunter threw more, landed about 50% more punches too, it wasn't that close. Povetkin will be dangerous early but like vs Hunter he'll fade and then Whyte will KO him. But I expect Povetkin to be competitive, probably up on the cards at the half way point, he just won't have the engine to sustain it. Prime Povetkin would of dominated Whyte but not this version.
A good post and sadly probably the truth. I'm cheering for Sasha to do it one more time but he's a relic in boxing years. His best hope is that Whyte trains like dogshyte and that his own camp goes smoothly.
Povetkin was still in top form beyond 2013 when he beat Charr , Perez , Tackam , Wach , Hammer , Price. Some of those guys were blown to oblivion. He wasn't at his best in 2012 when he gassed after 4 rounds / went life and death with Huck.. Povetkin from 2014 -2018 would have done a lot better against Huck.
Povetkin turns 41 in a couple of weeks and is obviously way past his best and has been involved in a lot of wars, including in his last fight against Michael ''The Bounty'' Hunter where he took a lot of damage. Most HWs wouldn't have made it out of the first round after being jumped on like that by Hunter, but Povetkin has always been tough as old boots and as gutsy and game as they come and he was able to hang in there and weather the storm and battle back and push Hunter down to the wire. If that Povetkin shows up Whyte could be in trouble because Sasha has legit KO power in either hand, has long been far and away the best combination puncher at HW and one of the best in the sport regardless of weight class, and he's probably the most skilled fighter Whyte will have fought and if he catches Whyte with a big left hook or right hand he can definitely take him out in HL reel fashion. Problem is I suspect that the Hunter fight likely did take a lot out of him and he's giving away huge advantages in weight, height, youth, and home advantage and reach and Whyte is a dangerous customer who hits very hard himself too so it's a big ask for Povetkin at this stage in his career.
Both at the wrong end of there careers, Whyte looks twice the man he was. Don't mean that in a positive way, man's well out of shape. Movement looks sluggish, no pop at mid and outside. Engine not what it was. Give him half a chance inside tho and will still do damage. Don't see this one sided at all tho
I am going to add one thing here. This is being called a battle of hooks, but Povetkin also has a good overhand right that he likes against bigger opponents. If Povekin wins this, I bet it is countering the hook with a big right.
Yeah his overhand right is underrated. The way he angles it over the top of the opponents jab is really effective, he troubled Joshua with it a number of times in that fight. Posting with the left hand against Povetkin is going to invite a sharp over hand right if Whyte tries it.
One thing that is positive for the ageing Povetkin is that whyte is very very hitable unlike hunter. I definitely see both men getting rocked but not sure if Povetkin can finish the job off where as I see whyte coming through later in the fight
Whyte does indeed have some very good shots when looked at in isolation, but his problem is he never seems to put it all together that smoothly. There's always been a kind of awkward disjointedness to his style that's left him vulnerable at times, and he too often lets his emotions get the better of him in exchanges, which badly affects his technique. I first noticed it in the Joshua fight, where he completely lost his form the moment he had Joshua hurt. I kind of brushed it off since Whyte injured his shoulder in that one supposedly, but it happened again in the Rivas fight. He had Rivas hurt in the second or third (can't remember which) and the fight instantly turned into a wild slugfest. His vaunted left is also quite limited and lacks versatility, despite packing major power, and he has a bad habit of putting too much into it every time out, which leaves him massively vulnerable if he misses, or even if he just grazes with the shot. Povetkin's left lacks the raw power and venom, but it's a lot crisper and controlled, and a more consistently dangerous weapon as a result. Whyte's a big unit though, and extremely seasoned, and provided he fights behind the jab and tight guard and doesn't try to rush a stoppage I can see him breaking Povetkin down with his bodywork and general attrition.
