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The needle and the damage done: Alexander Povetkin vs. Dillian Whyte

Alexander Povetkin is a grandpa in boxing terms and the intelligent Dillian Whyte is in advanced middle age.

 

By Allan Cerf

 

 

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Whyte vs Povetkin
Whyte vs Povetkin

Hello, everyone. John Raspanti, editor and I, trust all are safe and as happy as can be in an incredibly eventful and in some ways, terrible year without precedent.

 

Particulars: 22 August (no spectators) at Matchroom Boxing Headquarters, Brentwood, UK (DAZN), it’s Dillian “The Body Snatcher” Whyte vs. Alexander ‘Sasha” Povetkin for Whyte’s “Interim” (sigh) title. Intermittent title is more like it; you can’t predict when the sanctioning bodies will invent a new belt. My favorite is the WBA’ “organic veggie” belt.

 

Background: Povetkin is a grandpa in boxing terms and the intelligent Dillian Whyte is in advanced middle age. While both are renowned as huge punchers, their KO percentages, virtually identical, belie that notion, though no mistake – they can hit. They are also there to be hit. Povetkin, a hugely touted prospect was beaten up but good by Klitschko in a fight most hated. I remember his corner yelling at him to try harder at the very moment Sasha was spitting a gigantic mouthful of blood into a bucket. Whyte had some success versus Joshua – until he didn’t, got beaten down and was kayoed. They both made it to world level, but like Carl Froch, at the pinnacle of world level, they lost. They both have more talent and in Povetkin’s case – infinitely better training than Froch – but Froch in his division went just as far with grit, no excuses and no drugs. Speaking of which…

 

The 800 – or in their combined case, 1600-pound gorilla in the room, is PED’s abuse. Povetkin was due to fight Wilder in a fight he very may well have won – until nailed for PEDs. Meanwhile, Whyte was charged - and subsequently forgiven by the Board of Boxing Control (UK) in mysterious and frankly, totally undeserving circumstances that are part and parcel of our world in general. More than a little disturbing: “We don’t care what you did wrong if we say you get another shot, you get another shot.” What next a convicted murderer fight in Las Vegas? Wait – that already happened.

 

Fighters Scorecards: (Speed, Power, Defense, Reach, Age, Stamina, Experience)

 

Alexander Povetkin: B B +, B, C+, C-, B, B+ (Average of all) B- (2.8)

 

Dillian Whyte: B B- B B- B B B+ (Average of all) B (3.0)

 

All this aside, I like both guys immensely. Whyte is smart and funny as hell. He understands boxing politricks extraordinarily well – though his whining about a title shot is ridiculous. He was supposed to get a five-year ban – or worse – count blessings, old chap. Cool guy, though. Povetkin I can sort of understand through Russian lessons and 100% through his interpreter. He too is intelligent, if much more serious, probably by culture. Povetkin’s problem is that he was so dominated by Klitschko, his rising star soon crashed to earth after that disastrous fight.

 

Reality Check: Povetkin does possess one-punch power, whereas Whyte needs to land a few. One thing Povetkin can’t defeat is time – he did very well against Joshua and a younger Sasha may have beaten AJ. He’s 40. “Woulda, Shoulda, Coulda.” I thought Chisora clearly beat Dillian by the way.

Povetkin still has hallmarks of a once tremendous toolbox. He puts the ‘C’ in clean punching. He doesn’t smother his punches. He’s clever – and of course real powerful. He has a wicked left uppercut my favorite punch for a right hander. (Hint: Maybe he should throw it a lot against Whyte)

 

Dillian has a nice style I’ve rarely seen: He stands just outside the end of his opponents punches, very relaxed and waits to throw choice shots. He’s certainly not a classic counterpuncher…hmmm hard to describe his style. Good slashing body punches which he throws very quickly under the arms of his opponent’s guard. Not unthinkable Whyte might try to hit the Russian in the body and let air “out the tire.”

 

Fight and prediction: Four or five years ago – hell maybe three, and I’d say Povetkin simply is too sharp and clean – and hard – a puncher for his taller, longer opponent. He rattled Joshua – he’d halt Whyte. Povetkin looked age-vulnerable against Michael Hunter. I see an accumulation of punches from middle age Whyte grinding old man Sasha to a halt. Caveat? “Every old fighter has one great fight left in him.”

 

Less that last great fight, I see Whyte prevailing late. Dillian Whyte TKO Povetkin, 11.

 

 

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