BoxRec

Ruthless-RKO wrote: ↑26 Jan 2021, 12:10

Decent fight but they’re still missing a good co-main.

Press Release

Undefeated Welterweights Chris Kongo and Michael McKinson will collide for the WBO Global Title on the undercard of Alexander Povetkin vs. Dillian Whyte 2 on Saturday March 6, live on Sky Sports Box Office in the UK and on DAZN in all other markets excluding the UK and Ireland.

Bermondsey’s Kongo clinically dispatched Luther Clay in nine rounds to win the WBO ranking Title at Fight Camp last summer, taking full advantage oh his first opportunity of the big stage to extend his unbeaten record to 12-0 with seven knockouts.

Portsmouth’s McKinson has won all nineteen of his professional contests, with two of those wins coming via knockout, and the 26-year-old prospect has picked up the WBC Youth World, WBC International Silver and WBO European Welterweight Titles in an impressive run.

“I'm very excited, this is a fight that I’ve wanted for a long time,” said Kongo. “He was saying that he was far ahead of me, but now I’ve got the belt, the tables have turned.

“Michael has said he’s the most avoided, but I know I’m the most avoided, so we have to make it happen. The two most dangerous fighters in the division – we’re both getting it on now – so it’s a big fight.

“It’s not, can I solve ‘The Problem?’ I will solve ‘The Problem’ on March 6, guaranteed. In the Luther Clay fight, I said before it, someone is going to go down, and I definitely know it’s not me. Same way someone is going to go down in this fight, and it’s definitely not me again.

“It’s going to be an explosive win for me. This is what we train for, this is what we work for. I want the big risk fights. If you don’t take risks in life, you won’t get anywhere, so it’s all about taking another risk in my career.”

"I'm very pleased with this Chris Kongo fight," said McKinson. "It's a fight I have called for and I'm over the moon to get a fight that I want. I've wanted a big fight for a long time. I deserve one and I'm buzzing.

"It's a massive platform and one that I need in my career. I believe I was born to be on the big stage and I can't wait to show that on March 6. Chris Kongo is a dangerous fighter and a talented fighter, but there is no fighter like Michael McKinson. You can throw me in with anybody and I'd come out victorious.

"I've told Chris before many times that all they needed to do was make the call and the answer would be yes. Winning a fight like this can change my life and change my daughter's life, it can catapult me to even bigger things. That's why I'm in this sport, to do big things for my city of Portsmouth and big things for my daughter and make people proud, and that's what I'll do on March 6."

Whyte: Povetkin Hit Me With One Clean Shot, I Was Alright, I Was Fine

Heavyweight contender Dillian Whyte explains that he mentally recovered from his most recent defeat in very rapid fashion.

Back in August, Whyte was brutally knocked out in five rounds by Alexander Povetkin at Matchroom's Fight Camp in Brentwood.

At the time of their encounter, Whyte held the WBC's interim-title and he was the mandatory challenger to full champion Tyson Fury.

During the contest, Whyte scored two knockdowns in the fourth round and appeared to be on the verge of a knockout win - but then Povetkin unexpectedly landed a vicious uppercut that sent him down and out in the fifth.

The two punchers are scheduled to have a rematch on March 6th.

"I got over it straight away, it's heavyweight boxing. I'm a heavyweight, I knock a lot of people out. I hurt a lot of people in sparring and everyone I've fought has been hurt at some point or knocked down at some point. So I understand that one punch can change everything. It wasn't a massive shock, I was just disappointed because it shouldn't have happened," Whyte told The Daily Star.

"Obviously I wasn't happy with the way I fought. But listen, a lot of people sit at home and go, 'Oh my god this is a massive shock, it's this, it's that'. But it's two top guys in the world. It's not an amateur vs a professional.

"Also, I had seven amateur fights. Povetkin had 200 amateur fights. I never even won the ABAs and he was an Olympic gold medallist. Everyone was shocked but I was like relax man, this is heavyweight boxing. All the heavyweight champions before me have lost at some point. That's just the way it is."

Their rematch was initially scheduled to take place on November 21 - but it was pushed back when Povetkin tested positive for COVID-19.

A new date of January 30 was also derailed, when it was revealed that Povetkin required additional time to recover from the virus.

Whyte is still skeptical that Povetkin was actually sick.

He believes the Russian veteran wanted a few more months to recover from their initial encounter.

"There's been no proof and there's been no evidence [of the test]. We requested medical reports and everything. New Year's and Christmas is a big thing in Russia. I think he just wanted the time off to recover and spend time with his family. That's what I think," Whyte said.

"It's normal. He just had a new baby at the time, New Year's, Christmas and family time. It's a big thing in Russia and you don't want to be training and whatever. For me, I'm at war with the guy so I'm not gonna side with him and say I believe he was sick. If he was, then I'm wrong and I apologize."

Povetkin believes the two delays were more beneficial to Whyte, who obviously disagrees.

"He was more hurt than I was in the fight. He got knocked down twice and he got beat up. I got hit with one clean shot and that was it. I was alright, I was fine," Whyte said.

Ruthless-RKO wrote: ↑18 Feb 2021, 08:59

Whyte is still skeptical that Povetkin was actually sick.

He believes the Russian veteran wanted a few more months to recover from their initial encounter.

"There's been no proof and there's been no evidence [of the test]. We requested medical reports and everything. New Year's and Christmas is a big thing in Russia. I think he just wanted the time off to recover and spend time with his family. That's what I think," Whyte said.

"It's normal. He just had a new baby at the time, New Year's, Christmas and family time. It's a big thing in Russia and you don't want to be training and whatever. For me, I'm at war with the guy so I'm not gonna side with him and say I believe he was sick. If he was, then I'm wrong and I apologize."
.

he really hasn't come over well since Povetkin knocked him out like a callow amateur

Fight could be postponed to March 27 due to travel and quarantine issues

We may be waiting a bit longer for the Alexander Povetkin-Dillian Whyte rematch, but it’s not official either way yet.

The planned rematch between Alexander Povetkin and Dillian Whyte, which is set to stream on DAZN and air on Sky Box Office, could possibly be facing further delay.

Originally scheduled for January, Povetkin came down with COVID and had to pull out, and even if that hadn’t happened, UK boxing shut down for the month again, anyway. The current date is March 6, but there hasn’t been a venue announced, and promoter Eddie Hearn told iFL TV there is a chance it could be delayed until March 27 due to travel and quarantine issues for Whyte.

“There is a chance it could be delayed. I don’t think it will be, the main thing is to get Dillian Whyte out of Portugal. It looks like tomorrow that may happen,” Hearn said.

“(Portugal is) in the red list, and the issue we’re having is the government won’t allow Dillian Whyte to isolate in the bubble, he has to isolate in a government hotel. That is impossible for Dillian Whyte to do. He could go to Spain, for example, and isolate there for 10 days, and then fly in on fight week. That’s what we’re putting into place at the moment. Small chance it could be pushed back (three) weeks to March 27, but that’s not the intention. It’s our intention to do everything we can to make sure March 6 stays intact.”

Hearn said we’ll likely know for sure by Saturday at the latest what the plan will be. If the fight stays on March 6, it likely will be held at Wembley’s SSE Arena, but if it moves to March 27, it could be there or Gibraltar, a location that was under consideration for March 6.

As it stands, Povetkin-Whyte 2 is really the only event of note set for March 6, and March 27 only has a Queensberry show on BT Sport, solid show with domestic title fights, but nothing that would scare off the Povetkin-Whyte organizers or audience.

Announced now on SKY as March 27th

tony1234 wrote: ↑20 Feb 2021, 15:09 Announced now on SKY as March 27th

In Gibraltar.

I guess they couldn’t get Whyte to fly out of Spain instead of Portugal.

To think this rematch was supposed to take place in November. Whyte would have been having his next fight.. instead we’re waiting for this.

Clashes with BT show now.
It’s a Premiership free weekend will either party risk an “afternoon” show?? Why not Sunday rather than clashing?? There was an interest in trying Sundays..guess the one Sky did wasn’t a big hit??

Ruthless-RKO wrote: ↑20 Feb 2021, 15:13 To think this rematch was supposed to take place in November. Whyte would have been having his next fight.. instead we’re waiting for this.

To think back in August the winner of this bout would fight Fury and 'the loser would have to rebuild'

maninthemiddle wrote: ↑20 Feb 2021, 15:17 Clashes with BT show now.
It’s a Premiership free weekend will either party risk an “afternoon” show?? Why not Sunday rather than clashing?? There was an interest in trying Sundays..guess the one Sky did wasn’t a big hit??

All these dates and they choose to got H2H..

People with suspicious minds will be wondering why Whyte appears so set on staying in Portugal for as long as possible.

Jimmy2020 wrote: ↑20 Feb 2021, 17:06 People with suspicious minds will be wondering why Whyte appears so set on staying in Portugal for as long as possible.

Drug testing?

Eddie Hearn: Gibraltar stage for Whyte-Povetkin II will be a brilliant experience

Dillian Whyte’s rematch with Alexander Povetkin has been pushed back to March 27 – and will now take place in Gibraltar.

The Brixton heavyweight was due to go hunting revenge against Povetkin on March 6 in the UK. But Whyte is based in Portugal and travel restrictions would have disrupted his training schedule.

Bermondsey welterweight Chris Kongo is on the undercard as he defends his WBO Global belt.

Matchroom Boxing promoter Eddie Hearn has confirmed that a private jet will fly all the domestic-based fighters and other staff to Gibraltar – with Covid-19 tests tests taking place before and after the flight.

“It is going to be a brilliant experience,” Hearn told iFL TV. “Fans look like they are going to be allowed as well, which is fantastic. Gibraltar has a population of about 35,000. A lot of Brits are there.

“Life is all about thinking outside the box and taking chances – rolling the dice a little bit.

“We were stuck in the position that Dillian Whyte trains in Portugal – it’s a red-list country. And when it went on the red list we had the option for him to come home – but he’d have to isolate for 10 days.

“He said to me: ‘I can’t afford to lose this fight. My camp is out here – everything is perfect’. Then we looked at taking him from Portugal to Spain. He was going to move on last Friday – we were going to rent a villa and I was building a gym in the garden. He said: ‘It’s going to affect my preparation. I can’t go into this fight having jeopardised anything’.

“I spoke to Team Povetkin and they understood – they pulled out previously with covid. They were happy with Gibraltar. The sports minister there and the chief minister are absolutely over the moon.”

The British Boxing Board of Control will still be the commission in control of the event.

“There has never been a boxing event in Gibraltar – so there is a lot they have got to be happy with,” said Hearn. “We’ve got to bring in the right doctors and medical team, make sure everything is set up with local hospitals.

“The board will be across that. That is what they are elected to do. We don’t want to bring in a new commission which has never done a big fight before. It’s British territory as well.

“There is the option of an outdoor stadium.

“We’ve done quite a few events there before – we hold a big pool tournament there and other darts events.”

Whyte was knocked out in the fifth round when he faced Povetkin last summer. The South Londoner was ahead on the scorecards and had put the Russian down twice before being on the receiving end of a brutal left uppercut.

Whyte instantly activated a rematch clause in the contract. They had been due to fight in November but Povetkin contracted Covid-19 and spent time in hospital.

The fight is being called, 'Rumble on the Rock' .

New poster

Shhhh wrote: ↑28 Feb 2021, 18:25 Watching the first fight. Until he hit hurt I thought Povetkin was edging the fight. Sometimes he’s lol shot other times he’d look sharp. Difficult fight to predict. Depends on what the Covid damage is

The commentary is awful! So biased

This fight gets closer..

Commentary were dreadful.

whyte was winning for sure and looking pretty good, though i did think pov edged the first round only to be assured by adam smith, head of boxing sky sports that, no, whyte DEFINITELY HAS WON ALL THE ROUNDS lol

margaret thatcher wrote: ↑02 Mar 2021, 00:20 whyte was winning for sure and looking pretty good, though i did think pov edged the first round only to be assured by adam smith, head of boxing sky sports that, no, whyte DEFINITELY HAS WON ALL THE ROUNDS lol

Hopefully there’s a netball match on the same night. He might be there cheering on Team bath.

Im assuming/hoping the Metcalf v Cheeseman fight will go ahead on normal Sky? Was looking forward to that more than the Whyte fight tbh

D4v3 wrote: ↑02 Mar 2021, 07:08 Im assuming/hoping the Metcalf v Cheeseman fight will go ahead on normal Sky? Was looking forward to that more than the Whyte fight tbh

It’s on the new PPV date.

Geeze there is a lot on that weekend.

-Whyte vs povetkin PPV, Sat,
-Frank has a decent domestic show Friday 26th, and another sat the 27th
-UFC have a big PPV including the heavyweight title fight..
-Russian card with an interesting main event and a fair few other semi interesting fights

Whyte: Time To Prove The Povetkin Loss Was Just a Blip

Heavyweight contender Dillian Whyte is only a few weeks away from his rematch with Alexander Povetkin.

Last August, Whyte was brutally knocked out by Povetkin in the fifth round.

During the bout, Whyte was controlling the action and dropped Povetkin twice in the fourth round.

However, during the fifth, Povetkin landed a single uppercut that knocked Whyte out cold.

The loss would derail Whyte's position as the WBC's mandatory challenger to Tyson Fury's world title. Povetkin would walk also away with the WBC's interim-title.

In the aftermath, Whyte would quickly exercise an immediate rematch clause.

The rematch was postponed several times - with dates in November, January and early March falling through. The contest will now take place on March 27th in Gibraltar.

Whyte realizes that his career is at stake in the second meeting.

"I'm pissed off with myself," said Whyte to Sky Sports. "I shouldn't have lost last time and I did, and now it's more to prove to myself than anyone else that it was just a blip and I know what I'm capable of doing.

"Listen, I tried to fight Povetkin years ago. Years and years ago I tried to fight him. I believe I could have beat him then, and I believe I can beat him now."

Whyte also touched on the subject of his promoter, Eddie Hearn, holding Anthony Joshua in a higher standing than heavyweight Hall of Famer Lennox Lewis.

"Of course Eddie is going to say that (Joshua is Britain's best heavyweight). He's definitely going to say that AJ is, because he wasn't involved in Lennox Lewis, he was involved in AJ. Obviously, he's trying to make history with AJ, so you understand that and rightly so. That's what you should be doing as a promoter," Whyte said.

I hope it gets cancelled again. No way is a domestic plodder vs the disease ravaged washed up 41 yr old ghost of the once elite Povetkin worthy of anyone’s £20. It’s a totally irrelevant fight.

CaptainSpacerod wrote: ↑12 Mar 2021, 07:16 I hope it gets cancelled again. No way is a domestic plodder vs the disease ravaged washed up 41 yr old ghost of the once elite Povetkin worthy of anyone’s £20. It’s a totally irrelevant fight.

Was it £25 last time or £20?

Don;t matter if it gets delayed. EVENTUALLY, when it happens, it will be PPV.

Just don't pay for it.

This fight may do better than the first, due to the first ending the way it did.