BoxRec

Britain's Dillian Whyte, the mandatory challenger for Tyson Fury's WBC heavyweight title, will face Alexander Povetkin in Manchester on 2 May; this, to me, seems like a good matchup.

At this stage I think it goes to Whyte, but Povetkin is always dangerous.

Thoughts?

Personally I don’t think Povetkin has enough gas in the tank to do enough damage consistently. Whyte seems extremely good at soaking up the damage and then dishing it out. I see Whyte stopping a fatiguing Poverkin middle to late rounds.

Hope they are both juiced up, so it will be a good fight! They should let Pedvetkin juice more, since he is a lot older....even the playing field.

Bandog wrote: ↑03 Mar 2020, 23:28 Hope they are both juiced up, so it will be a good fight! They should let Pedvetkin juice more, since he is a lot older....even the playing field.

Maybe Pedvet can borrow some extra PEDs from his even older AJ ducking buddy Luis Ortiz

I think old Povetkin wins

Povetkin is done ... he is not top 15 fighter anymore

Alexander Povetkin struggled badly against Michael Hunter, because of the American’s high work rate. The Russian couldn’t maintain the pace for the entire duration of the bout.

And when you review Dillian’s punch stats for the Rivas bout, you’ll surely appreciate the obvious fact that he’s a much busier fighter than Michael Hunter is, with the Brit’s stamina for the entire duration of bouts being very impressive.

I also feel that Whyte is a much bigger, more experienced, heavy-handed and well-rounded fighter than Hunter.

So I think Povetkin enjoys considerable success against Whyte during the first half of the bout, but Dillian will gradually take the winning momentum from the midway point, en route to scoring a late stoppage over a game but out-worked and gassed-out veteran Russian.

..I stopped interested in dopers boxing each other

Dill is at his most vulnerable before he's properly warmed up and into his groove. Helenius is the best example I can give to support that observation.

Then consider what post-prime Povetkin did to Anthony Joshua in the opening round(s) and I could easily envisage an upset early stoppage win. If Whyte is still there in round three he goes on to win either on points or more likely by late stoppage.

candyslim wrote: ↑04 Mar 2020, 09:23 Dill is at his most vulnerable before he's properly warmed up and into his groove. Helenius is the best example I can give to support that observation.

Then consider what post-prime Povetkin did to Anthony Joshua in the opening round(s) and I could easily envisage an upset early stoppage win. If Whyte is still there in round three he goes on to win either on points or more likely by late stoppage.

I kind of agree with that scenario.

I think this is a really good, close to 50/50 fight between 2 high level contenders, the kind we rarely see in the modern HW division.

Good for Whyte taking this fight instead of sitting on his mandatory status fighting bums.

Boxtune wrote: ↑04 Mar 2020, 06:37 Povetkin is done ... he is not top 15 fighter anymore

Until an up and comer beats him. He will stay in the top 15. If he’s still top 10 now, a Whyte loss will push him out of the top 10 for sure.

Boxtune wrote: ↑04 Mar 2020, 06:37 Povetkin is done ... he is not top 15 fighter anymore

Name 10 that should be ranked above him. I don't think there are valid arguments for more than 7.

greg wrote: ↑04 Mar 2020, 09:04 ..I stopped interested in dopers boxing each other

Still miles and miles better than doper versus non doper.

For example Tyson Fury's (nandralone enhanced?) punch resistance seems to getting better and better with time. Even the few Wilder landed had no impact whatsoever.

The various dangers involved for clean boxers might now mean the dopers should by force have to have their own titles.

Sure there's some doubt about Povetkin (conveniently there always is - unless your name is Miller) but just where did Whyte's B sample go?

Fair play to Whyte for taking it while he’s mandatory. Tough fight but should take a points win.

This fight will be Povetkin testing himself to see if he still has enough left.

greg wrote: ↑04 Mar 2020, 09:04 ..I stopped interested in dopers boxing each other

I guess you still watch Canelo though? I find it hard to keep up with fighters' alleged doping history, especially since it is purely a negative issue and does anything but stimulate the imagination. I suppose it's not difficult to fall foul of ingesting a quantity of a substance you should have known was banned, or should have known was an ingredient in that decongestant or cold medication you took. Who knows who's genuinely f*cked up and who's a cheat? Even boxers who have never had a hint of a problem over any test can be under a cloud of suspicion, AJ being a prime example.

Bottom line? I tend to look the other way unless it's a case like Jarrell Miller: It's difficult to make a case for your having accidentally stuck a needle in your arse.

jujigatame wrote: ↑04 Mar 2020, 10:33 I think this is a really good, close to 50/50 fight between 2 high level contenders, the kind we rarely see in the modern HW division.

Good for Whyte taking this fight instead of sitting on his mandatory status fighting bums.

Good post. It amazes me how many people have no empathy for a guy who has been given the run-around by those corrupt WBC imposters in defiance of their own rules for two years or more, yet instead of - make that 'as well as' - bitching and moaning about his situation, gets on with the task of applying himself to beating a succession of opponents that most other top heavyweights wouldn't even consider fighting, despite the fact losing to any one of them gives Sulaiman the perfect excuse to nominate a PBC fighter as mandatory instead of him.

I find it difficult to understand how you can be a boxing fan, or even care about justice, and not have a soft spot for such a fearless warrior.

jujigatame wrote: ↑04 Mar 2020, 10:33 I think this is a really good, close to 50/50 fight between 2 high level contenders, the kind we rarely see in the modern HW division.

Good for Whyte taking this fight instead of sitting on his mandatory status fighting bums.

100% argee. Povetkin is still a top fighter, Whyte was establishing himself at the top competitor too, apart from his last performance, and this bout will be important for both. Povetkin also took this fight after a tough night vs Hunter. But he has nothing to lose now.

Top 20 non-doper heavyweights are not so common anymore. Take out Fury, Whyte, Ortiz, Povetkin, Miller, Browne, did I miss anyone? Perhaps only the smart ones left, with smart teams so they don't get caught?

That's exactly it. You start banning guys who have failed a drug test and before you know it you'll have Christopher Lovejoy vs Daniel Martz for the undisputed heavyweight championship of the world.

Boxtune wrote: ↑04 Mar 2020, 06:37 Povetkin is done ... he is not top 15 fighter anymore

Based on arguably defeating Hunter a top 10 undefeated prime HW in his last fight ?

Drawing with Hunter is no disgrace and beyond all but the top echelon heavyweights, and the very best cruiserweights. Povetkiin isn't what he was but he is still a top 10 fighter.