Dillian Whyte stops Alexander Povetkin in fourth place to get revenge

It took less than 12 minutes for Dillian Whyte to put Alexander Povetkin from Russia in his past. This time, there were no mistakes while he outboxed, then defeated the former WBA champion, putting his career back on track, even though a fight for the heavyweight world title now appears to be a long-term goal.

In Gibraltar, a small outcrop of Britain in the Mediterranean Sea, Whyte showed that history can be rewritten. Last summer, in Eddie Hearn’s back garden, Povetkin had risen from the ground twice to take down Whyte. This time, Whyte took a more patient approach, but when the opportunity came to an end, he took it.

“I’m just sad that I didn’t finish in the first round,” said Whyte. “I shouldn’t have missed it the first time. I was annoyed with myself. I made a silly mistake and paid for it.

“Since the first round, I went after him. I was tempted to go to hell for leather in the first round, but then I thought it was not a smart thing to do. He’s still very strong.

“I still believe that I can be a world champion. I carry the power that can beat anyone. ”

Direct rematches tend not to work. The instinct to fix a mistake always burns in any defeated fighter. But running back for a risky return, when emotions are still high, is fraught with danger.

What impressed Whyte, however, was his ability to ignore what had happened. He didn’t rush to apologize, he dramatized the loss too much, he just blamed it on a mistake.

However, there were early signs that the Russian’s resistance to the blows was decreasing.

The fight had only 40 seconds when Whyte seemed to hit a shot in the body that had Povetkin in the rubber legs. He seemed to take advantage, advancing after him and throwing huge bombs while Povetkin staggered.

The Russian found a bit of balance, however, and seemed to get a left hook and a solid right just fine. As Povetkin advanced by throwing a right, Whyte took a step back and hit his own right, as the Russian got off to a rough start.

Whyte looked light on his feet as he kept his distance and hit well, forcing Povetkin to launch himself while trying to land, while trying to find the target in his own right.

Povetkin started to get more aggressive in the third, but he paid for it, because by making a right he was defeated by Whyte’s violent right that made the Russian shiver. Whyte, however, was determined to stay within reach, forcing the older man to take risks when Whyte landed another big right and left hook just before the bell.

The Londoner threw out all caution at the start of the fourth round, however, when he landed a great right that staggered Povetkin and advanced after him. Whyte shot with punches, while Povetkin tried to land bombs in return. But Whyte failed to land another hard punch and he went back to using his jab.

With 40 seconds to go, Whyte hit another right and Povetkin tripped over the ropes, this time he didn’t run and caught him with another right and then a big left hook that sent the Russian to the ropes and to the ground. He won the count but looked unsure, referee Victor Loughlin making the decision to stop the fight as soon as the towel came from the Russian’s corner.

As Whyte complained to Hearn, his promoter, that there were no diamonds in his new WBC belt, Hearn tried to put some shine on the fact that the two-fight deal between Anthony Joshua and Tyson Fury means that Whyte is incredibly unlikely to get his so expected world title disputed this year.

Whyte said he deserved an easy fight to follow, suggesting that he return to Gibraltar for an outdoor fight, where there could be a larger crowd than the 500 who were present at Europa Sports Village. Hearn suggested that a big fight in the United States might be an option.

“I would like to see him box quickly in the summer, because we know there is a log jam,” Hearn said. “The ultimate goal has always been Dillian Whyte to fight for the world heavyweight title. Everyone knows that it is difficult for anyone in the heavyweight division.

“Tonight was about putting your career back on track. He mistreated Alexander Povetkin, he beat him from pillar to pillar. We are back where we wanted to be. ”