Alexander Povetkin twice rises from the canva to KO Dillian Whyte in 5th round

Alexander Povetkin twice rose from the canva to land a heavy-shot on Dillian Whyte for a fifth round knockout win in the early hours of Sunday.

The 40-year-old Russian boxer whose only career losses were to Wladimir Klitschko and IBF, WBO and WBA world heavyweight champion Anthony Joshua in a 39-fight and 15-year-long career got the better of Dillian Whyte.

Dillian Whyte whose last defeat was also in the hands of Anthony Joshua in 2015 looked the better boxer of the two in the early minutes of the fight.

The 32-year-old Briton out-boxed Alexander Povetkin for three rounds and sent the Russian down twice in the fourth as Whyte mixed poise with power.

But he was knocked down in the fifth round with a left uppercut from Alexander Povetkin.

Dillian Whyte left without speaking to the media but was picked up by Matchroom Boxing’s Twitter channel asking promoter Hearn if a rematch was possible this year.

“It’s one of those things, it just landed. I was bossing it. It is what it is. A rematch, let’s go,” he added.

“I can’t quite believe it,” said Hearn. “When the punch landed I felt like I was in some dream. The fight was over virtually. Dillian was measuring Povetkin up, then two heavy knockdowns.

“I and others thought it was over. This is the drama of heavyweight boxing, one punch can change everything.

“He has to do a job in a rematch.”

Photo Credit: Standard.co.uk