Povetkin vs. Whyte 2: Fight Odds, Live Stream, TV Info, Prediction
March 25, 2021
One good slugfest deserves another, which is why boxing fans will be happy to see that Alexander Povetkin (36-2-1, 25 KOs) and Dillian Whyte (27-2, 18 KOs) are set to fight each other again this Saturday, seven months after their first brawl ended in a knockout win for Povetkin.
The heavyweight rematch, billed as the "Rumble on the Rock" because its taking place on the island of Gibraltar, will be a chance for Whyte to make up for a missed opportunity in the first bout.
Whyte sent Povetkin to the canvas twice in the fourth round, and looked well on his way to earning a victory. Instead, the big Russian kept his wits about him and knocked out Whyte in the very next round with a picture-perfect left uppercut. Here's a look if you missed it the first time around, per DAZN Boxing:
It was a stunning KO, but Whyte believes he can avoid such a mistake this time around and get his revenge. Here's how to watch.
Povetkin vs. Whyte 2 Fight Info
When: Saturday, Mar. 27 at 3 p.m. ET (main card, Whyte-Povetkin expected at 4:30 p.m. ET)
Where: Europa Points Sports Complex in Gibraltar
TV: Sky Sports (UK)
Live stream: DAZN (US), Sky Sports (UK)
Odds (via DraftKings): Whyte -345 (bet $345 to win $100), Povetkin +240
Povetkin's knockout punch is etched in the memory of everyone who saw it live, but it shouldn't be the only thing on people's minds as they look ahead to the rematch. Whyte did a good job of ducking Povetkin's punches in the earlier rounds, returning fire with counter lefts to the body (check out the second round in the highlights clip below).
Whyte also looked great in the third working behind the jab. The fourth round saw him earn one knockdown with a hook to the temple to end a flurry, and then his own left uppercut through the guard sent his then-40-year-old opponent tumbling to the canvas a second time.
As previously mentioned, Whyte's uppercut was one-upped by Povetkin just a few minutes later, but it almost didn't happen. The 32-year-old believes Povetkin's corner was close to calling it a night.
"He was done—they were saying 'we are pulling you out at the end of this round,'" he said, per Sky Sports' James Dielhenn.
Povetkin has denied Whyte's allegations and will be looking to prove he's the better man yet again. He may be 41 years old and an underdog, but he has his share of believers. Fellow heavyweight boxer Michael Hunter is backing Povetkin to upset "The Body Snatcher" in Gibraltar.
"I think that it's going to be a repeat. It's going to be very similar to the first fight," said Hunter, via Sky Sports' Richard Damerell. "Povetkin always gets to his man at some point and Dillian Whyte always gets hit at some point in all of his fights, so I think it's going to be a very similar outcome."
Whyte's only other loss in his career was a seventh-round TKO at the hands of Anthony Joshua. He's also been knocked down by Oscar Rivas and Joseph Parker, though he managed to win those bouts via unanimous decision. He does take some big shots, but his opponents still tend to pay a price.
Look for this bout to go a few rounds further than the last one, as both fighters start off a bit cagey with so much on the line. Povetkin is nearing the end of the line; a loss might hasten his retirement. Meanwhile, Whyte has a lot to look forward to if he can get the win, but a second-straight loss to an aging opponent would set him back in a big way. Look for Whyte to finish the job this time around in the later rounds.
Prediction: Whyte via TKO
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