Repeat or revenge is always the sub plot for a rematch, and it proved to be revenge for Dillian Whyte as he halted Alexander Povetkin in four rounds at the Europa Point Sports Complex in Gibraltar on Saturday night.
Povetkin (36-3-1, 25 KOs) stunningly flattened Whyte (28-2, 18 KOs) in five rounds in August 2020, but was no match for the Brixton man here, as ‘The Body Snatcher’ won the WBC Interim and Diamond belts with his dominant win.
Whyte unloaded with abandon in the opening session, and he had to take a cuffing right hand from the Russian in round two.
The 32-year-old landed with a well-timed counter right hand in the third, and it was clear early on that the contest wasn’t likely to last the distance.
A big right hand found the target for Whyte to begin the fourth, but back came Povetkin to trade bombs as the Londoner had to be on his mettle.
But a massive right hand forced the former WBA champion towards the ropes, and follow-up rights proceeded by a big left forced Povetkin to the canvas.
The 41-year-old was never likely to beat the count, and referee Victor Laughlin waved the contest off. The towel came in from Povetkin’s corner as the referee stopped the fight.
“I could have gotten the finish in the first round, but he’s a tough guy,” Whyte said to Sky Sports post-fight.
“But I think I could have finished him early. If he wants a rematch and they offer me the right money, I’ll fight him again.
“I shouldn’t have lost the first time. I’m annoyed at myself for losing the first time. I just had to be a bit smarter, that’s all.”
Whyte’s promoter Eddie Hearn stressed the need to get his charge out again in the summer, and hinted that a Deontay Wilder fight could be possible. Whyte also earned a commemorative Gibraltarian gold coin as a result of his victory.
Cheeseman claims British crown
Ted Cheeseman became a two-time British Super Welterweight champion, as he stopped JJ Metcalf in the eleventh round of an absorbing contest.
The two were evenly matched, but Cheeseman (17-2-1, 10 KOs) wobbled Metcalf (21-1, 13 KOs) in the fourth as the pair exchanged punishing blows.
The telling breakthrough came in the penultimate round, with the Bermondsey man landing a hard right-left combination that floored ‘Kid Shamrock’ and the Liverpudlian was unable to beat the count, allowing the 25-year-old to claim the vacant belt.
Wardley mauls Molina
Fabio Wardley survived the biggest gut check of his professional career, as he stopped former two-time world Heavyweight title challenger, Eric Molina in five rounds.
Wardley (11-0, 10 KOs) was hurt in the fifth by a hard right hand from the Molina (27-7, 19 KOs), but rallied after being stunned to land two chopping right hands of his own to put the 38-year-old down, and the Texan was unable to beat the count.
McKinson overcomes Kongo
Portsmouth’s Michael McKinson deservedly won the WBO Global Welterweight title with a unanimous points win over Chris Kongo.
Kongo (12-1, 7 KOs) was floored in the opening round, with the shortest of left hands forcing the champion to the canvas, in what appeared to be more of a flash knockdown.
McKinson (20-0, 2 KOs) forced the pace for the main part and took the fight by scores of 95-94, 96-94 and 97-93 to become the new champion.
Hatton makes successful debut
Campbell Hatton (1-0) made his professional bow, and was given a good workout by Jesus Ruiz (0-11) over four rounds at Lightweight.
The son of former two-weight world champion, Ricky and nephew of trainer Matthew, took a 40-36 verdict on the referee’s scorecard.
Webb blows away Pfeifer
In the last of the trio of heavyweight fights, Erik Pfeifer was upset by Chersey’s Nick Webb, who knocked the German down three times in a second round win that earned him the vacant IBO International title.
Webb (17-2, 13 KOs) did all of the damage in the second frame, first knocking Pfeifer (7-1, 5 KOs) down with a cuffing left hand, and it was a shot that the favourite never really recovered from.
A right hand through the guard had Pfeifer down again, and on the resumption, the 33-year-old finished the job with another chopping right hand forcing the referee’s intervention.
Khoumari halts Baker
The show was opened by Wembley Super Featherweight Youssef Khoumari (12-0-1, 5 KOs), and he impressively stopped Kane Baker (14-8) in five rounds.
