What can I say about tonight’s fight that hasn’t already been trodden into the dirt? Not much. Dillian Whyte and Alexander Povetkin will compete, in essence, for the right to be called the third best heavyweight in the world. Both have already been knocked out by Anthony Joshua, and there isn’t a sane man with working eyes who would pick either of them to beat Tyson Fury. So what’s the point?
Well, not everybody can be the best. Champions need contenders. Promoters need shows. The sport has to keep moving. This is a fight to oil the cogs of the heavyweight division while we wait for AJ and Fury to get back in the ring. And if past performances are anything to go by it should be an entertaining encounter.
Dillian Whyte has a jab that would give a rhino a black eye and a left hook that tends to leave Australians unconscious. Alexander Povetkin still sports the black trunks from his Teddy Atlas days, when he was intent on being considered Mike Tyson’s reincarnation. He does resemble Tyson somewhat, albeit a slower, less powerful, easier to hit version of Brownsville’s famous son. Whyte and Povetkin will stand in the middle of the ring and throw punches without caution, secure in the sturdiness of their chins and spurred by the weight in their fists.
We are told the winner will go on to face either Tyson Fury or Deontay Wilder after their slated fight this December; a chance to earn millions upon millions of pounds and something green to hold up their trousers with. Since Deontay Wilder is a PTSD case following his knockout loss to Fury this past February, Whyte and Povetkin are basically vying for a chance to go on and lose to The Gypsy King next year. At least they’ll make a good chunk of cash in the process.
Luckily for me, I don’t watch boxing only to see who wins. I like to witness the struggle, to watch the fighters implement their tactics, overcome adversity, show their mettle. In a visceral, primal sport there aren’t many who encapsulate its essence as completely as Dillian Whyte. Neither damage nor exhaustion can compel him to quit. Alexander Povetkin seems to cut from the same cloth. He crouches, slips, and throws hooks in a similar fashion to Dereck Chisora, who partnered with Whyte to put on two of the most action-packed fights in recent memory. If tonight’s encounter is even half as entertaining I’ll be disturbing the neighbours by shouting at the TV. Here’s hoping.
As for my usual, half-arsed prediction, I have a feeling Povetkin may refuse to get off his stool after one of the later rounds. I don’t know why. I’m still a bit drunk from last night. Bet the house on it.
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