Alexander Povetkin’s rematch with Dillian Whyte may be the last time we see the Russian in a boxing ring.
Povetkin was comprehensively defeated by Whyte in Gibraltar, the second time the pair fought after the Russian spectacularly knocked the Brit out in August.
Whyte got his revenge on Saturday scoring a fourth-round victory sealing his win with a left hook that his foe couldn’t get up from. Povetkin, 41, has had a long and controversial career which began in Germany on June 11, 2005. And despite Whyte’s interest in fighting a third time Povetkin’s promoter Andrey Ryabinskiy took to Twitter to give his thoughts on what is next for the former WBA heavyweight champion.
“I think this is his last fight,” Ryabinskiy said. “I will persuade Sasha to end his career.”
Povetkin did look somewhat out of sorts as he walked to the ring on Saturday night and offered very little against Whyte. And having had to postpone the initial date for their November rematch due to testing positive for Covid-19, Ryabinsky may be doing the right thing in telling the veteran heavyweight to call it a day.
Feature image: Mark Robinson/Matchroom Boxing