Dillian Whyte doesn’t believe that rival Alexander Povetkin fell ill with Covid-19 after the Russian withdrew from their November 21 rematch earlier this week.
Povetkin was reportedly hospitalised after contracting the Coronavirus back in his homeland with their return bout now set to be rearranged for January 30. Yet the Londoner feels Povetkin simply needed more time to prepare.
The Brixton banger scored two knockdowns and was apparently coasting to victory when Povetkin shockingly KOed him with a left uppercut in the fifth round back in August.
Whyte immediately triggered the rematch clause, but his plans for swift revenge were doused when Povetkin withdrew from their return. But the Londoner refuses to believe the story emanating from the Russian’s camp.
“I personally don’t think he’s got Covid,” a suspicious Whyte told Sky Sports.
“I think he just needed more time to get ready, because he took a lot of damage in the first fight. After the first fight, he took a lot of time off. Even though I got stopped, I went straight back to training and I got straight back on it.
“I was just in my peak stage now, so I can’t just crash out and let it all die down. I’ve got to keep the engine warm and still train, but just not as hard. I keep the same intensity, but just not the volume. They wanted more time, or whatever. More time for me.”
Povetkin’s promoter Andrey Ryabinskiy says his fighter has since been released from hospital and should be ready to resume training in two to three weeks. He insists ‘Sasha’ Povetkin was genuinely ill.
“There are so many different opinions. Let’s not listen to opinions, but be guided by facts and make decisions,” Ryabinskiy told Sky Sports.
“The facts are simple – Sasha got coronavirus and we were forced to postpone the fight. This can happen to any athlete. Sasha was in the hospital, we have all the documents at hand. If [promoter] Eddie Hearn has any question of this kind, I am ready to submit all these documents.
“Obviously, it is more profitable for us to have a rematch with Whyte after his defeat as soon as possible.”
Main image: Mark Robinson/Matchroom Boxing.