Povetkin Dismantles Whyte With One Electrifying Punch; Katie Wins Again

Russia’s Alexander Povetkin survived two knockdowns and then knocked out favored British heavyweight Dillian Whyte with a single blow on Saturday in a heavyweight elimination bout.

Shades of Jersey Joe Walcott.

Povetkin (36-2-1, 25 KOs) the ageless warrior showed big hitting “The Body Snatcher” Whyte (27-2, 18 KOs) at Fight Camp 4, that with heavyweights, it’s never over till it’s over. Any planning a heavyweight world title timeline will have to wait.

Whyte showed patience and power as he steadily increased the pressure against the 40-year-old Povetkin. With strong jabs and blows to the body, the younger heavyweight began to establish dominance against Povetkin who refused to yield.

In the fourth round, Whyte found an opening for a counter right that stunned Povetkin and followed immediately with a left hook to floor the perennial challenger. The Russian heavyweight got up quickly. Whyte continued patiently to look for openings against Povetkin and during an exchange inside, connected with a short left uppercut and down went the Russian warrior again. And again he got up without a problem.

It looked pretty grim for Povetkin in the fifth round as Whyte looked confident and patient as he looked to end the fight. Povetkin closed the distance and dipped to his left and suddenly while in a crouch fired a right uppercut that connected like a gun shot and down went Whyte under the ropes. The referee did not bother to count and the fight was over at 30 seconds into the fifth round.

Few knockouts were ever so beautifully designed except maybe Jersey Joe Walcott’s knockout of Ezzard Charles back in July 1951 for the heavyweight world title. This was just as picturesque.

“I didn’t think I would finish the fight like this, especially after I went down twice,” said Povetkin. “In my training I prepared for this punch.”

It was a beautifully delivered blow through the guard of Whyte who never saw it coming. Now Povetkin will either fight a rematch with the British heavyweight or possibly fight the heavyweight world titlist Anthony Joshua who was in the audience and as stunned as everyone else by the sudden turn of fortune.

Povetkin was somber in his own reaction toward dissenters and others.

“I don’t want to respond to the doubters. And thanks to all the fans that believe in me,” Povetkin said.

Katie Wins Again

Katie Taylor can finally say that she indeed is the undisputed lightweight world champion after defeating Belgium’s Delfine Persoon in a more convincing fashion by unanimous decision in their rematch.

Taylor (16-0, 6 KOs) fought a more disciplined pro style and kept angles that proved perplexing to former lightweight titlist Persoon (44-3, 18 KOs). Unlike their first encounter, this time Ireland’s favorite used clearer shots and left the challenger with a broken nose and cheekbone after the second round.

Still, Persoon never quit and had her moments using her wild child style of fighting that enabled her to catch Taylor with her long rights and lefts when she thought she was out of reach. Against Persoon, an opponent is never out of reach.

Taylor worked the body early and seldom unleashed more than three blows at a time. That proved to separate the two fighters until Persoon rallied late in the fight. But it was too little and too late. One judge scored it 98-93, and two others 96-94 all for Taylor who retains the WBA, WBO, IBF and WBC titles. Now she can call herself undisputed with nary an opposing voice.

Other Bouts

After falling behind, Chris Kongo (12-0, 7 KOs) knocked out Luther Clay (13-2) with double left hooks in their clash between British welterweight kingpins.

“It’s been 16 months since I boxed,” said Kongo who admitted to needing two rounds to get accustomed. “There was no way I was leaving that ring without this belt. No way.”

Clay, the shorter fighter, gained control early by going to the body. But after two rounds Kongo went to work and began using sharp jabs and counter left hooks to connect soundly. It was a right cross that hurt Clay in the fifth round, but it was two left hooks that dropped Clay for the knockout at 2:44 of the ninth round. Clay’s corner also tossed the towel into the ring.

Croatia’s Alen “Savage” Babic (4-0, 4 KOs) knocked out American heavyweight Shawndell Winters (13-4, 12 KOs) with a relentless attack. Babic connected with a double left hook to floor Winters in the opening round. In the second round a four-punch combination by Babic dropped Winters for the count at 2:20 to win by knockout.

“This is savage, he’s crazy,” said Babic about himself. “I want to be tested. I want to fight the giants.”

Zak Chelli (7-1-1, 3 KOs) seemed in total control over Jack Cullen (18-2-1, 9 KOs) until the last three rounds of their 10-round super middleweight bout. Then the taller Cullen rallied to gain a split decision draw. Chelli seemed to tire and that proved fatal in allowing Cullen to get inside. Scores were 97-95 Chelli, 96-94 Cullen and 95-95.

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