Heavyweight

Oleksandr Usyk is the new unified heavyweight champion after a brilliant upset win over Anthony Joshua on Saturday, which means fans are now eagerly looking forward to the next big date on the heavyweight calendar: the trilogy fight between WBC heavyweight champion Tyson Fury and Deontay Wilder on Oct. 9.

Fury and Wilder first fought to a draw in December 2018, a match highlighted by a dramatic 12th round in which Fury got up from the canvas after getting clobbered by an excellent one-two combination from Wilder. The pair met again in February 2020, with Fury roughing up the American in a one-sided affair that ended in a TKO loss for Wilder and a championship belt for Fury. 

With Usyk's victory fresh in the memory, many will be wondering if another upset is in the offering. That would be up to Wilder, who is a +240 underdog, according to the latest odds from DraftKings (as of Sep. 27). Fury is considered a -310 favorite, and for good reason.

We've seen Fury and Wilder battle for the better part of 19 rounds now, and Fury has won most of them. Simply put, the 33-year-old is a better all-around fighter than Wilder, or really anyone in the heavyweight class (though Usyk may have something to say about that someday).

Fury uses his 6'9" frame very well, controlling distance behind the jab and locking up his opponents with his long arms when he wants to snuff out attacks on the inside. He can throw bombs on the inside or box behind the jab by relying on his footwork and agility. He also has great defensive head movement. In the second fight against Wilder, it was mostly one-way traffic, with Fury proving to be unsolvable for the "Bronze Bomber."

Wilder, 35, is more of a one-dimensional fighter. He has a uniquely powerful right hand, and mostly looks to set it up with a probing jab from the left. His power has led to an impressive highlight reel of knockouts, but it hasn't been enough to get past Fury. 

The Boxing on BT Sport team all predict the "Gypsy King" will get another stoppage win over Wilder (it should be noted that the last prediction in the video comes from John Fury, Tyson's father):

The @Tyson_Fury v Deontay Wilder 3 predictions are in from our panel 🔮

Catch up on the #FuryWilder3 Heavyweight Debate in full 👇

— Boxing on TNT Sports (@boxingontnt) September 20, 2021

Not everyone is in Fury's corner, however. Joshua recently predicted Wilder will win the trilogy fight.

"Because you've asked the question, let's go with Wilder because he seems obsessed, like he really wants it," he said, per BBC Sport's Coral Barry, adding that the fight will end in a knockout one way or the other.

If you believe that with enough time, Wilder is bound to find the perfect opening for a knockout right hand, then that window of opportunity may well open up in the trilogy fight. He is that dangerous. However, Fury is vastly more skilled than Wilder. If he's in shape and focused, we should be in for a repeat of their second matchup.

Prediction: Fury wins by late TKO

      

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Heavyweight superstar Anthony Joshua (24-1, 22 KOs) is all set to put his WBA, WBO and IBF world titles on the line Saturday against mandatory challenger Oleksandr Usyk (18-3, 13 KOs).

It's certainly the biggest fight of Usyk's career, but it's also a critical hurdle for Joshua, who needs to get a win to set up a potential unification fight against WBC champion Tyson Fury.

Joshua is one of the hardest hitters in boxing's top division and has consistently worked to improve his technique since his stunning upset loss to Andy Ruiz in June 2019.

The 31-year-old was able to get his revenge against the American just six months later and has since gone on to beat 39-year-old Kubrat Pulev, easily outclassing him in a ninth-round knockout win.

Usyk, 34, is a relative newcomer to the heavyweight ranks. He spent most of his career at cruiserweight, becoming the unified champion in 2018.

A tricky, technically sound southpaw, the Ukrainian has moved up to the heavyweight division in search of greater glory. A win over Joshua would be a career highlight and put him in prime position for another blockbuster or two.

       

Joshua vs. Usyk Fight Info

When: Saturday, Sep. 25 at 1 p.m. ET (main card, ring walk approx. 5:10 p.m. ET per DAZN.com)

Where: Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, London

Live stream: DAZN (US), Sky Sports Box Office (UK)

TV: Sky Sports Box Office (UK)

Odds (via FanDuel): Joshua -310, Usyk +225

             

Predictions

The oddsmakers are favoring Joshua in this match, and for good reason. He's the champion, after all, and has fought his entire career at heavyweight.

His right hand is a fearsome weapon, not quite at Deontay Wilder's level, but fairly close. He's also shown greater patience since the loss to Ruiz, working behind his jab and waiting for clean opportunities rather than assuming he can weather any storm en route to a knockout blow. 

Some will rightly wonder if Usyk will be able to withstand Joshua's best power punches. The challenger hasn't been knocked down in his career, but he's never faced anyone as powerful as the British fighter. He had some trouble with Derek Chisora's size in a close, unanimous-decision win in October.

Joshua also has a five-inch reach advantage (82" to 78", per BoxRec), so Usyk will have to work hard to establish an offense and not let the champion control him by pumping the jab.

Heavyweight fighter Dillian Whyte thinks Usyk lacks the firepower needed to trouble Joshua.

"It's a dead fight. Usyk hasn't looked good," he said, per Jordan Seward of the Daily Mail.

"Who has he fought at heavyweight? Chazz Witherspoon, Derek Chisora. He looked terrible in the fights. He has no punch power."

While Joshua has plenty working in his favor, Usyk is more than capable of pulling off a big upset here.

Strong on the defensive front, he's not going to make it easy for Joshua to string together combinations. Usyk also has fast hands and, as a southpaw, he'll be able to return fire at awkward angles.

Joshua has said he's had to do plenty of homework to prepare for the undefeated Ukrainian, per ESPN.com's Nick Parkinson:

"He's fought many men that are orthodox and during my process in training for a southpaw, I've actually learned where my feet need to be positioned, what controls a southpaw and generally counterpunches. His biggest threat is he's used to seeing guys like me throughout the whole of his career and ... I've had to train for him over the last three months. So yes, I've adapted."

Tony Bellew, who lost to Usyk at cruiserweight in 2018, believes this will be Joshua's toughest test yet. 

"As a natural boxer and his technical ability, no one is anywhere near as good a boxer as him in the heavyweight division. He's in a league of his own," he told Josh Fordham of TalkSport.

It should also be noted that Joshua's chin has failed him before. He lost to Ruiz by TKO, and Wladimir Klitschko was able to knock him down in their epic title fight in 2017. Usyk's likeliest route to victory is on the cards, but a shock KO isn't out of the realm of possibility. 

If the fight is close in the later rounds, Usyk may want to gun for the knockout. The crowd is going to be on Joshua's side here, and there's all kinds of pressure to get him and Fury in the ring together. It may be tough for him to earn a narrow-decision victory.

Look for Usyk to score a few rounds early on, only to see a composed, mature Joshua keep the pressure on and finally crack him in the late rounds.

Prediction: Joshua by late KO

             

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The doors are wide open for retired prizefighters to get back into the ring and collect another paycheck on celebrity boxing cards. The likes of Floyd Mayweather Jr., Roy Jones Jr. and Mike Tyson have already cashed in, and now former world heavyweight champion Evander Holyfield is set to do the same.

Holyfield will fight former UFC star Vitor Belfort in the main event of "Triller Fight Club Legends II", which takes place Saturday, Sep. 11 at the Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino in Hollywood, Florida. The pay-per-view card begins at 7 p.m. ET and features a boxing match between Anderson Silva and Tito Ortiz in the co-main event. FITE.TV is live streaming the Triller card, including an alternate commentary stream featuring former President Donald Trump and his son, Donald Trump Jr.

In his prime, Holyfield was an automatic A-lister, the kind of fighter you developed a card around. This time out, the 58-year-old is actually a replacement fighter. He's stepping in for Oscar De La Hoya, who had to pull out of the event after he was hospitalized with COVID-19. Holyfield's involvement also forced organizers to move the event from Los Angeles to Florida because the California State Athletic Commission wouldn't sanction the bout.

Belfort, 44, was known for his incredible knockout power as a mixed martial artist. He amassed a 26-14 record with 18 knockouts, many of them on punches. 

        

Fight Predictions

As brutal as boxing is on the head and body, it can be just as hard on the lungs. One has to wonder how Holyfield's stamina will hold up in this match, which is scheduled for eight two-minute rounds in the heavyweight division, per MMAFighting.com's Damon Martin. Holyfield believes his fitness levels will be just fine.

"Well, the thing is that I've been in good shape and I've been taking care of my body," Holyfield said, per MMA Junkie's Danny Segura. "I didn't have a lot of bad habits that a lot of people have and that's a big part of it. Talking to the younger people, you take care of yourself while you're young and when you get older still take care of yourself."

It's one thing to have your lungs full and your legs under you in the gym; it's another thing entirely when someone is throwing punches at your head and ribcage in the ring. All the training and cardio in the world can only get a boxer nearing his 60s so far, and Holyfield didn't even have the luxury of months of preparation. Unless he's in miraculous shape, he could end up looking pretty ragged after the first three or four rounds.

As long as he's been taking care of himself, Belfort should have an advantage simply because he's 14 years younger than his opponent. He's also much closer to his fighting days, having retired from UFC in 2018. Holyfield's last pro boxing match was in 2011.

If there's a distinct advantage for Holyfield, it will be in technique. Belfort has only dipped his toe into professional boxing once, a knockout win in his native Brazil in 2006. He had his moments as a striker in mixed martial arts, but it's not a direct crossover to the boxing ring. In his fight against Jake Paul, Tyron Woodley had a bad stance and struggled to get his distance and timing right. Belfort could have similar troubles.

Holyfield, who is 44-10 with 29 knockouts, should be able to win the exchanges in the early rounds basically on instinct. Belfort has a better shot at conjuring up a big haymaker and winning by knockout, but Holyfield might be able to win if he keeps the carnage to a minimum. In these exhibition-like matches fought under unusual circumstances, go ahead and pick the boxer to win a boxing match.

Prediction: Holyfield by decision

The heavyweight matchup between Tyson Fury (30-0-1, 21 KOs) and Deontay Wilder (42-1-1, 41 KOs) promises to be one of the biggest fights of 2021, even if many fans were hoping for Fury to face Anthony Joshua in a title unification bout instead.

Fury, the WBC world champion, is a towering shapeshifter capable of slick defensive movement and intricate attacks. Wilder is a knockout artist of the highest order, with a career 93 percent KO rate. Their first two fights—a controversial split draw the first time around, a seventh-round TKO win for Fury in the second— provided plenty of thrills, and the third promises more of the same.

Fury and Wilder were scheduled to fight July 24, but multiple reports indicate the title bout will be postponed because of positive coronavirus tests in Fury's camp. ESPN's Mike Coppinger first reported the positive tests and that sources told him Top Rank Boxing, the fight's promoter, will likely move the fight to September.

Boxing journalist Dan Rafael and The Athletic's Lance Pugmire both said Fury has tested positive, with the latter noting the fight could be pushed back as late as October.

                                  

Early Odds, Prediction

When the two boxers do eventually enter the ring at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas, look for Fury to come out on top again.

According to Oddschecker (as of July 12), Fury is a 5-18 favorite (-360), while Wilder is a 5-2 (+250) underdog. The Gypsy King not only has the win in his pocket but is the more talented, well-rounded fighter. Wilder is seen as more of a one-dimensional boxer, relying on the legendary power in his right hand to render skill gaps irrelevant.

The first fight in December 2018 saw Fury mostly get the better of Wilder, but a couple of near-fatal mistakes cost him a win. Fury did well to avoid Wilder's power punches for long stretches, using a sharp jab and good foot movement to keep the Bronze Bomber at a distance. He also deployed a number of tricky feints, and Wilder struggled to get into a rhythm.

You don't necessarily need a rhythm when you have an equalizer like Wilder does on his right hand. The American found the mark in the ninth round, sending Fury to the canvas for a knockdown. Wilder then put Fury flat on his back in the 12th with a devastating straight right-left hook combination, only to see Fury miraculously pull himself off the canvas and finish the fight. Many felt that despite the two knockdowns, Wilder was lucky to keep his title with a draw.

The second fight in February 2020 was a mismatch. Fury went straight at Wilder, getting inside and pummeling him with power punches. His famous head movement saved him from a few of Wilder's counter right hands early on, and the rout was on. Fury scored knockdowns in the third and fifth rounds, and a bloodied, unsteady Wilder was unable to finish the seventh. He was thoroughly outclassed.

Wilder's awesome power makes him a threat to end the fight at any moment, but Fury has already shown that he can neutralize his attacks and recover from his best punches (not that he will be keen to see whether he can do it again).

If Fury is healthy and motivated, he should be able to outwit and outhit Wilder. Knowing that every second in the ring means danger, look for Fury to be aggressive and repeat his performance from the second matchup for another stoppage victory.

             

Prediction: Fury wins by late TKO.

WBC and The Ring heavyweight boxing champion Tyson Fury called his upcoming opponent, Deontay Wilder, an "excuse-maker" during an interview with ESPN's Bernardo Osuna on Saturday:

Osuna asked Fury what comes to mind when he hears Wilder's name, and he offered this response: "Nothing. An excuse-maker. A guy who couldn't face reality that he lost. So, yeah, that's what comes to mind. A letdown. A disappointment."

Fury and Wilder fought to a draw in December 2018, but the champion beat the challenger via seventh-round TKO in February 2020. That defeat marked the first loss of Wilder's career. Fury is still undefeated.

Wilder has provided a range of reasons for why he lost.

Fury was looking toward a heavyweight title unification match with Anthony Joshua, but arbitrator Daniel Weinstein ruled that he had to honor his contract and fight Wilder a third time before Sept. 15, per Chris McKenna of the Daily Star.

Wilder and Fury will fight a trilogy match at T-Mobile Arena in Paradise, Nevada, on July 24.

The war of words keeps chugging along between Tyson Fury and Anthony Joshua—even if a fight feels as far away as ever.

On Saturday, it was Joshua's promoter, Eddie Hearn, calling out Fury by telling Sports Illustrated's Chris Mannix on DAZN he doesn't believe the Gypsy King had any intention of getting a contract done:

"I think it was pretty intentional. I don't think -- and A.J. doesn't think -- that @Tyson_Fury really wanted to fight him," @EddieHearn tells @SIChrisMannix on @DAZNBoxing

— Lance Pugmire (@pugboxing) May 30, 2021

A megafight between Fury and Joshua to unify the heavyweight title belts has been on the table for more than a year now, but contractual issues between Fury and Deontay Wilder have kept them from finalizing an agreement.

Following Fury's technical knockout of Wilder in the seventh round of their heavyweight bout in February 2020, the Bronze Bomber quickly triggered the trilogy clause in his contract with the WBC champ, but the fight has yet to materialize.

Part of that is due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Part of it is due to Wilder's camp asking to push the bout back further into 2021. Whatever the holdup, Fury decided he wanted to move on. Soon he and Hearn found out that wouldn't be possible.

A U.S. court ruled Wilder is owed a third fight before mid-September after he exercised the trilogy clause. That put talks with Joshua back on hold as Fury and Wilder agreed to meet in Las Vegas on July 24 to satisfy their contract.

Naturally, the decision hasn't sat well with the Joshua camp, which is under an obligation by the WBO to face top challenger Oleksandr Usyk.

"I don't particularly trust people on that side," @EddieHearn tells @SIChrisMannix of rebuilding a Joshua-Fury fight after Joshua meets Usyk.

— Lance Pugmire (@pugboxing) May 30, 2021

If and when Fury and Joshua are able to make a deal work, it'll be arguably the biggest bout in British boxing history as both men try to become the first undisputed champion since Lennox Lewis—another England native—in 2000.

It just doesn't appear either camp is ready to get back to the bargaining table just yet.

Mike Tyson's story is being told in a two-part, four-hour documentary produced by ABC, Mike Tyson: The Knockout.

The documentary features interviews with those closest to Tyson, as well as the media who covered him throughout his career, and will use exclusive material from ABC News archives as well as unaired interviews with the Hall of Famer.

The first part of the documentary aired Tuesday night, covering his childhood and personal struggles as well as the highs and lows of his early boxing career.

The episode started right in the middle of Tyson's rise in the ring, as he readied to fight Michael Spinks in a battle of undefeated stars. But before there was any insight as to what happened in Atlantic City back on June 27, 1988, things turned to Brownsville, the neighborhood of Brooklyn where Tyson grew up.

Brooklyn native Shannon Briggs, who lived across the street from Mike Tyson, remembers what it was like growing up in the area during the 1970s: “Chances of making it out of Brownsville is slim to none.” #TheKnockout https://t.co/Wxtj0vzD9Q pic.twitter.com/Q3Ps5ATSVG

— 20/20 (@ABC2020) May 26, 2021

Actress Rosie Perez detailed the realities of life in the neighborhood, where gang violence and disappearances were a part of everyday life. Tyson's therapist, Marilyn Murray, explained that Tyson was forced to deal with all of this while also managing a home life with a mother who had alcoholism.

"She would be drinking, she was extremely abusive," Murray said. "Oftentimes, his mother would get beat up [by men she brought home] ... so violence, sex, alcoholism, abuse of women—those were his baseline for normal."

Tyson found comfort from his childhood by spending time with pigeons, and his first fight was with a neighbor who tore the head off one of his birds. After Tyson was arrested multiple times as an adolescent, he was moved to the Tryon School for Boys, a juvenile detention center.

There, he met former professional boxer Bobby Stewart, who worked as a guard at the facility. Stewart set him up with coach Cus D'Amato, who coached him at his home in Catskills and eventually had Tyson move in with his family and other boxing students.

Peek into a young Mike Tyson's home while living with adoptive father and legendary boxing trainer Cus D'Amato. Watch TONIGHT at 8/7c on #TheKnockout on @ABC. https://t.co/Wxtj0vzD9Q pic.twitter.com/vltQhpzQlW

— 20/20 (@ABC2020) May 25, 2021

D'Amato encouraged him from the beginning and didn't wait to plant the idea in his head that he could be the heavyweight champion of the world. With structure and attention, it was a complete 180-degree turn from where his life was headed in Brooklyn.

In ABC interview footage, Tyson said D'Amato served as his father figure in addition to his coach and trainer. After Tyson's mother died in 1982—when he was 16 years old—D'Amato and his partner, Camille Ewald, took on an even bigger role in his life, eventually legally adopting him.

D'Amato's dedication to Tyson became clear when his assistant, Teddy Atlas, held a handgun to the then-15-year-old's head because Tyson touched his 11-year-old niece's buttocks—to which Tyson later admitted.

Three years later, D'Amato died.

“He was everything.” After the death of his trainer and mentor Cus D’Amato, Mike Tyson described D’Amato as “more than just boxing, he was a philosopher.” #TheKnockout

— 20/20 (@ABC2020) May 26, 2021

On Nov. 22, 1986, Tyson became the youngest heavyweight champion ever by unseating WBC titleholder Trevor Berbick. Suddenly, he was thrust into the limelight. Even amid his sudden fame, he found time to visit Brooklyn as the hometown hero.

Those close to Mike Tyson remember how his visits back to his hometown helped him stay connected and inspired an entire community: "He was that boy wonder that we could relate to." #TheKnockout https://t.co/Wxtj0vReyq pic.twitter.com/dztKaNHSgG

— 20/20 (@ABC2020) May 26, 2021

Here, the documentary revisited his fight with Spinks—where he won by knockout in 91 seconds.

He married actress Robin Givens, but the marriage faltered—in a sit-down interview with Barbara Walters, Givens said Tyson abused her. The interview took place as he was constantly in the news, including for attacking a news crew and crashing his car into a tree.

Everything Mike Tyson did made the news: “You couldn’t keep up with this. I mean, this guy was basically reality television way before reality TV was invented.” https://t.co/0aQfmkcmMm #TheKnockout pic.twitter.com/gMgGvgFWSn

— ABC News (@ABC) May 26, 2021

“When you have millions of dollars and you come from nothing, it means nothing anyway because you had nothing growing up. There’s no education for that...But it’s very hard to deal with when you’re young.” #TheKnockout https://t.co/Wxtj0vzD9Q pic.twitter.com/aIwm8f9NDs

— 20/20 (@ABC2020) May 26, 2021

In 2009, Tyson told Oprah Winfrey that the relationship was abusive "both ways."

Amid personal turmoil, Tyson was supposed to be preparing to face James "Buster" Douglas, who entered the bout on Feb. 11, 1990, with 42-1 odds to come away with the win.

Fueled by the "negativity" surrounding his capabilities, Douglas knocked out Tyson in the 10th round.

The first part of the documentary ended here and will be available on demand and on Hulu on Wednesday. Part 2 of the documentary airs next Tuesday at 8 p.m. ET.

The World Boxing Organization announced Saturday (h/t ESPN) that it has given WBO heavyweight champion Anthony Joshua and challenger Alexander Usyk 10 days to come to an agreement on a title fight.

If the two camps do not reach an agreement, then a "purse bid ceremony" will occur, per WBO rules and regulations.

Luis Batista Salas, Esq., the chairman of the WBO Championship Committee, publicized a memo sent to both camps outlining the situation.

If Joshua does not proceed with his mandatory requirement to defend the title, then he will be forced to vacate the belt, per Salas.

Provided a fight agreement takes place, the split ratio cannot be in favor of Joshua by more than 80 percent, per the memo.

Joshua holds the WBA (Super), IBF, WBO, and IBO heavyweight titles. Negotiations between him and WBC heavyweight champion Tyson Fury have been ongoing, but Fury has also been held up with another challenger, per ESPN's Ben Baby.

An arbitrator ruled Monday that Fury is contractually obligated to take part in a trilogy fight with Deontay Wilder.

Fury and Wilder fought to a split decision in December 2018 before the champ beat him by seventh-round TKO in February 2020.

Following the arbitrator's ruling, the WBO issued a show-cause notice Wednesday to Matchroom Boxing's Eddie Hearn, who promotes Joshua, "requesting his position within 48 hours" about why the WBO Championship Committee should not order a fight between Joshua and Usyk, the mandatory challenger.

Hearn responded Friday and asked for an extension until Monday to discuss the matter with Joshua, but Usyk's legal counsel objected to that request.

The WBO Championship Committee denied the extension request, leading to its confirmed position that Joshua must enter negotiations with Usyk for a title defense.

Joshua, 31, is 24-1 lifetime with 22 knockouts. Usyk, 34, is 18-0 with 13 knockouts.

Tyson Fury's promoter, Bob Arum, has no plans to change the scheduled fight between his boxer and Anthony Joshua despite Monday's ruling from an arbitrator regarding a potential rematch with Deontay Wilder.

Arbitrator Daniel Weinstein ruled in Wilder's favor and decided Fury owes the 35-year-old a third fight even though there was a disagreement over the rematch clause on their previous two-fight deal, per Mike Coppinger of The Athletic.

Arum called the ruling a "preposterous decision" and said he wants Fury to fight Joshua in August with Wilder facing the winner in either November or December, per Chris Mannix of Sports Illustrated.

On Sunday, Fury tweeted the "massive announcement" that he was scheduled to fight Joshua on Aug. 14 in Saudi Arabia.

"We're not paying Wilder to step aside," Arum told Mark Kriegel of ESPN. "It's better to get rid of him and go about our business. We can make the Fury-Joshua fight for November or December."

Kriegel explained the ruling means Fury has to face Wilder by Sept. 15, although Weinstein granted the possibility of an extension if the two sides agreed.

"Such an extension would involve a hefty step-aside fee for Wilder, likely coming from the record-breaking, $155 million site fee negotiated for the Aug. 14 fight with Joshua in Saudi Arabia," Kriegel wrote.

The back-and-forth comes after a memorable fight on Feb. 22, 2020, when Fury handled Wilder with relative ease to the point the latter's corner threw in the towel in the seventh round.

Wilder was not pleased with the decision and said in the post-fight interview, "I just wish that my corner would've let me go out on my shield. I'm a warrior. That's what I do."

He fired his longtime coach Mark Breland after the fight as well.

One good slugfest deserves another, which is why boxing fans will be happy to see that Alexander Povetkin (36-2-1, 25 KOs) and Dillian Whyte (27-2, 18 KOs) are set to fight each other again this Saturday, seven months after their first brawl ended in a knockout win for Povetkin.

The heavyweight rematch, billed as the "Rumble on the Rock" because its taking place on the island of Gibraltar, will be a chance for Whyte to make up for a missed opportunity in the first bout.

Whyte sent Povetkin to the canvas twice in the fourth round, and looked well on his way to earning a victory. Instead, the big Russian kept his wits about him and knocked out Whyte in the very next round with a picture-perfect left uppercut. Here's a look if you missed it the first time around, per DAZN Boxing:

Alexander Povetkin was down twice in the previous round ...

And then he did this 🤯 pic.twitter.com/9mgk7EKRbS

— DAZN Boxing (@DAZNBoxing) August 22, 2020

It was a stunning KO, but Whyte believes he can avoid such a mistake this time around and get his revenge. Here's how to watch.

       

Povetkin vs. Whyte 2 Fight Info

When: Saturday, Mar. 27 at 3 p.m. ET (main card, Whyte-Povetkin expected at 4:30 p.m. ET)

Where: Europa Points Sports Complex in Gibraltar

TV: Sky Sports (UK)

Live stream: DAZN (US), Sky Sports (UK)

Odds (via DraftKings): Whyte -345 (bet $345 to win $100), Povetkin +240

       

Povetkin's knockout punch is etched in the memory of everyone who saw it live, but it shouldn't be the only thing on people's minds as they look ahead to the rematch. Whyte did a good job of ducking Povetkin's punches in the earlier rounds, returning fire with counter lefts to the body (check out the second round in the highlights clip below). 

Whyte also looked great in the third working behind the jab. The fourth round saw him earn one knockdown with a hook to the temple to end a flurry, and then his own left uppercut through the guard sent his then-40-year-old opponent tumbling to the canvas a second time. 

As previously mentioned, Whyte's uppercut was one-upped by Povetkin just a few minutes later, but it almost didn't happen. The 32-year-old believes Povetkin's corner was close to calling it a night. 

"He was done—they were saying 'we are pulling you out at the end of this round,'" he said, per Sky Sports' James Dielhenn.

Povetkin has denied Whyte's allegations and will be looking to prove he's the better man yet again. He may be 41 years old and an underdog, but he has his share of believers. Fellow heavyweight boxer Michael Hunter is backing Povetkin to upset "The Body Snatcher" in Gibraltar.

"I think that it's going to be a repeat. It's going to be very similar to the first fight," said Hunter, via Sky Sports' Richard Damerell. "Povetkin always gets to his man at some point and Dillian Whyte always gets hit at some point in all of his fights, so I think it's going to be a very similar outcome."

Whyte's only other loss in his career was a seventh-round TKO at the hands of Anthony Joshua. He's also been knocked down by Oscar Rivas and Joseph Parker, though he managed to win those bouts via unanimous decision. He does take some big shots, but his opponents still tend to pay a price.

Look for this bout to go a few rounds further than the last one, as both fighters start off a bit cagey with so much on the line. Povetkin is nearing the end of the line; a loss might hasten his retirement. Meanwhile, Whyte has a lot to look forward to if he can get the win, but a second-straight loss to an aging opponent would set him back in a big way. Look for Whyte to finish the job this time around in the later rounds.

Prediction:  Whyte via TKO

     

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