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Boxing

Dillian Whyte ready to fight before Alexander Povetkin recovery

Alexander Netherton
Dillian Whyte ready to fight before Alexander Povetkin recoveryDAZN
Povetkin's coronavirus bout could give Whyte the opportunity to fight before any rematch for the WBC interim championship.

Dillian Whyte wants to arrange another fight as he waits for Alexander Povetkin’s recovery from the coronavirus, according to Eddie Hearn.

Whyte suggested to his promoter that he could fight Luis Ortiz, Deontay Wilder, Dereck Chisora or Andy Ruiz Jr. next, after news that Povetkin was hospitalised for a second time with Covid-19.

Speaking to Sky Sports News, Hearn said that he would soon contact potential opponents to arrange a potential clash.

"We will be reaching out to other players in the heavyweight division to see if they fancy it," Hearn said.

"I'd love to make Ruiz Jr. vs. Whyte, Wilder vs. Whyte, Ortiz vs. Whyte.

"Chisora is always ready. He is another name to throw in the mix, potentially, for Whyte if the Povetkin fight is delayed.

"He is always in excellent fights, always entertaining, he is on good form.

"But I really feel that Dillian needs to wipe that [defeat] off his record against Povetkin."

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Whyte lost his designation as the WBC mandatory challenger in his defeat to Povetkin, and winning a rematch would give him back that opportunity.

"That fight was planned for January 30 and previously November 21," Hearn said of the delay.

"Povetkin does need more time recovering from Covid but not too long. We expect him to have a four-week delay.

"When I conveyed that news to Whyte it didn't go down very well!

"His first question was: 'Who else can we fight? Can we fight Luis Ortiz, Deontay Wilder, Andy Ruiz Jr.?'

"The answer is: 'Yes, any of those would be fantastic'.

"But he does want, more than anything, to avenge the defeat that he suffered at the hands of Povetkin.

"That is on his mind.

"So I said to him: 'I think you should wait [to fight Povetkin]'."