Whyte will get his rematch against Povetkin in what Eddie Hearn called ‘a must-win clash’ for the Brixton fighter
Dillian Whyte will have an immediate opportunity to claim back the World Boxing Council’s mandatory heavyweight status in a rematch with Alexander Povetkin on November 21 after his knockout defeat to the Russian in Brentwood last month as Eddie Hearn on Tuesday announced newly-scheduled events throughout October and November.
After a successful quartet of ‘Fight Camp’ events from the 15-acre gardens on Matchroom Sport in Essex, the Autumn series includes the return of Joshua Buatsi, former Olympic bronze medallist, and Lewis Ritson, as they work towards world title shots in their respective light heavyweight and super-welterweight weight divisions next year.
Buatsi (12-0, 10 KOs) faces undefeated Croat and former amateur standout Marko Calic (11-0, 6 KOs) on Sunday October 4, topping the bill, with female boxer Chantelle Cameron (12-0, 7 KOs) facing Brazil’s Adriana Dos Santos Araujo (6-0, 1 KO) for the vacant WBC super-lightweight world title on her Matchroom debut.
On October 17, Lewis Ritson (20-1, 12 KOs) defends the WBA Inter-Continental super-lightweight title against Mexico’s former world champion Miguel Vazquez (42-9, 16 KOs) with Savannah Marshall (8-0, 6 KOs) on the same bill facing former world champion Hannah Rankin (9-4, 2 KOs) for the vacant WBO middleweight crown.
Matchroom Boxing have held back from announcing the venues for the fight shows as they monitor current guidelines from the Government over the permissions for live audiences inside arenas, with significant crowds suspended at present due to the recent rise in coronavirus cases.
“I’m excited to announce our latest shows as we continue to bring boxing back during these unprecedented times,” said promoter Hearn on Tuesday. “It’s so important to continue the momentum and as we leave behind an epic Fight Camp series; we now hope to see fans return to arenas. As those talks continue with the Government, we are committed to running these shows with or without fans.”
Hearn added: “I’m particularly pleased to see Buatsi return to the ring after a year out through illness and the pandemic. Josh is one of the most exciting young stars in the sport and he looks to make a statement as he prepares to challenge for a world title in 2021.”
Then in November, after one of the most dramatic one-punch heavyweight finishes in the division, Whyte rematches Povetkin in what Hearn called “a must-win clash” for the Brixton fighter. It is a gamble for Whyte, after he was knocked out by a corking left uppercut in the fifth round after controlling the contest and dropping the Russian twice, but risk-taking has been in the nature of his fights since he was installed as a mandatory WBC challenger; that is what has made him a box office attraction.