Dillian Whyte’s hopes of a world-title shot were wrecked as Alexander Povetkin twice rose from the canvas to land a knockout win that will stun boxing.
The Russian had been out-boxed for three rounds and was down twice in the fourth as Whyte mixed poise with power.
But just as it looked as if Whyte would close in on a shot at the WBC world heavyweight title, Povetkin produced a devastating left uppercut in the fifth.
Whyte needed treatment but will get a rematch according to Eddie Hearn.
The London fighter, 32, left without speaking to the media but was picked up by Matchroom Boxing’s Twitter channel asking promoter Hearn if a rematch was possible this year.
“It’s one of those things, it just landed. I was bossing it. It is what it is. A rematch, let’s go,” he added. (BBC)