WBC interim-heavyweight champion Alexander Povetkin is starting to get his body back in order, after spending weeks fighting off the coronavirus.
Povetkin's career is back in the spotlight, after the Olympic gold medal winner scored a brutal one-punch knockout of Dillian Whyte in the fifth round of their match in August of 2020.
There was a rematch clause exercised by Whyte - with the second fight being scheduled for November.
But, the rematch was postponed after Povetkin was diagnosed with COVID-19.
There is no timeline on when the rematch will happen - but month of March has been the goal by Povetkin.
In one of his many post-fight interviews, Whyte made a claim that Povetkin was on the verge of being pulled out by his team before the knockout happened.
Povetkin had been down twice in the fourth round and was well behind on the scorecards when the fifth round began - but a single uppercut right up the middle sent Whyte crashing down and out.
"At the beginning of that fight, not everything went right for me, but I have already analyzed my mistakes. Now I will try to fix them," Povetkin told Vasily Konov.
"[Whyte] likes to talk, so let him talk. What can I tell him ... it's his business. I'm fine with everything. They can at least beat me for the eyes [reading his quotes], that's okay."
In more than one interview, Whyte also questioned Povetkin's diagnosis. He felt the Russian boxer and his handlers were using COVID as a tactic to secure additional time to prepare for the rematch.
"This is his guess. It's better for him [that our fight was pushed back]... After such a serious knockout, he has more time to rest. I have all the documents, how can this be fiction? Yes, he talks a lot, but we signed a rematch contract. And I want to meet with him again," Povetkin said.
Due to the coronavirus pandemic, Povetkin only fought once in 2020.
He hopes to have at least two fights in the new year.
"I would like to be more active. Right now, two fights a year for me is the optimal number. After all, preparation takes three months, and after the fight you need a rest. Plus I'm not 20 years old where I can instantly recover," Povetkin said.
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