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'Won't be topped': Boxing world loses it over 'KO of the year'

Andrew Reid
·4-min read
Pictured here, Alexander Povetkin sealed an incredible KO victory over Dillian Whyte.
Alexander Povetkin's KO is the talk of the boxing world. Pic: DAZN/Getty

Veteran boxer Alexander Povetkin has set the internet alight, with a vicious knockout victory against Dillian Whyte in their heavyweight showdown.

Whyte’s reign as the WBC’s No. 1-ranked heavyweight ended in spectacular fashion as the British fighter fell victim to what many are describing as the "KO of the year".

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Povetkin was dominated by Whyte in the opening rounds and nearly lost the fight in the fourth but the 40-year-old veteran turned the contest on its head with a moment of magic.

Whyte was left seeing stars just 30 seconds into the fifth round when the Russian landed a vicious left uppercut that sent the Brit crashing to the canvas.

The stunning knockout blow left Whyte down for the count, leaving viewers in absolute awe of the extraordinary finish to the fight.

"I didn't feel that I would finish the fight like this but I was pretty confident in the fourth round," Povetkin said after the fight.

"Yes, I went down twice, but it wasn't too much damage ... I was watching his fights and took into account that he missed the uppercut from the left and the right. So I trained for just those shots."

Povetkin, who will turn 41 next month, now boasts an impressive 36-2-1 record.

Seen here, Dillian Whyte lies on the canvas after the fifth round KO against Alexander Povetkin.
Dillian Whyte was knocked out cold after the huge uppercut from Povetkin. Pic: DAZN

The loss marked Whyte’s first since he fell to Anthony Joshua via TKO back in 2015. He had won 11 straight times since then, with his last win coming against Mariusz Wach in December.

Whyte, who held the WBC’s interim heavyweight title for more than three years, has already triggered the rematch clause and hopes to fight Povetkin again in December, he said following the match.

"We have a rematch clause," Matchroom Boxing promoter Eddie Hearn said, via CBS Sports.

"The first thing Dillian said was, 'Give me that rematch. Give me that rematch.' It was a heavy knockout, so he'll have to recover.

"We will execute that rematch clause. He will rematch Alexander Povetkin and I believe he can beat him and bring his No. 1 position back to life.

"Tonight, this is the ups and downs of boxing."

with Yahoo Sports US