There are certain things in life that are hard to outrun.
For Dillian Whyte it was a positive test after his 2019 fight with Oscar Rivas. Whyte had tested negative with Voluntary Anti-Doping Association (VADA) but he tested positive with the dianabol with the UK Anti-Doping (UKAD). The positive test was later dismissed. He failed to impressed in his next fight when he came in at 271 pounds in his win over Mariusz Wach.
Now Whyte (27-1, 18 KO’s) can concentrate on one of the biggest fights on his career. If Whyte defeats Alexander Povetkin (DAZN 2pm ET), he’s in line to fight the winner of Deontay Wilder-Tyson Fury III. But this is the business of boxing and anything can happen. Fury’s camp has been pretty vocal that another win on Wilder shoot set them up with a fight with Anthony Joshua. Even with Whyte being promised to get the winner (if he wins), it would be smart to wait until the ink is dry on the contract.
Povetkin has had his own issues with positive tests. It cost him a fight with Wilder.
In 2018, Povetkin lost by TKO (1:59 in round 7) against Joshua. At the time of the stoppage, he was down on two of the scorecards by only two points. Despite what looked like a good performance on paper, Povetkin started to visibly slow down by the sixth round.
Both fighters look like they came in at their natural weights. Whyte weighed-in at a much more comfortable weight of 252¼ pounds. Povetkin (35-2-1, 24 KO) weighed in at 224.
Other notable fights this weekend:
Shawn Porter vs. Sebastian Formella, 12 rounds, WBC/IBF welterweight eliminator (Fox)
Eleider Alvarez vs. Joe Smith Jr., 12 rounds, WBO light heavyweight eliminator (ESPN+)
