Robert Brizel Editorial: If WBC Knew Povetkin Was Sick From Covid Aftereffects, Whyte Rematch Should Not Have Been Allowed At This Time
Editorial By Robert Brizel, Head Real Combat Media Boxing Correspondent
World Boxing Council President Mauricio Sulaiman went public yesterday, stating to Igor Lazorin after the WBC Interim Heavyweight title rematch between Dillian Whyte and Alexander Povetkin, after Whyte stopped an obviously lethargic Povetkin in the fourth round, that “Povetkin is a real warrior, he has a very big heart. I think he was not ready for a rematch with Whyte, because of medical reasons after dealing with an illness (aftereffects of long term hospitaization and recovery after contracting Covid-19 Novel Coronavirus).” Sulaiman, who now wants a third bout, should have disallowed this bout.
Povetkin was obligated by contract to grant Whyte an immediate rematch in early 2021 through Eddie Hearn’s Matchroom Boxing by contractual obligation. Hearn had a financial stake in the rematch after Povetkin knocked Whyte out. Whyte versus Tyson Fury, Anthony Joshua, or Deontay Wilder on British soil is worth megabucks to Hearn.
Povetkin entered the ring in Gibraltar looking like a no longer so great Muhammad Ali did against Larry Holmes in 1980, physically present, but medically and emotionally absent, a Breitling watch with the guts missing, a hollow wooden soldier shell of himself. Essentially put, Povetkin needed more time to recover from Covid-19. He did make weight, stepped into the ring with deficiencies are got stopped. When Povetkin appeared on camera entering the ring Povetkin, one could tell was not there. Whyte knew he was not there.
The long term effects of Covid-19 on amateur and professional athletes, boxers, and people in society in general are not known, and there are no longer term studies of brain and health effects. Given, boxers get punched in the head on a regular basis. Therefore, the long term brain effects of Covid-19 could represent additional brain and health complications the boxing world currently seems content to ignore rather than confront. It took pro football numerous decades before it dealt with the effects of brain damage to pro football players long term. Some in boxing have recovered from the coronavirus, some have passed away. The point here is until boxing and the world at large know what is going on, perhaps boxers who have contracted covid-19, even if they apparently make a full recovery, should have their boxing licenses suspended worldwide until such time as medical science knows for sure what is going on. Whoever Alexander Povetkin is at age 41, he was not the person he was supposed to be on Saturday night, March 26, 2021, when he fought Whyte. The short and long term medical effects of the pandemic on boxers are being ignored by promoters for economic reasons, and or inadequate medical information not yet available.
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