Dillian Whyte has shed significant weight for the Alexander Povetkin rematch and promised a punishing revenge victory.
The British contender tipped the scales at 17st 9lbs 3oz, with Povetkin coming in at 16st 4lbs 4oz for their second heavyweight showdown in Gibraltar on Saturday, live on Sky Sports Box Office.
Whyte, who weighed 18st 6oz for the first fight, is attempting to avenge last summer’s knockout loss, but hinted that he intends to clinically break down Russia’s former WBA champion.
“It means everything to me,” Whyte told Sky Sports. “I’ve come in half-a-stone lighter – it wasn’t deliberate. Just small adjustments.
“I expect a tough 12-round fight.
“Every time I step into the ring I give my all. This is nothing different. You can create pressure in yourself if you start listening to people.
“I will stop him. Don’t expect me to come out and be wild because there are ways of doing things.
“Fight him, be physical, box him. But I am looking for the stoppage.
“We have different ways of pressing him. Standing in front, but not being in front of him, using angles and my legs.”
Povetkin was slightly heavier, four pounds more than when he defeated Whyte with a huge uppercut, but continued to play down suggestions that he is targeting a similarly explosive win.
“What happens in the ring, it’s a different story, but it will be respect from my side the whole time,” Povetkin told Sky Sports.
“No thoughts about that [a knockout win]. My goal is to be focused on the fight and show beautiful boxing, that’s it.
“It will be beautiful, interesting boxing. That’s what I can say.”
Campbell Hatton, son of former world champion Ricky, made the lightweight limit for his pro debut against Jesus Ruiz on a bumper bill.
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