Eddie Hearn reveals Dillian Whyte vs Alexander Povetkin could kick off a behind closed doors 'fight camp'

Whyte and Povetkin were both on Anthony Joshua's Saudi undercard
Action Images via Reuters
Matt Davies30 April 2020

Promoter Eddie Hearn has revealed Dillian Whyte could kick-start a behind closed doors "fight camp" in a rescheduled bout against Russian Alexander Povetkin.

Boxing in Britain has been suspended since March 23 due to the coronavirus pandemic with Whyte's highly anticipated matchup with Povetkin - originally scheduled for May 2 - one of many high-profile bouts postponed.

The British Boxing Board of Control remain "hopeful" of a July restart, however, although that entirely depends on the government's stance on sporting events.

Regardless, when boxing does eventually return, it will almost certainly be without the presence of fans.

"When Whyte knocks out Povetkin, stands on the turnbuckle and there's six people watching, it will be weird," Hearn told BBC Sport.

Getty Images

"But I want people to tune in and say 'wow'."

Hearn currently plans to hold a few Saturday night fights in July before more high-profile names appear on your screens, and while the 40-year-old admits a show without fans will be a strange sight, he insists it will be "spectacular".

"When Neil Diamond's Sweet Caroline is playing and you open the curtain and see 20,000 people screaming, it's quite easy to peak if you're a good fighter. But doing that behind closed doors is going to be a different kind of challenge," he said.

"I don't see how boxing in a studio does anything for the sport. It's four walls in a dark environment with no character or personality.

"I want to build a fight camp, a different kind of environment, more dramatic. It will look spectacular on TV. We need to dramatise it.

"It's about taking over a hotel, testing all the teams, creating a sterile fight camp where no-one goes in until we know they've had a negative test. It's about creating changing room areas, ring walks. It will add to the story."

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