FanSided’s 2020 boxing awards and greatest moments of the year

2020 Comeback Fighter of the Year: Alexander Povetkin (36-2-1, 25 KOs)

I’m sure if you asked heavyweight boxer Alexander Povetkin, he would tell you not to call his recent success a comeback. After all, he’s been a professional fighter for 15 years. However, after getting knocked out by Anthony Joshua in 2018 and fighting to a split draw with Michael Hunter in 2019, what Povetkin did in 2020 counts as a big comeback.

Povetkin wasn’t supposed to beat Dillian Whyte when they fought in August, and for a second, it looked like he was going to lose for sure.

Whyte (27-2, 18 KOs) languished as the WBC mandatory challenger for quite some time. A win over Povetkin should have secured him a shot at Tyson Fury, but things didn’t go according to plan.

Whyte looked good early against Povetkin. He knocked Povetkin down twice in round 4 with left hooks. Povetkin got up and lasted the remaining17 seconds to make it to round 5. That’s when the magic happened.

Only 25 seconds into round 5, Povetkin picked his shot and crushed Whyte with a left uppercut that made him crash to the canvas. There was no chance of Whyte getting to his feet since he was in a semi-conscious state. It took him minutes to regain his senses.

At 41, Povetkin isn’t supposed to be a top-rated heavyweight still, but he is. Povetkin only has two losses throughout his career and still packs a punch. That makes him a legitimate threat to all heavyweights. He’s back towards the top against all odds.