Eddie Hearn has confirmed that March 6 is the date for the much-anticipated Dillian Whyte-Alexander Povetkin rematch.

The second Whyte-Povetkin bout likely will be officially announced Friday by Hearn’s Matchroom Boxing and Sky Sports as part of a larger schedule rollout. BoxingScene.com reported recently that March 6 was the targeted date for Whyte-Povetkin II, but Hearn revealed Tuesday during his weekly spot on “The Ak & Barak Show” that Whyte will attempt to avenge his knockout defeat to Povetkin on that night.

Hearn didn’t disclose the venue in the United Kingdom for the rematch between Whyte (27-2, 18 KOs) and Povetkin (36-2-1, 25 KOs), which probably will be held without fans in the same setting as multiple Matchroom cards in February. Whyte, 32, and Povetkin, 41, initially were set to meet again November 21, but their rematch was postponed because Povetkin contracted COVID-19.

“This is obviously one that people know was gonna happen, but we will be announcing the official date of Whyte-Povetkin II, which is March the 6th,” Hearn informed co-hosts Barak Bess and Akin Reyes during a show that streams Monday through Friday on DAZN and SiriusXM. “Of course, the first one was the final fight of fight camp, August 22nd. I mean, I can still see it in my mind. And that’s a big fight for the heavyweight division. Of course, while we’re trying to finalize AJ against Fury, Whyte-Povetkin’s right up there.

“You know, it’s for the mandatory position in the WBC. It’s a great heavyweight fight. So, that will be lodged into the opening part of our 2021 schedule. So, big, big fight for Dillian Whyte. It’s a must-win fight. And if he wins that fight, I know he wants a shot at the WBC title.”

Russia’s Povetkin pulled off a stunning upset in their first fight August 22 at Matchroom’s headquarters in Brentwood, England.

London’s Whyte dropped Povetkin twice in the fourth round of that scheduled 12-round fight for Whyte’s WBC interim heavyweight title and appeared well on his way to a knockout victory. It was Povetkin, however, who quickly uncorked a left uppercut that knocked Whyte cold and sent him crashing to the canvas, flat on his back and underneath a bottom rope, just 28 seconds into the fifth round.

Referee Mark Lyson immediately called an end to their fight, which ended Whyte’s 11-bout winning streak and knocked him out of position to fight Fury for the WBC title. 

Keith Idec is a senior writer/columnist for BoxingScene.com. He can be reached on Twitter @Idecboxing.