Alexander Povetkin has focused more on what transpired during the first four rounds of his fight with Dillian Whyte than the stunning conclusion in the fifth round.

As satisfying as it was for the Russian heavyweight to knock Whyte unconscious August 22 in Brentwood, England, Povetkin recognizes that he’ll have to be better in their rematch than he was before he landed that incredible left uppercut early in the fifth round. The 41-year-old Povetkin knows he can’t count on landing that type of shot again in their rematch Saturday night at Europa Point Sports Complex in Gibraltar.

“I almost forgot the last fight because this is a done story,” Povetkin said during a press conference Thursday. “And I think that Dillian will be better in the second fight than the first one. But at the same time, I will try to be more careful, to pay attention to my defense. So, the first fight, forget the story.”

Whyte was winning their first fight easily through four rounds.

The Jamaican-born, London-based contender dropped Povetkin twice in the fourth round. It seemed as if it would only be a matter of time before Whyte would finish off the aged Povetkin.

A resilient Povetkin recovered between the fourth and fifth rounds, and he knocked Whyte cold with an unforgettable uppercut early in the fifth round. Povetkin’s vicious shot sent Whyte crashing to the canvas, underneath a bottom rope.

Referee Mark Lyson immediately waved an end to their scheduled 12-round fight for Whyte’s WBC interim championship.

Whyte quickly exercised his contractual right to an immediate rematch. Povetkin and Whyte were supposed to box again November 23, just three months after their first fight.

Their rematch was postponed until January 30 because Povetkin contracted COVID-19 early in November. It was delayed twice more, ultimately until Saturday night.

Whyte (27-2, 18 KOs) is consistently listed as a 3-1 favorite to avenge his loss to Povetkin (35-2-1 26 KOs) in their 12-round rematch.

Sky Sports Box Office will televise their second bout as the main event of a pay-per-view show in the United Kingdom (£19.95; 6 p.m. GMT). DAZN is set to stream Povetkin-Whyte II in approximately 200 countries, including the United States (2 p.m. ET; 11 a.m. PT).

“I don’t have this mindset, feeling that I will knock him out,” Povetkin said. “It could be all [12 rounds]. You know, I’m not focused on the knockout. So, I just need to follow my plan.”

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