Alexander Povetkin given hero’s welcome as he returns to Russia after stunning Dillian Whyte KO

RUSSIA treated Alexander Povetkin like a long-lost king with a hero’s welcome back after his stunning KO of Dillian Whyte.

The heavyweight had shown strife begins at 40 for 32-year-old Whyte as the older man overcame an eight-year age gap with a sensational fifth-round stoppage.

Alexander Povetkin is greeted like a national hero as he arrives back in Russia after knocking out Dillian Whyte

The crowning glory for Russian boxer Alexander Povetkin as he is given a traditional hat at the airport

Veteran Alexander Povetkin got a special welcome back but looked taken aback or maybe was just weary after his sensational achievement

And the Russian Boxing Federation greeted Povetkin inside the airport with a ceremony of dancing and music in traditional red and green outfits, even “crowning” him with a black hat.

The new WBC interim and silver belt holder looked abashed, or tired, or perhaps he was still trying to take in his shock triumph – as he barely smiled when he was hailed by the beaming troupe.

Whyte, though, was even more grim-faced – after Povetkin ended his dream and expectation of a world title shot at the winner of Tyson Fury’s trilogy fight with Deontay Wilder.

WHYTE FAILED TO ‘SMELL BLOOD’

The Brixton boxer known as the Body Snatcher, saw his immediate plans wrenched away from him after looking on top in the early stages.

And in fact after twice downing Povetkin in the fourth round, victory seemed assured.

But instead a stunning left upper-cut gave the Russian an upset win that left Whyte begging his team to activate a rematch clause.

Former WBC heavyweight champ Alexander Povetkin has reignited his career with victory over Dillian Whyte

Unbeaten heavyweight king Fury tweeted to salute Povetkin: “40 and proud.”

But Anthony Joshua, who holds the four other world crowns, accused Whyte of failing to “smell blood” after he floored Povetkin.

AJ told Sky Sports: “Does Dillian still have that instinct in him?  

“Because the fight was called maximum violence.When he had the opportunity to take him out, I wanted to see that maximum violence.

“That’s why for me, when I smell blood, I go in there to take someone out, but sometimes you can get caught in the exchange.

“But at the end of the day, if you leave it a round or two later, as we’ve seen there anything can happen.

“The tactics go out the window. You’ve just got to remember this is a fight, you’ve got to take the man out and move on to the next.”