By Scott Gilfoid: Well, it looks like boxing fans are going to need to wait another 3-4 more months for the long-awaited heavyweight clash between WBC heavyweight champion Bermane Stiverne (24-1-1, 21 KOs) and the unbeaten Deontay Wilder (32-0, 32 KOs).
According to Rick Glaser, he spoke to Stivern’s promoter Don King and he’s saying the Stiverne vs. Wilder fight will likely take place in January or February of 2015.
That’s kind of what I figured it would be, although I honestly won’t be surprised to see the fight drag out until late 2015, if then. I have a feeling that the sides won’t be able to get the fight agreed on fully until late 2015. Of course, the World Boxing Council could force the issue, but in this case I don’t see them doing that.
Deontay is promoted by Golden Boy Promotions and he’s got Al Haymon as his adviser, and Stiverne has Don King backing him. The WBC will likely let this thing drag out until the two sides eventually agree to terms at some point in the future.
If the fight negotiations drag out then both of them will need to start thinking about taking some tune-up fights pretty soon. Deontay already took one tune-up last August when he stopped journeyman Jason Gavern in the 4th round. Stiverne hasn’t fought since last May when he defeated Chris Arreola in 6 rounds. I’d be very surprised if Stiverne takes a tune-up because before the Arreola fight, Stiverne hadn’t fought in 13 months, so he obviously is okay with taking huge time off from the ring.
The longer the fight is pushed into the future the more it’s likely going to hurt Stiverne, because he’s the older fighter at 35, and he’s only fought two times in the past two years since 2012. The longer it goes the more it’s going to put Stiverne in a situation where he’s going to likely lose his skills. Stiverne will be turning 36 next month on November 1st, and that obviously isn’t young.
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