By Allan Fox: WBC heavyweight champion Vitali Klitschko and #1 WBC mandatory challenger Bermane Stiverne (23-1-1, 20 KO’s) are in negotiations for a fight that could take place this year depending on how well the negotiations go.
The hard hitting Stiverne recently defeated Chris Arreola by a 12 round unanimous decision last month to earn the shot at Vitali.
Vitali’s manager Bernd Boente said this to Dan Rafael about the prospects for Vitali facing Stiverne: “Lets see how the negotiations go.”
Stiverne and Vitali have until next month on June 3rd to try and arrange the fight. If it’s not done by then they have a purse bid on it.
The fact that Vitali is in negotiations with Stiverne is a good sign, though, because a lot of boxing fans assumed that the 41-year-old Vitali was going to be retiring rather than defending his WBC title because he hasn’t fought since last September when he defeated fringe contender Manuel Charr of Germany in s one-sided fourth round stoppage. Vitali is involved in politics in Ukraine and this appears to be the direction he’ll be going once he does retire from the sport at some point.
Stiverne, 6’2”, will be giving away five inches in height to the 6’7” Vitali if this fight gets made, and it’s difficult to imagine him doing well. He’s not a pressure fighter like Dereck Chisora, and that’s the only kind of fighter that can give the aging Klitschko any problems.
Stiverne likes to stand in front of his opponents and jab them and occasionally nail them with big shots. He doesn’t throw a lot of punches, and he doesn’t cut off the ring well. He’s perfect for Vitali because he’s someone that he can elude with his footwork and outwork.
Vitali won’t have to worry about getting hit with a lot of shots from Stiverne because he doesn’t throw a lot of punches on average. However, Vitali will have to be careful because Stiverne can really punch when he does land his big shots.
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