Deontay Wilder eager to sign contract for Bermane Stiverne fight

By Boxing News - 10/17/2014 - Comments

By Scott Gilfoid: Undefeated heavyweight knockout artist Deontay Wilder (32-0, 32 KOs) is raring to go for his title shot against World Boxing Council heavyweight title holder Bermane Stiverne (24-1-1, 21 KOs).

Stiverne has reportedly agreed to his part of the contract, and now we’re just waiting for Deontay’s adviser/manager Al Haymon to finish examining the contract so that Deontay can sign. There’s no telling how long Haymon will need in order to agree to it.

Hopefully sooner rather than later. The longer Haymon takes the longer it’s going to be before the 6’7” Deontay can get in the ring with the soon to be 36-year-old Stiverne. We’re probably still talking about January or February of next year before the two get in the ring, as Jay Glazer reported.

Boxing fans are hoping this doesn’t drag out, but it likely will. But even if Haymon quickly finished checking the contract and Deontay immediately signed it, we’re still looking at a solid 3 months of preparation for the fight in terms of training camp. That brings us to January 2015. But I don’t think Haymon will be quick about the contract, and I suspect he’ll kick it back to Stiverne’s promoter if he sees some things in the contract that displeases him.

“Stiverne is done. Stiverne has agreed and so Al is dealing with Deontay. I spoke to Al last week and he was dealing with Deas,” said De La Hoya to RingTV.com. “Absolutely, Al will get it done…I do know for sure that Stiverne is done and we’re just waiting on Al to see when Deontay signs and waiting on Al to see when he’s going to have everything finalized with [Don] King.”

Deontay wants to bring the heavyweight title back to America. It’s been seven years since an American heavyweight held the title when Shannon Briggs briefly held the WBO strap after beating Sergiy Liakhovich.

The heavyweight division is changing with IBF/IBO/WBA/WBO heavyweight champion Wladimir Klitschko getting older, and the emergence of Deontay and Bryant Jennings. It’s quite possible by 2015, Deontay could be the WBC champion and Bryant Jennings knocking on the door for a world title shot for himself.

“Once we get the contract, the information that I have so far sounds agreeable. We’re ready to go,” De La Hoya said.



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