WBC World Champion Bermane Stiverne versus Best Heavyweights in the Ring Today
By Robert Brizel, Head RCM Boxing Correspondent
Canada’s Bermane Stiverne, 35, fighting out of Las Vegas, Nevada, is the new World Boxing Council World Heavyweight champion. Possible matchups for higher level fights are sparkling on the horizon after Stiverne’s sixth round disposal of overhyped Chris Arreola.
WBC Challenger Number One: Dr. Vitali Klitschko. It so happens Vitali has been on emeritus status before. If Vitali decides to come out of his activism in the Ukrainian Civil War, now raging with Pro-Russian separatists in Eastern Ukraine, he would have to face Stiverne, perhaps the first real power hitter he would have to go toe-to-toe with in the ring.
WBC Challenger Number Two: Deontay Wilder. Talk is cheap. Wilder, ‘The Bronze Bomber’ and 2008 Olympic Bronze Medalist, has a record of 31-0 with 31 knockouts over no-name limited opposition. Wilder facing Stiverne could expose his padded record too soon. So it’s no wonder Stiverne wants to go through with this fight so enthusiastically.Wilder is most likely Stiverne’s next opponent. Deontay Wilder is Stiverne’s mandatory challenger.
WBC Challenger Number Three: Winner of Tyson Fury versus Dereck Chisora rematch. The All-British affair will establish the best heavyweight in the United Kingdom. If Fury fails the test, his nephew Hughie Fury, another unbeaten rising British heavyweight prospect, might also have a chance at a title in a few years, depending on how he does.
WBC Challenger Number Four: Winner of Wladimir Klitschko versus Kubrat Pulev Round World title match. Dr. Steelhammer must beat 20-0 Kubrat ‘The Cobra’ Pulev to retain his WBA, WBO, IBF and IBO Heavyweight titles. The Bulgarian is nearly 6’5” to Wladimir standing 6’6”, and had power to knock out Alexander Ustinov and Alexander Dimitrenko. Wladimir is 38 years old, and might not be able to outlast Pulev, a persistent technical fighter who has the ability to finish his opponents late in the fight like Wladimir.
WBC Challenger Number Five: Alexander Povetkin. The regular WBA champion before he fought Wladimir for the WBA Super Heavyweight title, Povetkin would fight a classic war with Stiverne. However, Wladimir dropped Povetkin several times, who survived but demonstrated inability to deal with heavy heat power like Stiverne showed with Arreola.
WBC Challenger Number Six: Bryant Jennings. The 18-0 Philadelphian is the hardest working heavyweight out there, in the mold of Evander Holyfield, and trains hard enough to give Stiverne or anybody in the division a run for their money. A dark horse with power who could give Stiverne great trouble if given an opportunity to win the WBC world title.
WBC Challenger Number Seven: Winner of Tony Thompson versus Carlos Takam WBC Silver Heavyweight title match. Thompson, 42, having beaten David Price twice, losing a decision to Pulev, and then decisioning Odlanier Solis, must beat the 29-1-1 Takam, who is coming off a WBC USNBC title bout draw with Mike Perez, to get another world title shot.
WBC Challenger number Eight: Vyacheslav Glaskov. The 2008 Olympic Games Super Heavyweight Bronze Medalist is the Ukrainian successor to the Klitschkos. A match with Stiverne is likely, because an all-Ukraine match between Glaskov and Wladimir is unlikely.
WBC Challenger Number Nine: Andy Ruiz Jr. A Freddie Roach fighter, ‘The Mexican Destroyer’ fights Manuel Quezada for the NABF title on May 17, a tune up stepping stone bout for a world title. However, Ruiz remains untested, and like Deontay Wilder, needs to beat a few top ten contenders before taking on an aging Stiverne. Considering the money invested in Ruiz and Wilder, a confrontation between the two fighters appears unlikely short of a world title fight between each other, which could occur if Wladimir retires.
WBC Challenger Number 10: Robert Helenius. ‘The Nordic Nightmare’ seems unable to solve contractual disputes and has beeninactive for over a year. Further inactivity might elevate another boxer into a lucky opportunity to fight Stiverne. Christian Hammer of Germany, Lucas Browne of Australia, Mike Perez of Ireland, ErkanTeper of Germany,
Francisco Pianeta of Germany, Steve Cunningham of the United States, Tomasz Adamek of the United States (if he wins again), WBO NABO southpaw titleholder Charles Martin of the United States, and Arnold Gjergjaj of Switzerland could all be among the rising stars of the boxing ratings if a slot opens up in the WBC heavyweight rankings. A matchup between Adamek versus Bryant Jennings or Amir Mansour, if Adamek wins, could propel him back into the title hunt for a shot at Stiverne. So, Adamek must win a big fight in 2014.
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