Stiverne Starts Camp: Anthony Joshua is Tailor-Made For Me!

By Edward Chaykovsky

Could the fight be coming together? A few days ago, Matchroom Sport chairman Barry Hearn was very eager about the possibility of having IBF heavyweight champion Anthony Joshua (17-0, 17KOs) make the second defense of his world title in November against former WBC champion Bermane Stiverne (25-2-1, 21KOs), who still stands as the only fighter to go the full distance with current WBC king Deontay Wilder (36-0, 35KOs).

Now according to Stiverne, the fight is being negotiated between his promoter Don King and Matchroom.

Last month Joshua made the first defense of the belt with a seven round TKO of previously undefeated Dominic Breazeale. The hard puncher captured the title in April with a two round blowout of Charles Martin.

The mandatory challenger is Joseph Parker, who fights later this month and then again in September. Hearn wants Joshua to have one more fight before moving to the mandatory defense with Parker in early 2017.

Joshua is very much on board to get Stiverne in the ring.

"Joseph Parker is skillful and he'll be coming in undefeated," Joshua told Sky Sports News HQ. "Stiverne is skillful and he's already been at the top and he's only had one loss to the world champion now (Deontay Wilder) and he's durable. People want to see me go the distance, to see if I've got the stamina, so I just think he fits that criteria."

Stiverne is taking no chances. He already started training camp, in the event King and Matchroom reach an agreement.

 "I'm actually in camp right now," Stiverne told Sky Sports. "Getting ready a little earlier will not hurt me - better to stay ready than to get ready when I get a call. Everybody has been talking about the possibility to fight Joshua, you know. That's option No 1, I'm available, and willing to fight.

"[Joshua's representatives] have been going back and forth with [promoter] Don King but I don't have any details about the conversation. The last conversation I had with Mr. King, I told him to make it happen. I have a desire to be a two-time heavyweight champion. All I'm waiting on is the call. I've got nothing but a surprise for Mr. Joshua if that how he thinks I'm coming. Joshua is tailor-made for me. Chris Arreola was tailor-made for me, Joshua is tailor-made for me. Joshua doesn't move too much, he stays in front of his opponents.

"He's too stiff with too much muscle. Not as smooth as a heavyweight should be. I'm not saying he's not good, or downgrading what he's doing. But when he fights somebody who punches back, who can take a punch and is smart in the ring, it will be a huge problem for him. No, he hasn't been tested, he's still green. First and foremost, out of all the heavyweights out there, the only one I respect is Joshua. But in my opinion, he's still green."