By Luke Furman

Former heavyweight world champion Bermane Stiverne (25-2-1, 21KOs) is ready to step back in the ring with WBC champion Deontay Wilder (36-0, 35KOs).

Wilder captured the title last January with a twelve round unanimous decision over Stiverne. The hard-punching Hatian fighter is the only man to last the distance with Wilder.

Wilder was scheduled to fight mandatory challenger Alexander Povetkin on May 21 in Moscow, Russia. The World Boxing Council postponed the fight when Povetkin tested positive for a banned substance in a pre-fight drug test.

Wilder is now looking to return in July. Chris Arreola has been reported to be the frontrunner for the title shot. Stiverne holds two wins over Arreola, including a sixth round knockout two years ago.

Stiverne was not surprised that Povetkin tested positive for meldonium. The substance was legal to use up until January 1st of this year, when the World Anti Doping Agency placed it on the banned list.

"I knew it. It was known that Povetkin was using this product, even from the amateur ranks," Stiverne said to RDS.  "We don't know if Povetkin will obtain a suspension of six months or two years. And we do not know what decision the WBC will come in with next.

"I want to confront Wilder again, even if it's not in a world title fight. If it's for a title, that's even better. But I want my revenge. In the first fight, I did not lose because of my boxing. I lost because I was physically ill, I was dehydrated before the fight."

Since that loss, Stiverne stepped back into the ring last November in Las Vegas against Derric Rossy. Stiverne was knocked down in the first round, but he then boxed his way to a ten round unanimous decision win.

A week after his fight, Stiverne met his promoter Don King and his manager Camille Estephan of Eye of the Tiger Management, and the boxer says the three parties failed to agree.

"There were really big differences of opinion between Don King and Camille, and my manager chose to leave the team. Don King is a person who likes to control. It is intimidating, but Camille can be like that as well, and I believe that Don King did not like it," Stiverne said. "I still get along very well with Camille and we speak every day."

In June of last year, Stiverne signed a three year contract with Don King, although their relationship had been marked by a contractual dispute that was the subject of legal proceedings.

Luke Furman covers boxing for bokser.org.