By Rick Reeno
WBC President Jose Sulaiman has advised BoxingScene.com that Tyson Fury (19-0, 14KOs) vs. Denis Boytsov (31-0, 25KOs) has been approved as a semi-final heavyweight eliminator. The winner will become the next candidate in line for a shot at the championship currently held by Vitali Klitschko (45-2, 41KOs).
"It will be a semi-final eliminator," Sulaiman confirmed to BoxingScene.com.
Heavyweights Chris Arreola (35-2, 30KOs) and Bermane Stiverne (22-1-1, 20KOs) are already scheduled to fight in a final WBC eliminator on December 15th in Venezuela - per the bout agreement issued by promoter Don King. The winner of that fight is going to become Vitali's next mandatory challenger.
The winner of Fury-Boytsov, which has a date of December 1 in Belfast, will fall directly in position to fight the winner of Vitali vs. Arreola/Stiverne.
Of course, the entire scenario could be switched around if Vitali, 41, decides to retire from boxing in December. Vitali may pursue a full-time career in politics. If that happens, then you could expect the winners of the two eliminators to fight for the vacant championship.