By Ryan Burton
In January of 2015, Bermane Stiverne (25-2-1) lost his WBC heavyweight title to Deontay Wilder at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas.
Before the year is over he will have a chance to get himself back in position for redemption. The WBC recently ordered Stiverne to face Alexander Povetkin (30-1) for the interim title. The winner will become the mandatory challenger and next opponent of Wilder who is currently recovering from surgeries to his hand and shoulder.
The 37-year-old Stiverne is very confident that a rematch against Wilder would have a very different ending than their first fight.
"If I get that fight I am the champ not just the interim," said Stiverne.
He ended up in the hospital, suffering from dehydration after the Wilder bout. Stiverne said that he learned a lot from that experience.
"(I learned) to take care of myself and not take things for granted. Like I have always said, the reason why I lost to Wilder isn't because he is better than me. It was my own issues but that is in the back and I turned the page and I am back on my feet now working as hard as ever and I will be ready to fight Povetkin and I am looking forward to winning the fight," Stiverne explained.
Another fight of interest to Stiverne is the rematch between WBO/WBA heavyweight champion Tyson Fury and former long time champion Wladimir Klitschko. The rematch takes place October 29th in the UK and will be televised by HBO in the United States.
Stiverne believes that Fury will likely be too much for Klitschko again.
"Well you know what? Fury pulled a fast one. He was able to not so much physically - but get into Wladimir's mind and play with him. I was surprised Wladimir let him do that. I like Fury. Why not? There are new faces (in the division)," Stiverne told BoxingScene.com.
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