Shaw: Stiverne-Wilder Winner Must Focus on Jennings

By Rick Reeno

Promoter Gary Shaw has every intention of enforcing the mandatory status of Bryant Jennings (19-0, 10KOs) to the WBC heavyweight title

Jennings won a semi-final eliminator on July 26th at New York's Madison Square Garden, with a twelve round split decision victory over previously unbeaten Mike Perez.

The WBC title is currently held by Bermane Stiverne (24-1-1, 21KOs), who defends next against mandatory challenger Deontay Wilder (32-0, 32KOs).

The WBC issued a series of orders to clean up their heavyweight ranks when Vitali Klitschko vacated the title.

Stiverne and Chris Arreola were first ordered to fight in a rematch for the vacant belt. Stiverne captured the crown with a knockout. Next up, Wilder and Malik Scott were ordered to fight in a final eliminator. Wilder knocked out Scott and now gets his title shot. Jennings and Perez were ordered to fight in a semi-final eliminator. Jennings' victory secures him an immediate shot at the Stiverne-Wilder winner.

"I'm hearing a lot of talk about the winner fighting Wladimir Klitschko. The WBC already ordered the winner of Wilder and Stiverne to fight Bryant Jennings. The WBC ruled that there will be no optionals in-between. The winner has to fight Jennnings next. So they better stop focusing on Klitschko and start focusing on fighting Jennings next," Shaw told BoxingScene.com.