By Rick Reeno
The WBC's mandatory challenger, Bermane Stiverne (23-1-1, 20KOs) is not even contemplating a rematch with Chris Arreola (36-3, 31KOs). Stiverne wants to wait until the WBC's heavyweight champion, Vitali Klitschko (45-2, 41KOs), reveals whether or not he plans to keep fighting. There is a chance that Vitali, 42-years-old, will retire to pursue a full-time career in politics.
Vitali has been inactive since a TKO of Manuel Charr in September of 2012. He is not expected to fight again until the first half of 2014.
Stiverne fought in April of this year, when he pulled off a very impressive unanimous decision over Arreola. Arreola bounced back earlier this month with a first round knockout of Seth Mitchell - but Stiverne was not exactly impressed by that performance.
"Chris was Chris. I thought he was going to come out with something different, but he came out with the same style. For Mitchell it was just a matter of time [before something like that happened]. No chin, but it was just a matter of time. [Boxing] is not for him. It's not something that he should be doing, it's just not for him." Stiverne told BoxingScene.com.
After defeating Mitchell, Arreola called for a rematch with Stiverne. If Vitali vacates his title, Stiverne and Arreola are the highest ranked contenders and the sanctioning body would likely order them to fight for the vacant belt.
"Oh yeah, but in the meantime Vitali is the only thing on my mind right now. Until he's confirmed that he's not coming back, then we'll move on to something else. I've been like this my entire career, waiting and waiting. So if I can wait for the smaller fights - why not wait for the biggest. I'm the gym, I keep busy and it's not really a long wait," Stiverne said.
"Within the next few days or a week, something has to give. We just heard that in November [the WBC] are going to vote to see if Vitali can fight someone else and that is unacceptable. In the next few days, something is going to be done about that."
