By Steve Kim
Heavyweight contender Dominic Breazeale (19-1, 17 KOs) is dutifully going to the gym on a daily basis despite not having a fight scheduled. But he believes he will have one soon and against a certain belt-holder.
According to World Boxing Council President Mauricio Sulaiman, Breazeale is the mandatory challenger to WBC heavyweight champion Deontay Wilder (40-0, 39 KOs).
For the record, Breazeale is rated number two by the WBC behind Dillian Whyte - who was just ordered to fight Luis Ortiz in a secondary final eliminator.
Breazeale was last in the ring back in November, when he knocked out Eric Molina in what was labeled as a WBC final eliminator.
And now the once beaten heavyweight is staying in shape, taking no chances that Wilder will call him to fight at the last minute.
"Yeah definitely," said Breazeale on Thursday afternoon at Legendz Boxing gym in Southern California, after his day's work.
"I'm the WBC mandatory, I'm one of those guys who always stays in the gym, stays focused so when the phone does ring at a moments notice I'm ready to rock-n-roll. We all know the reputation of Deontay Wilder has in calling guys at the last minute and letting them know that they have a fight in three weeks or so. I'm preparing for the worst and staying in shape.
Currently, Wilder is posturing with IBF, WBO, WBA, IBO belt-holder Anthony Joshua for a possible unification bout putting Breazeale on stand-by.
But Breazeale states - "It's not necessarily stand-by, I've been told the fight is going to happen this summer. There's some negotiations with Eddie Hearn, Al Haymon, Shelly (Finkel), Deontay Wilder's group and all that stuff. It's one of those situations where it's like I haven't been given a concrete date in the month of July but I've been told I will fight in the summer.
"When I say summer, I say July, early August."
Like Wilder, Breazeale is advised by Al Haymon and fights under the Premier Boxing Champions banner.
Steve Kim is the news editor for BoxingScene.com
