Home News Vitali Klitschko offered extension by WBC, Bermane Stiverne doesn’t get title shot

Vitali Klitschko offered extension by WBC, Bermane Stiverne doesn’t get title shot

Credit: Ray Flores

When heavyweight contender Bermane “B. Ware” Stiverne (21-1, 20 KOs) upset Chris Arreola (35-3, 30 KOs) on HBO April 27 in a title elimination bout, it set-up the dangerous Canadian for a super fight versus future Hall of Famer and long-time WBC heavyweight titlist Vitali Klitschko (45-2, 41 KOs).

Stiverne completely dominated former world title challenger Arreola, dropping him in the third round, en route to a unanimous 12-round decision (118-109, 117-110, 117-110) for the vacant WBC Silver title.

Credit: Ray Flores
Credit: Ray Flores

A purse bid was set and postponed, reset and re-postponed. Finally, July 22 was supposed to be the final purse bid date when, surprisingly, the WBC once again granted another extension requested by the Team Klitschko, forcing the mandatory challenger to wait once again for his world title shot that he has now earned twice by winning a pair “title elimination” bouts.

WBO No. 1 contender Stiverne had knocked out Ray Austin in the 10th round of their WBC heavyweight title eliminator on June 25, 2011.

“It’s a bit frustrating to hear only two days before the scheduled purse bid that it has once again been postponed,” explained Stiverne’s manager, Camille Estephan, CEO of Eye Of The Tiger Management (EOTTM).

“We are waiting for a new date. At this point, we have worked really hard to secure potential venues. Ottawa’s Canadian Tire Centre and Montreal’s Bell Centre are still at the forefront. Regardless, Bermane is ready now, or in a few months, and the longer Klitschko plays politics rather than man up and fight, the more ready we will be and the older he will get. Bermane will KO him wherever and whenever it happens.”