By Daily Sports on September 3, 2017

Former WBC heavyweight champion Bermane Stiverne (25-2-1, 21 KOs) is close to agreeing to step aside so that WBC champion Deontay Wilder (38-0, 37 KOs) can face #1 WBA Luis “King Kong” Ortiz (27-0, 23 KOs) on November 4 at the Barclays Center in Brooklyn, New York.

Stiverne, 39, has been an obstacle keeping the Wilder-Ortiz fight from being made, as he’s mandatory for Wilder, and he doesn’t wish to be steered around. Stiverne wants his title shot and doesn’t wish to wait for the fight to take place until after Wilder defends against Ortiz.

According to Dan Rafael, Stiverne will fight on the undercard of the Wilder-Ortiz fight against a still to be determined opponent. Stiverne would still need to win that fight for him to get the title shot against the winner of the Wilder-Ortiz.

It’s unclear how much money Stiverne will be paid for him to step aside for the Wilder v. Ortiz fight to go ahead as planned. It would be a shame if Stiverne loses his fight on the Wilder vs. Ortiz card.

Wilder-Ortiz still isn’t a done deal though, but the fight is at least a little closer with Stiverne on the verge of stepping aside.

Stiverne has just seen action in one occasion since losing to Wilder by a 12 round unanimous decision in January 2015. Stiverne struggled to beat journeyman Derric Rossy by a 10 round unanimous decision in 2015, Stiverne has been out of the ring ever since. Wilder has defended his title 5 times in making voluntary defenses one after another.

•Photo shows Bermane Stiverne.

Source Daily Sports

Posted September 3, 2017

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