Stiverne: I will be champion again

When Bermane Stiverne beat Chris Arreola on May 10th 2014 to win the WBC Heavyweight Championship of the World, he was intent on reigning supreme for a long time. His victory made him the first Haitian to win a heavy weight title and the first resident of the Canadian Provence of Quebec to win the WBC green and gold strap.

Whilst it's safe to say that Stiverne's stint as World Champion was short lived, his quest to return to the top has been far from straight forward.

Stiverne's first defence came in January 2015 against Deontay Wilder. Wilder beat him comfortably on points in Las Vegas and has gone on to defend his title 5 times, most recently against Gerald Washington.

Many place Wilder at the top of the tree in what has recently been an ever changing heavy weight landscape. Anthony Joshua and Joseph Parker hold the other major titles, so does Stiverne agree with the majority who rate the Bronze Bomber as the best of the three?

'No, he hasn't proved anything since he fought me, when I was sick' Stiverne says alluding to the post-Wilder fight diagnosis of Rhabdomyolysis that he received. (Rhabdomyolysis is a condition in which damaged skeletal muscle breaks down rapidly.)

Stiverne returned to the ring in November of the same year to beat American Derric Rossy before his WBC Interim title fight against Alexander Povetkin was cancelled on the day do the fight after the Russian failed a drugs test.

At the time Stiverne made his frustrations known, particularly as it was a fight that could've opened doors on more world title shots. But does the Povetkin issue still rankle with Stiverne?

'(I'm) not frustrated because I'm still in a good position as (WBC) number one'.

Despite his inactivity it is in fact true that he remains the mandatory challenger to Deontay Wilder, so what next for Stiverne in a division that has been reignited of late?

'I will be in the ring very soon, I am mandatory to Wilder's WBC Crown now that he has beaten Washington. I am in the mix, and I will be champion again'.

There are an abundance of potential opponents who would fancy a crack at Stiverne, with a view to taking his number one spot, but is there any truth in the previous rumours that a fight with Britain's Dillian Whyte could be in the offing? *

'No, those rumours are not true.'

With his eyes set firmly on regaining his WBC title what does Stiverne make of the men who have been making waves in the division whilst he has been away? Could IBF champion Anthony Joshua or WBO King Joseph Parker establish themselves as number one, leaving the other and Wilder in their wake?

'They both have the capacity to get the job done, it's something that comes with time'.

Of course the next big heavyweight clash sees Joshua take on former undisputed champion Wladimir Klitschko at Wembley, but does Stiverne feel that Joshua will win?

'I hope he wins, but I don't think he will. He lacks on the experience'.

*Since speaking to The Boxing Banter, it has been confirmed that the WBC have ordered Deontay Wilder to defend his title against Bermane Stiverne.