Published On: 10.11.17 | 

By: Solomon Crenshaw Jr.

Here we go again: Wilder-Stiverne rematch set after another title opponent fails drug test

WBC world heavyweight boxing champion Deontay Wilder speaks to the press earlier this year. Wilder has a new opponent for his next title defense after planned opponent Luis Ortiz failed a drug test. (Ed Diller / DiBella Entertainment)

Same song. Third verse.

Deontay Wilder, set to defend his World Boxing Council heavyweight title against Luis Ortiz on Showtime, is now facing Bermane Stiverne on Nov. 4 at the Barclays Center in Brooklyn, New York.

The change came because Ortiz failed a drug test.

This will be Wilder’s fifth title defense. Three of those opponents came after scheduled fighters tested positive for banned drugs.

“(Chris) Arreola wasn’t a replacement, but we put that together quickly after Alexander Povetkin,” trainer Jay Deas said. “(Gerald) Washington was a replacement for (Andrzej Wawrzyk) and this guy, Stiverne, is a replacement for Ortiz.”

Of course, Stiverne (25-2, 21 knockouts) is the fighter from whom Wilder took the title in January 2015. He was the opponent the WBC mandated the Tuscaloosa native fight before promoter Lou DiBella brokered a deal to get Stiverne to step aside.

Now Stiverne gets the rematch for which he’s craved. In the meantime, Anthony Joshua, who holds the other heavyweight belts, has a mandatory fight this month against Kubrat Pulev.

“Then there will be no roadblocks to Wilder-Joshua after November 4th,” Deas said, noting that Stiverne was to face an opponent on Nov. 4 who, like Wilder, is 6 foot 7. “For us, we had to switch from a tall lefty to a shorter righty. We had to completely, completely change our camp.”

Rather than facing left-handed sparring partners, Wilder went against right-handers. “We’re certainly the ones who had to adjust,” Deas said.

Deontay Wilder, left, uses his left hand to defeat Chris Arreola in Birmingham last year. (Nik Layman/Alabama NewsCenter)
Deontay Wilder is getting used to having to adjust to late changes in heavyweight title opponents. His challengers keep failing drug tests. (Ed Diller / DiBella Entertainment)
Deontay Wilder will have to shift his training to prepare for Bermane Stiverne, a very different fighter from the disqualified Luis Ortiz. (Solomon Crenshaw Jr. / Alabama NewsCenter)
Deontay Wilder works out in Skyy Gym in Northport as he prepares to defend his WBC title again. (Solomon Crenshaw Jr. / Alabama NewsCenter)
Deontay Wilder punches Gerald Washington in his most recent title defense in February. (Nik Layman / Alabama NewsCenter)

Stiverne is the only man to take Wilder the distance in the champ’s professional career.

“Arguably, he gave Deontay his toughest fight,” Deas said. “He punches very hard. He’s certainly a formidable opponent. Any former champion would be. We have to be on point and block out all the noise.”

The loudest noise comes in repeated talk of unification with a Wilder-Joshua fight.

“There is no Joshua without Stiverne,” the trainer said. “This is his (Stiverne’s) shot, his last shot. We expect he’s going to try to make the most of it.”

The war of words has already begun. Wilder tweeted: “Stiverne said he’s going to make me feel his pain. Ha. Nawww Boy!!! I’m going to make you feel MY PAIN.”

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