It is official. Through no fault of Wilder, his team, or the WBC, Luis Ortiz has been predictably and rightfully removed from his heavyweight title shot against Deontay Wilder due to his drug test failure. Ridiculous mandatory challenger Bermane Stiverne has been promoted up the card to fill his spot.
Look, this fight is stupid. It just is. I don’t think I am breaking any new ground in saying that either. In January 2015, Deontay Wilder (38-0, 37 KOs) lifted the belt from Bermane Stiverne (25-2-1, 22 KOs) in what was basically a shut out decision. Stiverne fought later that year against career journeyman Derric Rossy, nearly managed to lose against the non-contender, and hasn’t fought since. Somehow this makes him Wilder’s mandatory challenger.
Everyone wanted to see the Luis Ortiz fight, but Ortiz knocked himself out here with his second career failed drug test. That doesn’t mean we had to see a Stiverne rematch no one wanted though. Except, it kind of did because of the WBC’s nonsense.
The card is still going on for November 4th and it still a Showtime tripleheader featuring Shawn Porter and Sergey Lipinets in separate bouts.
