Canada’s top boxers set to challenge for world titles

MONTREAL The next three months will be a busy time for Canada’s top boxers.

Heavyweight Bermane Stiverne, light heavyweight Artur Beterbiev and middleweight David Lemeiux will be gunning for world titles, while a date and site, but asyet no opponent, have been found for World Boxing Council light heavyweight champion Adonis Stevenson’s ninth title defence.

It starts Saturday night at the Barclays Center in New York when Stiverne (25-2-1) tries to take back the WBC heavyweight belt from American Deontay Wilder (38-0).

Stiverne, who was born in Haiti and grew up in Montreal, took the vacant WBC title with a win over Chris Arreola in 2014 but lost it in his next outing to Wilder. Although he lost nearly every round, he is the only opponent to take Wilder the full distance in a fight.

Stiverne, who tuned 39 on Wednesday, took the rematch on short notice when it was announced on Sept. 29 that Wilder’s original opponent, Cuban Luis Ortiz, failed a doping test.

“The stage is set and my destiny is in front of me,” Stiverne said this week. “I always said I was going to be the first person to beat him, and that is going to come together on Saturday.”

“I thought the first Stiverne fight should have been stopped,” answered 32-yearold Wilder. “He had knots all over his face and he was concussed. I’m not trying to leave any doubt this time around.”

There was concern the bout would not be broadcast in Canada but it has since been added to the TSN5 schedule for 10 p.m. ET Saturday.

Beterbiev (11-0), a gifted Russian fighting out of Montreal since 2013, will be the favourite to take the vacant International Boxing Federation light heavyweight title when he faces Enrico Koeling (23-1) of Germany in Fresno, Calif., on Nov. 11. It will be Beterbiev’s first pro bout outside Quebec.

“He has every quality of a champion,” said promoter Yvon Michel. “The speed, the athletic ability, the technical side, the will, the strength. I predict that not only will he win but he will be a huge star.”

In a non-title bout, Jean Pascal (31-5-1) may enter the ring for the last time Dec. 8 in Miami against Egyptian Ahmed Elbiali (16-0).