The World Boxing Council has declared that Chris Arreola and Bermane Stiverne will fight for a second time to decide the new heavyweight champion.
Canadian Stiverne, the WBC’s number-one ranked contender to Vitali Klitschko before the Ukrainian stepped away from boxing for politics, claimed a unanimous decision over American Arreola in April.
Arreola dropped Seth Mitchell in September inside the opening round to bounce back from the defeat and establish himself as the number two challenger.
Both boxers will meet again after their first encounter, with Vitali’s brother Wladimir who holds every other recognized world heavyweight title – waiting in the wings after declaring his intention to unify the division shortly after his older brother decided to leave boxing.
The last time Vitali’s fought was on September 8, 2012 against Germany’s Manuel Charr.
The Ukrainian won the fight via technical knockout when Charr had to be stopped due to a cut received from his opponent.
The former WBC heavyweight champion was expected to face Bermane Stiverne in a mandatory title defence, but was forced to pull out due to injury.
British fighters Tyson Fury and Dereck Chisora and unbeaten American, Deontay Wilder, are other heavyweights hoping to be in contention for the WBC heavyweight title.