It's like he doesn't take it seriously. Stiverne has worked his way through the ranks and pulled an upset over Arreola and yet he's been blatantly ignored. I commend Vitali for his role in Ukraine politics but the guy doesn't deserve the belt anymore. It's clear that he doesn't take it seriously at all and has only fought once in 2012. This is sloppy work from the WBC, and the WBC is the organisation that I RESPECT the most! They stripped Mike Tyson of his WBC belt in 96 for refusing to fight e mandatory challenger Lenmox Lewis. But why does Vitali get special treatment? They had no trouble in stripping Ward of his title.
Seems to be 1 rule for challengers and another rule for the Klitschkos . If Vitali vacates and someone else wins it its only a matter of time before Wladimir takes the green belt back .
I remember the same things happening years ago. Vitali held onto the belt for awhile before having to finally give it up. I believe he pulled out of fighting Rahman a few times, after he beat Meehan in a WBC eliminator bout. Rahman then fought Maskaev for the WBC belt. After Maskaev won, Vitali jumped back in the mix years later demanding a fight. He got it, then pulled out. After Peter beat Maskaev, Vitali then finally got back in the ring and won his belt back. That brings us to today, same **** going on. Vitali will get stripped then comeback at near 50, and beat Foreman's record. It's already in the cards, it's gonna happen.
The WBC already said it will be addressed in the first Quarter of 2014. I believe we will see Vitali fight Stiverne in March of 2014 and then one more fight. This is a closed issue at this point.
Actually, seems Wilder-Stiverne for the WBC is happening as Schaefer said he'll do anything in his power to get it.
It will be meaningless until Vitali makes a Decision which the WBC already told him he has to fight Stiverne by March of 2014. Stiverne is the 'Silver' Champion so maybe that is what he is talking about?
I agree with the OP in part. If Vitali legitimately plans on fighting on, then he should retain his belt for the 18mos since his last fight, and perhaps get a small extension pursuant to a scheduled date. But....in the meantime, the WBC should have an interim HW title fight, allowing the #1 and whichever in the top 15 will make the fight by a scheduled date. When/IF Vitali returns, he can fight the interim titlist to retain. But IF he does not make schedule and sign to fight the interim titlist within a 6 mo period, perhaps he should be stripped completely, and the interim titlist made "paper" champion.:think
It's an odd ruling by the WBC. They stripped Ward after something like 8 or 9 months of inactivity. Vitali has been inactive for over a year and they say they won't even make a decision until February, which would be a year and a half on inactivity. The WBC throws around interim belts like candy. This is one situation where the interim belt would actually make sense, and they simply refuse to do anything until early next year. This ruling is completely inconsistent with some of their other actions.
Ward doesn't make them any money. The WBC allows their cash cows to do as they wish. It all comes down to $$$$$$ and Vitali generates a lot of it.
Mike Tyson was a big cash show in 1996, especially considering that he had come back from prison and had a new 'badass' look but they stripped him.