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Cloutier’s Canada Corner
Don King: "Stiverne Is My New
Mike Tyson"
By Daniel Cloutier
QUEBEC City, Canada - No doubt in his mind, the veteran
boxing promoter Don King is considering the Montrealer
Bermane Stiverne as the actual jewel of the heavyweight
division. Stiverne became the successor of the Ukrainian
Vitali Klitschko as WBC heavyweight champion of the world
May 10th at the USC Galen Centre in Los Angeles, in beating
the Californian Chris Arreola (35-4-0) by TKO in the 6th
round, for the vacant title. Last January, Klitschko
(45-2-0) gave up the belt to start a political career in
Ukraine.
January 17th at the MGM Grand Arena in Las Vegas, Stiverne
(24-1-1) will proceed to the first defence on his title, in
fighting his mandatory challenger, Deontay Wilder (33-0-0),
from Alabama.
“Bermane is a fantastic fighter since few years, and I am
seeing him like my new Mike Tyson, said King in a conference
call. No doubt in my mind, he is actually the jewel of the
heavyweight division. January 17th will be a very special
event for me. The fight Stiverne-Wilder will happen 40 years
and few months after the memorable bout I did in Zaire in
October 1974, between Muhammad Ali and George Foreman. I
really believe Bermane has the weapons to become the unify
heavyweight champion next year.”
Tyson, who got Don King as promoter is most of fights, won
11 world championship bouts (11-4-0) and registered a record
of 50-6-0 between 1985 and 2005.
King, obviously, believes Stiverne will beat Wilder, and
fight after the WBA, WBO and IBF heavyweight champion of the
world, Wladimir Klitschko (63-3-0), the Vitali’s brother.
Vladimir has a record of 63-3-0, with 54 wins by KO or TKO.
Stiverne has the same ambitions than his promoter. “Yes, i
want to prove I am the master of the heavyweight division,
then, I will do it in beating Wilder and Vladimir Klitschko
in 2015, said Stiverne. I have now the conviction I have the
talent, the maturity, the experience and the desire to
become the heavyweight number one in the planet. I really
feel I am the number one actually, but I want to prove it to
the world. Obviously, my priority now, it’s to take care of
Wilder. This guy is a solid puncher, nobody can deny it, but
most of the heavyweights in the world are dangerous puncher.
But, the heavyweights who can become world champion has
speed, technique, strategy and intelligence….what's I have,
what’s Wilder has not.”
Wilder, who has 32 wins, no defeat, 32 win by KO or TKO all
in less than four rounds, is obviously disagree with
Stiverne. “Stiverne is actually the WBC heavyweight
champion, but the identity of this WBC champion will
definitively changed January 17th, said Wilder. I am taking
care of it. Next month, I will certainly become the first
American to win a heavyweight world title in nine years (the
last one was Shannon Briggs in 2006). I know I have the
power to beat all the heavyweights in the world actually. I
won my 32 pro bouts by KO or TKO, and the 33rd one will be
reality January 17th in Las Vegas. I am positive I will
knock Stiverne out, and I am expecting a pretty short bout.
Stiverne has no idea the damage my fists can do, but he will
understand with the bell will ring.”
Camille Estephan, the Stiverne’s manager, has no doubt that
his fighter will keep his statute of WBC world champion.
“Wilder has the reputation to be a destroyer puncher, but
all the fighters who faced Bermane would tell tell you he
his himself an explosive puncher, said Estephan. I am so
impatient to see how Wilder will react when Bermane will
connect him with a power shot. And I am absolutely sure
Wilder never faced a boxer of the Stiverne’s caliber. You
cannot logically compare the route of each one on the
international scene. And try to find a heavyweight better
than Bermane technically actually. I am expecting a rough
beginning of fight, because Wilder will certainly plays is
game, he will try to knock Bermane out in the first round or
the first two rounds, but you will see, Bermane will resist
to the storm and more the fight will go, more he will
dominate the action. Wilder is four rounds fighter until
now, not Bermane. My boxer can perform in a short like in a
long fight. I really believe 2015 with the Bermane
Stiverne’s year.”
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