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Cloutier’s Canada Corner
Wilder Dethrones
Stiverne...Over 12 Rounds
By Daniel Cloutier
Photos: Hoganphotos/SHOWTIME
LAS VEGAS - In the last days, many times the Montrealer
Bermane Stiverne and the American Deontay Wilder promised
both to their fans to score a memorable KO or a TKO in less
than four rounds.
Who was right Saturday evening in the ring of the MGM Grand
Arena in Las Vegas?
Neither one nor the other. Surprise! The fight reached the
limit of the 12 rounds.
But Wilder was right on his prediction on the identity of
the winner: himself.
Wilder realized his dream to become world champion. He
dethroned Stiverne as WBC heavyweight champion of the world,
in beating him by unanimous decision.
The fighter of 6’7’’ from Alabama went over the fourth round
for the first time of his career.
He showed up in the ring with a record of 32 fights, 32 wins
by KO or TKO, all obtained in less than four rounds.
He has now a record of 33-0-0… with one win by decision.
Stiverne, who looked a lot of more tired that Wilder in the
second half of the bout, was clearly uncomfortable with the
long reach and the height (6’7’ versus 6’2’') of his
opponent in most of the rounds.
“Yes, I just realized the biggest dream of my life, said
Wilder. And I proved to Stiverne and all the boxing fans
that I am a real warrior, a real pro, not a simple four
rounds fighter. I am so proud, I am becoming the first
American in nine years to capture a heavyweight championship
of the world. The first since Shannon Briggs in 2006. As you
saw it, I controlled the action with my jab in almost every
rounds, and connected a lot of more punches than Stiverne. I
was hoping to win by KO, but I prepared myself for a
marathon fight… just in case that the bout would go to the
limit. Do you blame me…? Stiverne is tough, he has a solid
chin, he is courageous, but I am new master of the
heavyweight division. I clearly won that fight. Stiverne
never hurt me like he promised to do it. But I am sure I
hurt him few times.”
Stiverne (24-2-1) was very down after the bout. “I did not
cut the ring like I was expecting to do, like I was supposed
to do, said Stiverne. Obviously, I am very disappointing of
this result. What can I say? I got to congratulate him. I
have been unable to put Wilder in trouble, because I did not
perform offensively, I did not get enough good series of
punches. Wilder is not really better than I thought, but he
was better than me tonight. Clearly, I did not perform like
I was suppose to do it.”
Wilder dominated the first round in using constantly his
jab, plus two good power shots. Very aggressive in the
second round, Wilder threw a lot a power shots, and Stiverne
lost his balance at the end of the round. But the referee
did not call a knockdown.
Stiverne, who was fighting defensively in the first two
rounds, became more offensive in the third, he was chasing
constantly Wilder, and he connected three good shots.
The fourth round was intense, each fighter connected good
power shots. Certainly the best offensive round for
Stiverne.
Stiverne was chasing constantly his rival in the fifth, but
it’s him who was hit the most often.
In the sixth, Stiverne chased again Wilder, but this time,
it’s him who was touching the target the most often. The
best round for Stiverne at this point in the bout.
In the seventh, Wilder shook Stiverne with a great power
shot to the head, he hit him severely several times, but he
has been unable to score the KO.
Wilder was very productive offensively in the eight, nine,
10th and 11th rounds, giving to Stiverne very low chances to
attack.
The judges considered that Wilder dominated the fight from
the beginning to the end. The result: Adalaide Byrd, Jerry
Roth and Craig Metcalfe scored the fight 118-109, 119-108
and 120-107 for the new WBC champion of the world.
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