Bermane Stiverne vs. Deontay Wilder: Result & Highlights

(Getty)

(Getty)

Deontay Wilder out-boxed and handily out-pointed Bermane Stiverne to lift the WBC heavyweight world title Saturday in Las Vegas, Nevada.

Although the fight did not produce the expected knockout or fireworks, there was still plenty of action throughout the 12 rounds to satisfy the mobs, as well as enough of the sweet science to please the boxing purists.

The judges scored the fight 118-109, 119-108, and 120-107.

Stiverne displayed an exceptional chin, surviving numerous onslaughts from Wilder that would have taken down most heavyweights. He pressured Wilder well while working to close the distance, but in the end Stiverne was unable to effectively cut off the ring and he had no answer for the new champ’s telephone pole jab.

Wilder used his height, reach, and footwork to dominate over the resolute Haitian. He demonstrated never-before-seen boxing skills, excellent distance control, and exceptional athleticism. But the game changer for the Bronze Bomber was the use of his long jab to keep Stiverne safely at bay.

CompuBox numbers were just as lop-sided as the judges’ scorecards: for Wilder, 227 punches landed out of 621 thrown (37%); Stiverne landed 110 out of 327 (34%).

With the win, Wilder’s perfect record improves to 33-0, 32 KOs. However, in exchange for his world title, Wilder had to trade in his incredible 32-knockout streak.

Stiverne entered the ring on Saturday defending his WBC world heavyweight title for the first time since earning it by stopping Chris Arreola in the sixth-round of their May 2014 rematch. Stiverne had previously beaten Arreola with a 12-round decision in 2013.

But it was a short-lived reign for Stiverne thanks to The Bronze Bomber’s boxing skills and perfectly executed game-plan.

The fighters established the bout’s pattern early on in round one, with Wilder working the perimeter behind an active jab and Stiverne stalking behind a high, tight guard. Stiverne held back for the first half of the round before opening up, but nothing significant was scored by either fighter.

The second round started with more of the same as before. Wilder tested Stiverne’s chin with a hard right hand, but Stiverne took it and kept moving forward. Wilder went back to jabbing and moving.

At the end of the second round, Wilder was unloading on Stiverne and referee Tony Weeks attempted to stop the action, taking himself and both of the fighters to the mat. Although a knockdown was waved off, Stiverne appeared hurt in between rounds.

The third round continued with the cat and mouse, but Wilder began landing better with both hands and finding openings for his right. Stiverne kept on coming forward.

The pace picked up in the fourth and Stiverne started landing well. Stiverne stole the round with a couple of punches in the second half of the installment.

The fifth round saw Stiverne eating repeated rights from Wilder. But he was able to withstand the attacks and push Wilder back as he tired out. Wilder took the round, but Stiverne showed that he could take Wilder’s power.

The middle rounds saw more of the same, with the addition of both fighters taunting each other and trying to get into each other’s heads. Stiverne had some moments, but not enough to make up for the points the Bomber’s jabs were earning him.

The trend continued until the end the fight: Wilder stabbing between Stiverne’s guard and keeping the Haitian at safe distance; Stiverne stalking but unable to get off.

Stiverne, whose record drops to 24-2-1, 21 KOs, will likely fade from the public eye for the time being. However, with the heavyweight division being what it is, it would not be unlikely to see the 36-year-okd back in contention soon. But for now, he will have to get to the back of the line.

“It wasn’t my night,” Stiverne told Showtime’s Jim Gray after the fight. “I felt 100 percent before the fight but once I got in the ring I couldn’t cut the ring, I couldn’t move my head like I usually do.  What can I say?  Congrats to him.”

Wilder’s victory finally brings a heavyweight world title back to the United States for the first time since 2005 when Shannon Briggs briefly held the title before losing it, like Stiverne,  in his first defense.

It also puts Wilder, 29 years old, in line for a possible unification bout against IBF/IBO/WBA/WBO/ RING heavyweight champion Wladimir Klitschko. The Bomber will be watching Klitschko’s upcoming April fight against Bryant Jennings very carefully.

But even prized to the Bronze Bomber will be the sweet silence he’ll hear from the many detractors who critiqued Wilder’s opposition-level and even questioned his legitimacy coming into the fight.

“I think I answered a lot of questions tonight,” Wilder said to Gray. “I already knew it. We knew we could go 12 rounds. We knew we could take a punch. We knew we could give it. All the hard word is done in camp.”

Will the success of Saturday night’s fight mean a return to glory for the American heavyweight? Time can only tell. But for now, stateside boxing fans can celebrate their “Winner and……NEW heavyweight champion of the world!….”

“I’m just excited and happy to bring this belt back to America,” Wilder said.  “It’s going to mean a lot.

On the card, super-bantamweight Leo Santa Cruz successfully defended his WBC title by stopping Jesus Ruiz with an eighth-round TKO. Amir Imam stopped Fidel Maldonado in the fifth round.


Bermane Stiverne vs. Deontay Wilder (Scores are not official)

Round 1: Here we go! Wilder wearing bronze trunks, Stiverne in black. Wilder jabs. Stiverne watching. Wilder jabs. Nothing from Stiverne yet. Two quick jabs from Stiverne. Wilder walks the perimeter, throwing jabs. One minute in. Stiverne threatening, but not throwing. Wilder still on the outside of the ring, Stiverne stalking. Wilder jabs, Stiverne blocks. One minute in, 1-2 from Wilder, but not hard. Two rights from Stiverne, but not much from them. Stiverne wakes up a bit during last minute. 10-9 Wilder

Round 2: Fighters meet in the center, Wilder jabbing, judging distance. Wilder back to the perimeter with Stiverne stalking. Upper cut from Wilder. Minute in, Wilder starting to unload right. Wilder trying to tee off right. Nothing, Stiverne takes it. Wilder back to jabbing. One minute left. Wilder jab looking good, Stiverne chin looking good. Left hook from Stiverne lands. Wilder on his back foot. Stiverne trying to get Wilder on the ropes. Big shots from Wilder as the ring bells, both fall to the floor. Stiverne  might be hurt. 20-18 Wilder

Round 3: Wilder jabbing, looking for an opening. Stiverne hesitant but back to stalking. Stiverne brings out jab, keeping a high guard. Wilder keeping Stiverne back with his jab. Stiverne lands to the body. 1-2 from Wilder. Another, but blocked. Upper from Wilder. Jab from Stiverne lands flush. Big right from Wilder. 30-27 Wilder

Round 4: Back to the middle of the ring, both looking. Wilder back to the perimeter. Stiverne works the body. Big rights from Wilder. Pace picking up. Left hook Wilder. Stiverne stalking, Wilder staying back with a minute left. Two rights from Stiverne blocked. Left hook Stiverne. Right hand from Stiverne lands well. First round for Stiverne. 39-37 Wilder

Round 5: First time Wilder has been past the fourth round, he comes out jabbing. Stiverne working to close the distance, showing good head movement. Stiverne lands nice right as Wilder was taunting him. One minute in. Stiverne jabs to the body, right to the head. Nice jab from Wilder lands well. Minute left, nice right from Wilder. Another. Another! Stiverne takes it. Pushes Wilder to the corner. 1-2 from Wilder to finish the round. 49-46 Wilder.

Round 6: Wilder jabbing, the round starts out slow. Stiverne working to close the distance. Left hand lands on Wilder. Took it well. Right from Wilder. Right from Stiverne. Stiverne trying to get around Wilder’s long jab. Stiverne misses big right. Right from Wilder. Stiverne charges with a 1-2 to finish the rounds. 58-56 Wilder

Round 7: Half way point of fight. Wilder starts with a right. Stiverne throws right, but wings him. Fighters taunting each other. Wilder jabs, Stiverne tries to land well. Big right rocks Stiverne. Wilder attacking, trying to put him away. Stiverne survives! Stiverne against the ropes, Wilder tired. Big right from Wilder, another. Wilder teeing off, but Stiverne still taking it. Left hook from Stiverne. Stiverne almost trips. 68-65 Wilder

Round 8: Stiverne stalking, Wilder eats a couple of shots. Wilder keeps jabbing. Jabs landing on Stiverne. Stiverne keeps chugging along, trying to apply pressure. Wilder’s jab working well to keep Stiverne back. 1-2 from Wilder. Stiverne working the body with left-right. Right to Wilder’s body. 78-74 Wilder

Round 9: Wilder continues working the jab, Stiverne can’t get in. Left hook from Wilder. Wilder jabs keep landing in between Stiverne’s guard. Right Wilder. Wilder’s jab getting stiffer. Half way point of round, Stiverne misses left hook. Wilder working well on the back foot. 1-2 Wilder. 40 seconds left, Stiverne charges, but nothing. Stiverne pushing forward, unable to land. Big right from Wilder to finish the round. 88-83 Wilder

Round 10: Trend continues. Wilder jabs, Stiverne trying. Wilder lands combination. No answers from Stiverne. Stiverne attacks to the head with combination, but can’t reach. Minute left, Stiverne against the ropes eating jabs. Hook-right from Wilder with Stiverne still against the ropes. Shots from the inside for both to finish the round. 98-92

Round 11: Into the championship rounds. Wilder just keeps working the jab effectively. Doubling tripling it. Stiverne pressures, but Wilder stays away. Right to the body from Stiverne. Right from Stiverne to the head. Right-left to the body from Stiverne. Right from Wilder to the head. Left hook to Wilder. Right hand ends the round for Wilder. 108-101 Wilder

Round 12: Last round! Stiverne lands left, Wilder jabbing. Left hook Wilder. Wilder with his hands down, no respect for Stiverne. Stiverne unloads on the body. Left hook from Stiverne lands. Wilder pushes Stiverne across the ring and into the ropes. Stiverne still against the ropes. 20 seconds left. Jabbing. 118-110 Wilder