(Photo credit: Gene Blevins – Hoganphotos/Golden Boy Promotions) By Scott Gilfoid: America talent Deontay Wilder (32-0, 32 KOs) is tired of hearing how dangerous a fighter WBC heavyweight champion Bermane Stiverne (24-1-1, 21 KOs), and how experienced and powerful the guy is. Deontay doesn’t agree with any of the boxing fans or sports writers who have lifted Stiverne up to be another giant beater.
Deontay just sees Stiverne as just another overrated heavyweight who made a name off of beating a guy that was completely made to order for him in Chris Arreola. Deontay sees Arreola as the only name on Stiverne’s entire resume who is even slightly good, and he’s not impressed with Arreola.
In other words, Deontay sees Stiverne as just another beatable guy that he’s going to smash to pieces tonight when he gets the 6’2” Haitian fighter in the ring with him at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas, Nevada. The fight between Deontay and Stiverne will be televised on Showtime Championship Boxing.
“I don’t feel this is my biggest test,” Wilder said via RingTV.com. “I don’t feel it’s a test at all. People keep talking about the (second) fight with Arreola. They say styles make fights. Arreola’s style fits Bermane’s style. He leans in, which made him vulnerable to big shots. Bermane is a counterpuncher. He saw those mistakes and punched him. It was easy.”
Arreola was right there in front of Stiverne in both of their fights, and there was no real mystery that Stiverne had to solve in order to beat him. Arreola fought like a plodding journeyman in both fights by standing in Stiverne’s power alley and trying to beat him at his own game. With only a scant amount of punching power, Arreola was totally over-matched by Stiverne and he ended up taking a beating in both fights.
Stiverne is a very good puncher when he’s got a guy stands in his wheelhouse so that he can get everything on his shots. Deontay doesn’t plan on doing that. He’s going to use his size, movement and his reach to stab the shorter Stiverne with shots all night long.
As far as Stiverne not being Deontay’s biggest test, the only other guy that could be considered a bigger test than Stiverne on Deontay’s resume is Malik Scott. Deontay took care of Malik in one round last year in April. Malik tried to compete but Deontay’s incredible punching power was just too much for him, as Malik collapsed onto the canvas after getting nailed by a perfectly thrown right hand to the head.
“Shots he [Stiverne] usually pops people with won’t hit me. I’m too fast on my feet, too tall, stronger, everything. People will figure it out soon,” Deontay said.
If Stiverne can’t land his short left hook or his jabs, he’s going to be in a world of hurt tonight against Deontay. Stiverne won’t be able to compete if he can’t land those shots, because his right hand is nothing special. Deontay will take Stiverne’s right hands, but if that’s all he’s got, then this is going to be a real beating before Stiverne is finally stopped.
What’s kind of scary is if Stiverne stays on his feet for the entire 12 round fight, because he’s not going to be able to beat a guy as big as Deontay in a 12 rounder. The reach is just way too much in Deontay’s favor for Stiverne to be able to win a decision against him. But if Stiverne has to take a 12 round beating, this could be one of those fights where it ages him badly to the point where he’ll be nothing like he was before the fight.
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