Deontay Wilder dismantles Bermane Stiverne, becomes the first American heavyweight champion since Shannon Briggs

Bermane Stiverne, the first Haitian born heavyweight champion after knocking out Chris Arreola in May of last year, walked into the MGM Grand Garden Arena as the 22nd WBC heavyweight champion. In the opposite corner for the 135th WBC heavyweight title clash, looking to carve his own piece of history and become the first American heavyweight champion since 2006, was six foot seven knockout artist, Deontay ‘Bronze Bomber’ Wilder.

By claiming the WBC heavyweight title, Wilder would join an illustrious list of American WBC heavyweight champions such as Muhammad Ali, Joe Frazier, Sonny Liston, Ken Norton, George Foreman, Larry Holmes and Mike Tyson amongst others. With a reputation as a formidable puncher, with all of his 32 victories coming by way of knockout, many questions still loomed over the behemoth American. The fact that Malik Scott had been Wilder’s sternest test to date spoke volumes about the level of opposition Deontay had faced. Bermane Stiverne, whilst not exactly well seasoned himself, had claimed the title with an impressive 6th round knockout victory over Chris Arreola, whom had previously gone 10 rounds with Vitali Klitschko. Stiverne on paper at least, presented Wilder with some questions to answer.

Deontay Wilder answered the opening bell by taking centre ring and immediately committing to his jab. Whilst Wilder took to the back foot, using his jab to control the distance, Stiverne holding a higher guard than normal plodded forward offering little in return. Wilder ended the round with a flurry after landing a solid right hand.

Wilder popped out a double jab to kick off the second round, keeping the jab constantly in Stiverne’s face. Stiverne had yet to attempt to establish a jab. Wilder slipped a right uppercut through the guard of Stiverne, followed by a straight right hand backing Stiverne up. Bermane opened up off the ropes to see off any danger. Wilder again ended the round with a volley of shots, wobbling Stiverne momentarily. Round three continued as before, Wilder utilizing an effective jab which consistently penetrated the guard of Stiverne. Stiverne had a brief moment of success, thumping the body of Wilder with four body shots in succession before Wilder took charge again with a heavy right hook around the gloves of Stiverne.

Stiverne garnered some much needed momentum in the fourth, landing a clean counter left hook which backed up Wilder. Stiverne countered Wilder’s jab with a right hand over the top. Surely Stiverne would look to apply the same pressure in the fifth to unsettle Wilder and pressure Deontay into making a mistake. Wilder halted any momentum in the first fifth round of his professional career, taking control again keeping Stiverne on the end of his jab and penetrating right straight. Both men exchanged some heated words before finishing out the round by exchanging a flurry of power shots.

Stiverne began the sixth with a little more activity, jabbing to the body and countering a Wilder uppercut with a hefty left hook. Stiverne failed to capitalize on any glimpse of success he enjoyed thus far, which was few and far between. An overhand right in the closing seconds may have secured the round for Stiverne. Deontay pressed Stiverne in the seventh, cracking Bermane’s chin with a two punch combination. Wilder absorbed a Stiverne overhand right on the gloves before responding with a power right straight that wobbled Stiverne, backing him up with a brutal onslaught. To his credit, Stiverne finished out the round on his feet.

In the eigth round Stiverne continued to walk down Wilder, continually eating lengthy jabs in the process. ‘B.Ware’ lunged in with a sharp left hook to the chin of Wilder followed by a tidy right hand. Wilder quickly worked his way off the ropes and back to the safety of his long jab. Rounds nine through ten had Stiverne spending lengthy portions of the rounds on the end of Wilder’s lofty jab. Doubling and on occasion Tripling the jab, Wilder continued to split the Haitian’s guard with his powerful back hand.

‘The Bronze Bomber’ started the championship rounds with a flurry on the tiring champion. Fatigue had set in and Stiverne offered little of note to retain his title heading into the final round. Wilder continued to pot shot Stiverne, cruising to the bell. As the opening bell rung for the twelfth and final round, Stiverne would require a knockout to vanquish a one hit wonder label. Plodding forward in desperation, Stiverne looked to close ground and work up close, Bermane began to work the body and touch up top. Wilder in response smothered Stiverne up close to nullify his output. Wilder finished out the fight as he began, cracking Stiverne with an accurate jab.

The judges were unanimous in their verdict, with scorecards of 118-109, 119-108, 120-107 all in favor of the new WBC heavyweight champion Deontay Wilder.

Coming into this bout many questioned Wilder’s thinly layered resume and his ability against genuine opposition. With a clear and decisive victory over Stiverne, Wilder arguably answered those questions. Showing an ability to commit to a gameplan and box on the backfoot, Wilder has taken his first decent scalp of his career. Wilder has now entered the inhospitable terrain of a heavyweight champion, where only the strong survive.