Bermane Stiverne: I Felt Flat, Wasn't 100% in The Ring

LAS VEGAS - And the new WBC Heavyweight World Champion... America finally has its heavyweight world champion as Alabama's Deontay Wilder dethroned defending champion Bermane Stiverne via unanimous decision (118-109, 119-108, 120-107) Saturday on SHOWTIME® from the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas.

Wilder (33-0, 32 KOs), who had never fought past the fourth round and had knocked out all 32 of his professional opponents, boxed brilliantly behind a stellar jab to become the first U.S.-born heavyweight champion in nearly a decade.  The towering 6-foot-7 Tuscaloosa native capitalized on his reach advantage, jabbing consistently to set up a powerful straight right. 

Fighting on Hall of Famer Muhammad Ali's 73rd birthday, Wilder became the first undefeated American heavyweight champion since Riddick Bowe in 1992 and the first American champion since Shannon Briggs won the crown in 2006.

Stiverne (24-2-1, 21 KOs) was able to stagger Wilder with a few shots, but he did not throw enough jabs or cut off the ring effectively.  Wilder was allowed to circle the ring and pop his jab at will.  Stiverne landed just 39 jabs compared to Wilder's 120.

"It wasn't my night," Stiverne said.  "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.

"I knew I was trying to throw combos of four or five punches and I could only throw two of them.  I just felt like I was flat in the ring.  What I know I could do I didn't do.  I just have to go back and learn from my mistakes and find out what happened tonight."