Bermane Stiverne Officially Granted License In Nevada

By Jake Donovan

The last formality in making Saturday’s title fight a reality has been resolved, as Bermane Stiverne is officially licensed to fight in the state of Nevada. Approval was granted unanimously by the Nevada State Athletic Commission during its monthly agenda hearing Monday afternoon in Las Vegas.

Stiverne is slated to make the first defense of his heavyweight belt as he faces unbeaten mandatory contender Deontay Wilder. The bout headlines at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas, and will air live on Showtime.

The matter was presented before the commission as part of a procedure that calls for all fighters age 35 or over to be given a more thorough examination. Stiverne turned 36 in November, but in terms of boxing years is still very much a fighter in the prime of his career.

Stiverne (24-1-1, 21KOs) made history by becoming the first Haiti-born fighter to claim a piece of the heavyweight title, winning a vacant belt with a 6th round knockout of Chris Arreola last May. The bout was a rematch to their title eliminator 13 months prior, in which Stiverne won a landslide decision, but was put on ice due to a combination of injuries and promotional issues with Don King.

Wilder (32-0, 32KOs) contends for his first major title as a pro, looking to become the first American fighter to claim heavyweight title status in nearly eight years.

The last U.S.-born heavyweight to own a major belt was Shannon Briggs, who scored a literal last-second knockout of Sergei Liakhovich in Nov. ’06. The reign lasted only as long as his next fight, dropping a landslide decision to Sultan Ibragimov in a virtual non-effort in ther June ’07 encounter.

At present moment, Wilder is the last American male boxer to have claimed an Olympic medal. The Alabama-born and raised heavyweight claimed the Bronze medal during the 2008 Beijing Olympics, the only member of his team to advance that far in competition. The 2012 U.S. male team was shut out at the medal stage for the first time in history.

Stiverne has lived in Las Vegas since 2004, but his last fight in town was Oct. 31, 2009, stopping Jerry Butler in seven rounds.

Jake Donovan is the Managing Editor of BoxingScene.com, as well as a member of Transnational Boxing Ratings Board and the Boxing Writers Association of America. Twitter: @JakeNDaBox