Stiverne-Wilder: BoxingScene.com's Staff Predictions

By Jake Donovan

The experts remain divided in trying to determine the winner, but nearly everyone with an opinion on the fight believes the night will end with a vicious knockout.

Every heavyweight title fight should be met with this much anticipation.

Even with Wladimir Klitschko as the division’s true World champion, tonight’s clash between defending titlist Bermane Stiverne and unbeaten challenger Deontay Wilder has fans abuzz like no other stateside heavyweight fight in recent memory. The promotion and timing of the fight may not reflect as much, but make no mistake: from now until at least kickoff time for the first game NFL conference championships, social media conversation will be flooded with talks of his fight.

The heavyweight bout takes place at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas, Nevada, airing live on Showtime (Saturday, 9:00 p.m. ET/6:00 p.m. PT) atop a televised tripleheader.

Stiverne (24-1-1, 21KOs) makes the first defense of the title he won in vacant capacity, knocking out Chris Arreola in the 6th round of their rematch last May. The win made him the first fighter from Haiti to claim a piece of the heavyweight crown, although the journey to that point has been a struggle.

Like most fighters under Don King’s promotional banner these days, ring activity has been an epic struggle. Stiverne has just six fights in the past five years, including one each in 2010, 2012, 2013 and 2014. His last two fights have come against Arreola, with last year’s vacant title fight win his first piece of ring action since their title eliminator 13 months prior.

Once he’s in the ring, Stiverne has managed to look the part of a top heavyweight. The Haiti-born, Canada-raised, Vegas-based boxer carried that promise on the way up, but endured a major hiccup with a controversial stoppage loss at the hands of sub .500 journeyman Demetrice King in July ’07.

Stiverne enters Saturday’s fight unbeaten in his last 13 starts, though the wins versus Arreola represent his only true step up in competition.

For the moment, it’s more than can be said for his challenger.

Wilder (32-0, 32KOs) is certainly studio-ready, given his athleticism and bold personality. The 6’7” heavyweight from Tuscaloosa, Alabama was actually a football and basketball standout during his high school days, with aspirations of playing ball for the University of Alabama in college.

Those dreams were thwarted following the birth of daughter, who was born with a spinal condition requiring extensive – and costly - medical attention. Rather than pursuing his dreams as a starting wide receiver for the 15-time national champion Crimson Tide football team, Wilder instead stepped foot into a boxing ring.

That decision led to the United States being spared the embarrassment of being shut out at the medal table in boxing competition during the 2008 Beijing Olympics. Wilder was the lone member of the team to medal, earning the Bronze in a relatively shallow heavyweight field in which he only had to win one fight to make it to the semifinals.

It was the perfect storm for a relatively inexperienced amateur, who has since been brought along slow through six-plus years as a pro. Even in step-up fights, opposition – such as Malik Scott and Audley Harrison – continues to collapse in a heap.

Because of his quick hits in the ring, Wilder has yet to be tested and thus comes in with views of skepticism from the sport’s onlookers. Perhaps the fact he’s yet to go beyond four rounds in any given prize fight is in fact a true testament to his power.

One way or another, everyone will find out for sure tonight.

Read on to find out how the staff at BoxingScene.com believes tonight’s heavyweight title fight plays out in Las Vegas.
 
BOXINGSCENE.COM STAFF PREDICTIONS: BERMANE STIVERNE vs. DEONTAY WILDER

Ryan Burton (Stiverne KO1): “The Haitian jumps on Wilder early, creating a buzz that hasn't green seen in the heavyweight division in over a decade.”

Michael Coppinger (Stiverne KO): “Wilder is making a quantum leap in competition after feasting on no-hopers his whole career. He's been buzzed by far lesser fighters, and it says here Stiverne stops Wilder in his tracks in a slugfest.”

Jake Donovan (Wilder KO4): “One day, Wilder will prove how well he can (or can’t) box and whether or not he can take a shot. On this night, an early bum-rush will be enough to throw Stiverne off-track, setting the tone for a wild slugfest that ends with Wilder landing a hailstorm of punches to force a stoppage.”

Lyle Fitzsimmons (Stiverne KO7): “I like the prospect of Wilder winning and I think it'd be good for the sport, but I haven't seen enough from him against the stiff parade to make me believe he's on Stiverne's level. Bermane looks motivated to make a spotlight statement and I think he'll make it decisively and control things on the way to a mid-rounds stoppage.”

David Greisman (Wilder KO): “Both men haven't been tested anywhere near the level that we'd prefer in this sport, so there are plenty of questions about each. With that said, I think the carefully matched and developed Deontay Wilder will show that he's grown better along the way and that his speed and reach will allow him to touch a chin that we saw shaken again Chris Arreola. This could be a brief firefight, one in which Wilder leaves with the stoppage win and a heavyweight title.”

Keith Idec (Wilder KO6): “This clearly is the toughest test of Wilder’s six-year pro career and it’ll be interesting to see how he takes shots against a powerful opponent at the championship level. Stiverne has beaten better opposition and is smart and skilled but Wilder’s power is real and Stiverne seems to think it isn’t. That’ll lead to his downfall. Stiverne has underestimated opponents before and paid the price. The stoppage in his lone loss to Demetrice King – then 11-15 – was terrible but that fight shouldn’t have even been competitive. Stiverne also has a majority draw on his record against Charles Davis, who was then 17-17-1. Despite Stiverne’s impressive performances against Chris Arreola, Wilder isn’t exactly challenging Joe Louis in his prime.”

John MacDonald (Stiverne KO5): “Heavyweight fights are unpredictable at the best of times and this one more so than most. Wilder has the power to knockout any man alive but has technical deficiencies and at times looks vulnerable. Stiverne is cuter defensively than he's sometimes given credit for. If he can stay out of trouble early there will be opportunities for him to catch Wilder.”

Per-Ake Persson (Wilder KO6): “Wilder is certainly untested and can probably be outboxed but he also has terrific punching power and that will be the deciding factor in this one. Stiverne is of course the better boxer but that won’t be enough.”

Cliff Rold (Wilder KO): “Wilder is the biggest question mark around. He has the tools; does he have the chops? Stiverne is a too inactive, shorter man who will get caught first. It's going to be fun while it lasts.”

Reynaldo Sanchez (Stiverne KO6): “Everything is in favors of Wilder in this fight. Steverne has power but not equal to Deontay. In this weight class the punch prevails, the Klitshcko’s brothers impose their physical advantages over rivals technically superior. The only chance for Bermane is to make an inside fight and hit with power punches, Wilder seems to have a weak jaw. In this fight I will go against logic.”

Alexey Sukachev (Stiverne KO5): “Just because I'm not a believer. Wilder has never been really tested. He has an impressive streak of irrelevant wins over nobodies, and even his biggest fight - an eliminator against Malik Scott - was very shady. Wilder, I assume, has chin issues and his stamina is a big if. Not that Stiverne is invincible, but he has fought at a considerably higher level. He also knows how to lose - which is important experience. I see Wilder wobbling and maybe dropping Stiverne early on. But if he survives the first couple of rounds, Wilder will be at his service. It'll look much like Brewster vs. Klitschko I, but Wilder will be finished without any conspicuous controversy.”

Dominic Verdin (Stiverne KO in 9 or less): “Bermane Stiverne is heavy handed, explosive off the ropes, the WBC heavyweight champion and at times lazy champion in between rounds. Deontay Wilder on the other hand is the lone undefeated American hopeful with knockout power. We the fans will get a knockout performance. The question is; who will secure the victory and the much talked about knockout. The pick here: Stiverne survives a few shaky moments and displays his champion heart and knockout power.”

Totals: Bermane Stiverne 7, Deontay Wilder 5

GUEST PICKS

Charles Martin, Top Heavyweight Contender:
Both men can punch so it ain't going the distance. I like Deontay because he is a pure puncher like me, but I don't know if Deontay can do a hard 12 rounds. We know Bermane can.  Its a real toss up, but I'm picking Stiverne by stoppage. But no matter who wins, I'm picking me over the winner.

Michael Borao, Borao Entertainment:
Wilder has huge power but a big question remains if he can take as good as he gives. Stiverne was very impressive in his bouts with Arreola. I wouldn't be suprised if either won by KO in the first two rounds. Its going to be a short, exciting fight but I predict Stiverne will survive some rough moments and win via highlight reel knockout inside 6 rounds.

Leon Margules,  Warriors Boxing:
I believe Wilder will win by sensational early KO. The longer the fight goes the better chance Stiverne has to test Wilder's metal.

Jameel McCline, Former Heavyweight Contender:
It's a great fight. I've sparred both men in the past. Both are very good punchers and hard workers in the gym and and on fight night. But Deontay is the most devastating puncher I've ever been in the ring with. It can go either way, but I give a slight advantage to Wilder because that power and reach is going to be tough to overcome.  Wilder by KO.

Scott Shaffer, Boxing Attorney:
Both men have true heavyweight punching power but I'm not convinced Deontay Wilder has a true heavyweight chin. He even got wobbled by Nicolai Firtha in Atlantic City in 2013. I think Bermane Stiverne will hit Wilder a lot harder than Firtha did. Prediction: Stiverne inside four.

Steven Heid, President Pound4PoundWear.com:
Wilder was knocked out in the amateurs with headgear on by the Russian Evgenyi Romanov -- having Mark Breland in his corner will be a big advantage. Stiverne was knocked out in his loss against Demetrice King. I think Stiverne is taylor made for Wilder. Stiverne will lay against the ropes like he did against Chris Arrerola and eventually a straight right hand will get through Stiverne's guard resulting in a huge KO win for Wilder. I don't see this fight going past 3 rounds. Wilder KO3.

Henry Tillman, Heavyweight Gold Medalist:
it's a very interesting matchup.  Both guys have their pluses and minuses -- Wilder is trained by my Olympic teammate Mark Breland and that's going to be a big advantage for him.  I see Deontay using his height and reach to outbox Stiverne.  I don't know if it will be a knockout or his first decision win, but I am picking Wilder.

Lou Dibella, Dibella Entertainment:
Wilder vs. Stiverne is a hard call. It's very possible that the man who lands flush first wins. I like Wilder early and Stiverne late or if a distance fight. I have very little conviction on this one but, if you make me choose, I'm taking the bigger, harder punching Wilder by KO. If it goes into the late rounds, you'll hope you ignored my pick.

Tony Thompson, Heavyweight Contender:
Wilder is way too open.  Stiverne is a lot more technically sound than people give him credit for plus he can punch and take a punch, so he won't lay down the first time he gets hit like all the other Wilder opponents. I see Stiverne getting the KO inside 5 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