Bermane Stiverne is Ready To Make Noise at Heavyweight

By Ryan Burton

 

Hatian heavyweight Bermane "B.WARE" Stiverne is ready to make noise in the heavyweight division.  Stiverne is 18-1 with 17 knockouts and thinks that he can inject life into a dormant division.  Stiverne also talks about his upcoming fight and the earthquake that hit his native Haiti in this exclusive BoxingScene interview.

 

BoxingScene.com:  What is new with you?

 

Bermane Stiverne:  I am just training right now and looking forward to fighting in August.

 

BoxingScene.com:  You must be fighting on the Devon Alexander undercard.

 

Bermane Stiverne:  That is correct.

 

BoxingScene.com:  You haven't fought since Halloween of last year.  Why such a long lay off?

 

Bermane Stiverne:  I had a hand injury.  I was out about three months.  It took about three for me to be at about 100%.  Then I was supposed to be on that Cunningham-Godfrey undercard that got cancelled.  That was the last date that I had and I have just kept myself in the gym and we are looking forward to fighting on August 7th.

 

BoxingScene.com:  Do you have an opponent lined up yet?

 

Bermane Stiverne:  No not yet.  It looks like it will be for a minor title though.  There are two or three names we are looking at.  I can't say who yet but I will probably know in the next week or so.

 

BoxingScene.com:  Are you looking to step it up a little now and fight some of the other prospects estabilished veterans to help move you up in the world rankings in the different title organizations?

 

Bermane Stiverne:  Right now I feel I am at that point.  I want to fight guys like Ray Austin and those type of guys.  That is what I want right now. 

 

BoxingScene.com:  When you were growing up what fighters did you look up to?

 

Bermane Stiverne:  I looked up a lot to (Mike) Tyson.  I was always a big boy at school and I was always looking up to Mike Tyson.

 

BoxingScene.com:  Describe your style to the fans who haven't seen you fight.

 

Bermane Stiverne:  I would say that I like counter.  I am a counter puncher but I have been trying to change that and stop walking back.  I don't just wait for my opponent to throw punches.  I am trying to use my hand speed and throw a lot more jabs with a lot more head movement.  I am trying to change things in every single fight.  I try to open my mind to different things.

 

BoxingScene.com:  Out of your 18 wins you have 17 knockouts.  If the boxing and countering isn't working do you feel you can always fall back on using your power

 

Bermane Stiverne:  Honestly for the first five fights in my career I went for the knockouts.  After that I wasn't looking for the knockouts, they just happened.  If I hurt the guy then I go for the knockout. 

 

BoxingScene.com:  Give thoughts on the tragedy in your native Haiti.  How did it affect you and your family?

 

Bermane Stiverne:  It was very unfortunate.  My parents lost some of their family members.  People that I wasn't real close to.  I knew them but the last time I saw them was in the 90s and I hadn't seen them since.  It is just very sad.  It effected a lot of kids and is something that is just very sad.  There are a lot of people getting back on their feet.  They are starting to fix up the roads.  I guess we have to start from scratch now.  I am hoping for the best and I probably will take a trip over there some time in the fall.

 

BoxingScene.com:  Do you have a message for the fans?

 

Bermane Stiverne:  Look out for me.  I have been on the underground for a quite a bit and I think by the end of this year a lot of people are going to hear about me.  I am for real and they say boxing is dead or there is no heavyweights well that is what I am here for.  I am going to bring it back where it was at.