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by Cliff Rold - It looks like we probably have a fight.
All signs point currently to the long negotiation between WBC Heavyweight titlist Bermane Stiverne (24-1-1, 21 KO) and mandatory challenger Deontay Wilder (32-0, 32 KO) finally reaching its conclusion. Let’s assume that to be the case.
What does that mean for the future of the Heavyweight division?
The immediate answer is the obvious. Stiverne-Wilder matches two big punchers with lots of question marks. Wilder has been brought along as a project, matched carefully along his development curve. A selection of veteran names (Audley Harrison, Sergey Lyakhovich, and Malik Scott) in recent fights was better than what he had been facing, but none were able to test him.
Lyakhovich and Harrison were both badly past their sell-by date. Scott was folded quickly. We know Wilder has pop and speed. On the eve of his first title shot, we still don’t know much about how he does when a capable guy is seriously fighting back. This feels like a big step up.
It’s not as big as some might assume.
Stiverne, like Wilder, carries a big punch and he’s seen tougher rounds. Veteran Ray Austin ran him close before being stopped in the tenth. He easily outboxed Chris Arreola the first time they fought and performed well against a more focused Arreola in the rematch. Down on two cards after five rounds, Stiverne stopped Arreola silly in the sixth round to capture the then-vacant WBC belt.
Aside from Arreola and Austin, there isn’t a ton of depth to Stiverne’s resume either. Arreola, for all the TV time he’s accumulated, never beat anyone most would consider a contender over the years. Austin has never been better than ordinary. [Click Here To Read More]
All signs point currently to the long negotiation between WBC Heavyweight titlist Bermane Stiverne (24-1-1, 21 KO) and mandatory challenger Deontay Wilder (32-0, 32 KO) finally reaching its conclusion. Let’s assume that to be the case.
What does that mean for the future of the Heavyweight division?
The immediate answer is the obvious. Stiverne-Wilder matches two big punchers with lots of question marks. Wilder has been brought along as a project, matched carefully along his development curve. A selection of veteran names (Audley Harrison, Sergey Lyakhovich, and Malik Scott) in recent fights was better than what he had been facing, but none were able to test him.
Lyakhovich and Harrison were both badly past their sell-by date. Scott was folded quickly. We know Wilder has pop and speed. On the eve of his first title shot, we still don’t know much about how he does when a capable guy is seriously fighting back. This feels like a big step up.
It’s not as big as some might assume.
Stiverne, like Wilder, carries a big punch and he’s seen tougher rounds. Veteran Ray Austin ran him close before being stopped in the tenth. He easily outboxed Chris Arreola the first time they fought and performed well against a more focused Arreola in the rematch. Down on two cards after five rounds, Stiverne stopped Arreola silly in the sixth round to capture the then-vacant WBC belt.
Aside from Arreola and Austin, there isn’t a ton of depth to Stiverne’s resume either. Arreola, for all the TV time he’s accumulated, never beat anyone most would consider a contender over the years. Austin has never been better than ordinary. [Click Here To Read More]
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