Deontay Wilder Destroys Bermane Stiverne in 1, Anthony Joshua Ducking?
BROOKLYN (Nov. 5, 2017) – Undefeated heavyweight world champion Deontay
Wilder retained his WBC title in his sixth defense with a dominant
first-round knockout of mandatory challenger Bermane Stiverne in the main
event of SHOWTIME CHAMPIONSHIP BOXING Saturday night on SHOWTIME from
Barclays Center, the home of BROOKLYN BOXING®.
Wilder (39-0, 38 KO’s) knocked Stiverne (25-3-1, 21 KOs) to the ground
three times before referee Arthur Mercante halted the bout at 2:59 of the
opening round. After Stiverne took Wilder the distance in their January
2015 title bout, Wilder has now knocked out every single opponent that he
has faced in his career. Watch Wilder knocking out Stiverne HERE.
“So much frustration, it just seemed like my career, it’s been crazy. So
many guys using PED’s”, said Wilder, the only American heavyweight world
champion. “I just want to prove that I am the best. I know I am the best
but I want to prove I am the best.”
Wilder first knocked Stiverne to the ground with a devastating one-two
combination that caught the Haitian challenger on the nose. Seconds after
Stiverne got back to his feet, Wilder landed another clean combination with
a big left and an overhand right that sent a stunned Stiverne back to the
canvas. The final blow came in the waning moments of the opening round as
Wilder landed four clean punches to the face of a wobbly Stiverne.
“You have to give props to Stiverne for getting in the ring,” said Wilder.
“It takes a lot of courage and it takes a lot of pride to step in the ring
with someone like me. We do what we have to do in the ring and at least he
stepped up. He was a clean fighter.”
After the brutal knockout, an emotional Wilder was asked by SHOWTIME
Sports® reporter Jim Gray about a possible fight with unified heavyweight
champion Anthony Joshua.
“I’ve been waiting on that fight for a long time now,” said Wilder. “I
declare war upon you. Do you accept my challenge? I’ve been waiting for a
long time. I know I’m the champion. I know I’m the best. Are you up for the
test?
“A king doesn’t chase the peasants. A king takes kings. I want Joshua. If
he doesn’t give me the fight we have other plans. The world wants Joshua,
the world wants Wilder, I want Joshua. Joshua come and see me baby. No more
dodging, no more excuses. Make the date, don’t wait.”
Former welterweight world champion Shawn Porter (28-2-1, 17 KOs) defeated
Adrian Granados (18-6-2, 11 KOs) via unanimous decision (scored 117-111 by
all three judges) in an exciting fight between two all-action competitors
that served as the co-featured event of SHOWTIME CHAMPIONSHIP BOXING. The
victory makes Porter the mandatory title challenger for unified
welterweight champion Keith Thurman’s WBC belt.
Porter, who injured his left hand in the sixth round, landed the sharper
and more accurate punches throughout the fight, including 40 percent of his
power punches. Both fighters came out aggressive in the early rounds and
exchanged several powerful blows.
“He gave me a little trouble here and there,” said Porter. “I hurt my left
hand in the sixth round, but I kept using it. I had to use my jab. It took
a toll on me and by the 10th round I just couldn’t throw it anymore.
“The strategy was to keep working the jab. I knew he’d come at me
periodically. I was prepared and dug deep to get the win.”
Granados, of Cicero, Ill., fought valiantly and withstood multiple barrages
from the powerful Porter and countered with several quick combinations of
his own. Granados, who landed just 24 percent of his total punches,
disagreed with the judges’ scorecard.
“I thought that I was controlling the fight and keeping up with him the
whole time,” Granados told Jim Gray. “He was just trying to use his normal
tricks. I rocked him multiple times and he never had me in any trouble.
“He’s a brute. I thought the referee [Gary Rosato] did a good job breaking
up the fight at the right times. It was rough but I definitely thought I
did better than the scorecards said.”
In the opening bout of the telecast, unbeaten top contender Sergey Lipinets
(13-0, 10 KOs) earned the vacant IBF Junior Welterweight World Championship
with a unanimous decision victory over Japanese veteran Akihiro Kondo
(29-7-1, 16 KOs). The judges scored the fight118-110, 117-111 and 117-111.
The back-and-forth 12-round world championship fight saw Lipinets control
the early rounds with a diversified, creative attack targeting Kondo’s
body. An accidental clash of heads in the sixth round, which opened up a
deep cut on the forehead of Lipinets, altered the momentum of the fight as
Kondo gained confidence and was able to land some powerful punches to the
head and body of Lipinets. The 28-year old Lipinets, who earned the title
in just his 13th professional fight, was able to regain control in the
later rounds to earn the unanimous win.
“I think the scorecards were accurate but it was a good fight,” said
Lipinets. “The head-butt really impaired my vision and it led to me walking
into some stupid shots.
“I’m happy with my performance. I’m just going to keep getting better from
here. I’m ready to take any on challenge thrown my way.”
Kondo, who was fighting for the first time in the United States, proved a
worthy opponent on the night. “It was a fair decision,” said Kondo, through
a translater. “He hit me with a lot of hard punches and I felt like I
needed at least a knockdown in the last round.
“I made up my mind that I wasn’t going to show any pain or fear from his
punches. I was determined to keep fighting all night.”
Saturday’s telecast will replay on, Sunday, November 5 at 9 a.m. ET/PT
and Monday,
November 6 at 10 p.m. ET/PT on SHOWTIME EXTREME and will be available on
SHOWTIME ON DEMAND® and SHOWTIME ANYTIME®.
This event was sponsored by Corona Extra, La Cerveza Mas Fina and promoted
by DiBella Entertainment and TGB Promotions.
