It’s been a longtime since there was major buzz over a heavyweight fight in the United States, but on Jan. 17 that will all change as Bermane Stiverne will defend his WBC heavyweight belt against Deontay Wilder at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas.
The bout, which will be shown live on Showtime Championship Boxing, has a lot of excitement with all involved from the fighters, to the promoters and all the way to the fans, as there is hope of a revitalization of the heavyweight division in the United States.
“This is a fight to bring boxing and the country back to where it should be and being able to bring the glory back to the heavyweight division, which has been lacking for quite a while now,” Don King, who will co-promote the bout said in a conference call Thursday. “It has been about 10 years since there was a heavyweight match here in America, so we are going to celebrate this at the MGM Grand.”
The bout has been in the making for the better part of a year now, in a bout that pits the champion Stiverne (24-1-1, 21 KOs) against the explosive Wilder (32-0, 32 KOs) who boasts a 100 percent knockout-to-win ratio through his first 32 pro fights.
Despite his incredible knockout streak, many sill question Wilder, 29, as his opponents have not been top quality caliber, something the Alabama native could care less about.
“I don’t want anyone to make excuses to me. I don’t want people to discredit me anymore,” Wilder said. “But the time has come to change that.
“I have heard nothing but excuses for my 32 wins by KO and when I get 33, I don’t want to hear anything about it.”
Wilder has not been past Round 4 in any of his professional bouts and he’s not worried those quick outs may take away from his in-ring experience.
“I don’t get paid for overtime so why go all the way, that’s why I finish things early in the ring,” Wilder said.Stiverne,36, is banking on the so-called lack of experience Wilder may have, and thinks the level of competition his opponent has faced will play a role as well.
“He’s fought nobody, I always train like I’m fighting the best out there,” Stiverne, who will be making his first title defense, said. “As far as a game plan, all I can say is ‘Don’t Blink!’. Watch the action on Jan 17. I can show you better than I can tell you.”
Stiverne won his title in May when he beat Chris Arreola via Round 6 TKO and insists that all though winning a major title is great, he’s still eager to prove himself in the ring.
“The belt is great, it’s meant a lot but I’m still hungry. I still want more,” Stiverne said. “Defending my title in Vegas at the MGM Grand is a dream. Nobody will beat me. This belt isn’t going anywhere.Jan. 17 is going to be a short night and it’s going to be painful.”
