WBC heavyweight champion Bermane “B. Ware” Stiverne (24-1, 21 KOs) will look to not only knockout Deontay “The Bronze Bomber” Wilder (32-0, 32 KOs) Jan. 17 in their title bout at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas, he will look to inflict damage on the currently undefeated star.
The big heavyweight title fight headlines a Showtime triple-header co-promoted by Golden Boy Promotions and Don king Promotions that includes Leo Santa Cruz defending his WBC junior featherweight crown versus Jesus Ruiz and Amir Imam taking on Fidel Maldonado.
As Wilder aims to become the first American heavyweight titlist since Shannon Briggs held the WBO strap in 2007, a lot of the focus in the lead up to the fight is on the trash-talk the former Olympic bronze medalist is spewing.
“No, it (Wilder’s trash talk) doesn’t bother me,” Stiverne said. “I’m focused on beating him. I’m not going to just knock him out, I’m going to hurt that kid. His job, I guess, is to make himself big by talking; I feel like I’m fighting Muhammad Ali (Stiverne joked).
“He’s a great promoter, better than his or my promoter. There’s a lot of hype about him and that’s great for our fight because it’ll come down to everybody knowing who beat him after the fight.”
Agreeing with his fighter, Stiverne’s manager Camille Estephan explained that Wilder is over the top with his antics and his fighter plans to shut him up once in the ring.
“Bermane and I have discussed this fight, of course, and he told me this guy is a clown and that Wilder thinks this is the WWE,” Estephan stated. “This fight is for real, no joke, and Bermane is ready. He really dislikes this guy and I believe him when he says he’s going to hurt Wilder.”
Media and fans alike are questioning Wilder’s impressive undefeated record all via knockout due to lack of quality opponents, but Stiverne isn’t concerned with Wilder’s past bouts.
“I don’t say anything about who he’s fought or him not going past four rounds,” Stiverne said. “Those questions should be directed to him. I really don’t care. I’m going to chop him down and, if those things are factors, it’ll show in our fight. I’m just doing my job. I’ve been down and came back to knockout my opponent. I’ve also won 12 rounds fights. I know I still have power in later rounds.”
