Who you pickin'&why.

[Bonzo]

http://fightnews.com/Boxing/Stiverne_and_Wilder_face_off680.jpg



Boxing News

Stiverne, Wilder heats up

Photos: Esther Lin/SHOWTIME
There is no love lost between WBC heavyweight world champion Bermane “B. Ware” Stiverne and unbeaten #1 contender Deontay “The Bronze Bomber” Wilder, who didn’t mince words while participating in often tense, trash-talking-filled volatile final press conference Thursday for the “Return to Glory: Bermane Stiverne vs. Deontay Wilder” fight card taking place this Saturday at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas.
The hard-hitting Stiverne (24-1-1, 21 KOs), of Las Vegas, defends his title against the unbeaten knockout specialist Wilder (32-0, 32 KOs), of Tuscaloosa, Ala.,- in two days, but if they had their way they’d fight tonight.
Bermane Stiverne: I’m gonna keep his record clean, because he isn’t getting past four rounds.
Deontay Wilder: I’ve never been so ready to whoop a man. I don’t play games. It doesn’t get any realer than this.
Here’s for more of what the fighters, promoters and trainers had to say Thursday at the David Copperfield Theatre:
Bermane Stiverne, WBC Heavyweight Champion: “It’s going to be a real fight, a fight like you’ve never seen before. I’m no cab driver, I’m no one-hit wonder, this is the real deal. This belt here isn’t going anywhere. This green belt is staying right here in this green hotel. Everyone who has supported me, you won’t be disappointed. I’ve seen plenty of guys like Wilder, even guys who talk more than him. I don’t worry about how I go in the ring, I worry about how I get out of the ring. There’s something about Deontay ….I’m gonna keep his record clean, because he isn’t getting past four rounds. This is a real fight and this belt is staying right here in my home town. You’re going to get hurt, the worst thing you did was have me take you seriously, and I’m taking you seriously. This is going to be a terrific fight. After this fight you will never ever hear about Deontay Wilder.”
Deontay Wilder, Unbeaten #1 WBC Mandatory Contender: “You are all in for a treat. I’ve never been so ready to whoop a man. There’s been a lot of talk, a lot of stuff on social media. But through all that, it’s been real. I don’t play games. It doesn’t get any realer than this. We risk our lives every time in that ring. If you only knew the whooping I’m going to put on this boy, you all want the first American champ, but this is for me. I am not scared to walk with my head held high because I am ready for any test. This is the most exciting heavyweight bout in years. This is the awakening of the heavyweight division and there’s nowhere else to have it than at MGM Grand. This is the number one spot to have boxing and I’ve just been waiting for this for so long. The training, the heartache, the pain and the suffering has been a long journey. Many people wrote me off early in my career. People say I’m not supposed to be here. People still write me off and I thank them for that. Because when they write me off I still go to another level and push forward. People don’t know what it took me to get here. Nothing has been given to me and I appreciate every little thing I have. This made me who I am in life.
“I knew it was going to take hard work to get that belt and I’m ready for that test. This is my time; I don’t think my opponent understands purpose because this is my time. When I do the unexpected, I don’t want you all to degrade this man, Stiverne. I don’t want anyone to make excuses for my victory. Stick by your word. Let this be a test for me and watch me pass my test. I guarantee I will do it. I know everyone has been speaking for you, Bermane, but they can’t fight for you. They can only make it worse for you. They have made it worse for you. You don’t understand what type of man you’re about to get in the ring with. You’ve only been champion for a short period of time but you walk around like it’s been a long time. You’re only a tourist to that belt.”
* * * * *

[Bonzo]

Don King, Hall Of Fame Promoter: “The fact of the matter is, the heavyweight title has not been the world championship. It’s been the German championship. Now, the heavyweight title is back here with Bermane Stiverne and it’s great to be able to present it in the world’s capital of boxing, Las Vegas. To be at the great MGM Grand is a delight. Deontay is a tremendous fighter with a perfect record of 32 fights and 32 knockouts. Bermane has 21 knockouts so it’s going to be a heck of a fight. We want the fans to know that we are bringing boxing back to the people. That’s what really counts. The enthusiasm and passion of a promotion leads to people asking ‘when is the next one?’ That’s what we’re aiming to do here. This is going to be a great fight so don’t blink. Don’t go up and get any water or anything because this fight is going to be super sensational.”
Bernard Hopkins, Future Hall Of Famer and Golden Boy Promotions Partner “I’m proud that Don King has been a part of my history. What I constantly hear is, ‘is boxing in a good position?’ I feel like more businesspeople coming to boxing and making the best fights is great. Don King has laid the foundation for that. If we all think one way, we have to think about what is best for boxing. We know that the drought in the heavyweight division has gone on long enough and I believe that this Saturday, whoever wins this is going to be talked about. I don’t see this going 12 rounds. This is good for boxing. I’m here in Las Vegas, on my 50th birthday, I get to be here sharing it with Don King and all of you in this sport that I passionately love so much. This is about a sport that gave me a second chance in life. I put the challenge out to everyone in the sport, let’s do what is right for the people who buy our sport. I’m proud to sacrifice this time that I could be with my family to be here for this fight and be here for this sport that has done so much for me.”
Robert Gasparri, COO of Golden Boy Promotions: “Golden Boy Promotions is thrilled to be promoting this great card alongside legendary boxing promoter Don King. On behalf of Oscar De La Hoya and everyone at Golden Boy Promotions, I would like to thank the MGM Grand, Corona, Mexico Tourism and all the fighters that are working extremely hard to make this a successful event. Golden Boy wants to make the best matches and work with all the promoters, and Saturday night is no exception. This is a heavyweight title fight in America with the potential of having the first American heavyweight champion in a decade.”
Stephen Espinoza, Executive General Manager and Vice President, SHOWTIME Sports: “I can’t think of a better fight to kick off this year than Stiverne vs. Wilder. It’s the most significant heavyweight fight in the U.S. in at least a decade. It’s the biggest heavyweight title fight here at the MGM Grand since Tyson-Holyfield II in 1997. When we talk about a Return to Glory, there’s no more history than here at the MGM and in the heavyweight division. We’re very proud to have this fight on SHOWTIME and we’re very proud to be in business with these two young men. They’re both intelligent and articulate people who are great representatives for our sport. We’re proud to have these men on SHOWTIME and we’re proud to call them SHOWTIME fighters. This is a high quality card of boxing and a high quality card of young men, top to bottom.”
Jay Deas, Wilder’s Trainer and Manager: “This is going to be a tremendous fight. Not a lot of people think about Alabama and boxing, but if you know boxing you know that Joe Louis was born in Alabama, Evander Holyfield was born in Alabama, Ernie Shavers was born in Alabama. Those guys left Alabama to get their careers going, but Deontay stayed and he’s looking to bring Alabama to the party come Saturday night. We know Stiverne is a great champion, we know he’s at his peak and we know that he’s at his best and that’s how it ought to be. It’s a great fight between two great heavyweights.”

[Bonzo]

I think B-Ware is going to win this fight.
I say he ko,s the big man before the 6th.

[rudee]

I gotta go with Wilder... seen B-Ware take too many shots..
But if Wilder doesn't take him out early,,, he is in trouble.
Looking forward to it. Gonna end early no matter what.

[Condor]

The "heavies" today are sooooooo booooooring..........But I will watch anyway...Lol.

[steveOtoo]

As much as i would like Bermane to win i think Wilder will take this one. This game is all about speed and Wilder has both speed and the size, additionally Bermane struggled with Austin a journeyman at 6' 5". Wilder would be wise to try and take this to the later rounds and not get in a slugg fest with Bermane. Then again it only takes one punch in the heavies............

[rudee]

Dont think this one will be boring Condor... there will be some serious chingazos
thrown here.
Sompin's gotta give.
Winner get Klitscho??? hope so.

[Bonzo]

http://fightnews.com/Boxing/stiverne-lin680.jpg



Boxing News

Stiverne: I think he’s a fraud, I don’t think he deserves to be fighting for the title By David Finger
It’s been a long road to the top, but for WBC heavyweight champion Bermane “B-Ware” Stiverne (24-1-1, 21 KOs), there is no time to sit back and enjoy his newfound status as a world champion. Six months after winning the title in explosive fashion against Chris Arreola, Stiverne will defend the belt against undefeated #1 contender Deontay Wilder tonight in Las Vegas. Although both fighters are heavy punchers with some impressive knockouts on their resume, the similarities end there. Compared to the normally laid back Stiverne, Wilder is loud, outspoken, and something of a mystery. Whereas Stiverne has clearly established himself as one of the hardest punching heavyweights in recent years, nobody really known what will happen when Wilder lands one of his power shots on Stiverne. It’s this mystery that has made this fight one of the most talked about heavyweight fights in years.
For Stiverne, there is no question in his mind as to if Wilder is the real deal or not. He is supremely confident of a knockout victory, and even had some scathing criticism for the undefeated American bomber. Stiverne promises that boxing will get its answers about Wilder on January 17, but a dominant victory would hardly close the book on Wilder or even really answer any questions about him. Because if the fight plays out like he is predicting, the talk may not be about how good or bad Wilder was, but how boxing now has a serious challenge to the conventional wisdom that the “real” heavyweight champion lives in Germany.
Stiverne took some time to talk to Fightnews about tonight’s fight.
How are you feeling champ? How is your training camp going?
Great. Excellent.
What have these last few months as champion been like for you?
I’m a low key guy. I don’t get myself out there. But in terms of the fans and the people who watch boxing, I get a lot of attention. Actually there is more people that walk up to me and want to take pictures and talk a bit. That’s little different then it was.
Your opponent is noted for being something of a “trash talker”, a sharp contrast to you. Does his trash talking in any way upset you, or perhaps motivate you?
No, of course not. This is not Jeopardy. It’s not a battle of words. Now I think it’s very immature. Pretty much everything he does or says on social media, I don’t pay attention. I don’t watch or read what he has to say.
You’ve never fought a fighter so clouded in mystery. Many sports fans are not sure if Wilder is the second coming of Mike Tyson or the second coming of Peter McNeely due to the fact that he has never really been tested. Is there something that you’ve seen in the tapes however that you think gives you a clue as to what he really brings to the table?
I mean, pretty much I see what everyone else sees. To me, I think he’s a fraud. I don’t think he deserves to be fighting for the title and that’s why I’m not with it. But what is worse is that he is not even ready to fight at this level. What will be even worse is that I’m the best and I train myself like I was fighting the best fighter out there. Whatever (lack of) experience he has in his thirty two fights, he will have to deal with it when he faces me.
What do you think is Wilder’s greatest strength? What is his biggest weakness?
Honestly, all these questions will be answered January 17th. I’m going for the unknown. That I’m fighting the most dangerous fighter and that is how I prepare myself. Those questions will be answered January 17th.
Let’s talk about you. You have shown a tremendous ability to adapt to your opponent in recent fights. How do you expect this fight to go?
This fight will be a knockout. That is guaranteed. No other way. I don’t see this fight goes the distance. I would be surprised if this fight will go more than 5 or 6 rounds, and I think I’m being generous when I say 5 or 6 rounds. It will come down to how much he can take.
What is your greatest strength as a fighter?
I think I don’t waste my punches.
As a world champion, what would a win over Wilder mean for you?
No impact. Just be glad I will be able to shut his mouth.
What impact would it have on your career?
The only impact is that…that it will show people, those people who think he’s the greatest thing since sliced bread, what he is. A lot of people believe in him. He has a terrific record; he has a better record than Mike Tyson or Muhammad Ali. The pressure isn’t on me. The pressure is on him.
Finally, is there any message for your fans?
Thank you from the bottom of my heart. I send all my regards and appreciation to all my fans. The only thing I can give them is a victory.

[Fibroso]

5000 satfix buxs to make it interesting

[aquariusone]

5000 satfix buxs to make it interesting

You're on! I take Vladimir! LOL!

[Bonzo]

Wilder might win this fight but he gotta get a new bicycle after this one.
I thought he said B-Ware make sure you come to fight?
I guess Fibs will tell me he is the best hw in the world.
Oh well can hardly wait to get to PR cause what Fibs is smokin' is nice (no offense Fib he just look like your friend Rigo).
God Bless.
I am a believer but mom always said I was her Angel with dark wings.

[steven charles]

I,ll take wilder on this one...