Heavyweight champion Deontay Wilder delivers crushing first-round knockout of Bermane Stiverne in title rematch, immediately calls out British heavyweight titlist Anthony Joshua for championship unification.
BROOKLYN, NY — Deontay Wilder never blinked. He walked forward through the warrens of Barclays Center Saturday night wearing a deadpan, emotionless expression as if nothing around him existed. The heavyweight many believe is the best in the world had something on his mind, something that he had been harboring for two years: Someone lasted with him, something he had a hard time accepting and that someone was Bermane Stiverne.
Saturday night presented Wilder with a chance to make amends for that before 10,924 at Barclays.
“The Bronze Bomber” did, leaving no doubt in his rematch with Stiverne in defending his world title for a sixth time.
Wilder put on a Tyson-esque performance. He knocked Stiverne down three times in the first round, the first time with a one-two, slamming a straight right off of Stiverne’s chin, the second time with a wide right that toppled Stiverne into the ropes and the third time came from a right to the chin, and a left to the jaw.
Referee Arthur Mercante Jr. almost literally had to wrestle Wilder away from doing even more damage, waving the bout over at 2:59 of the first.
Stiverne, who was fighting for the first time since November 2015, came in at 254¾ pounds, 15¾ pounds heavier than when they first fought on January 17, 2015, which Wilder (39-0, 38 KOs) won by a lopsided unanimous score.
Stiverne (25-3-1, 21 KOs) really had no chance.
“So much frustration, it just seemed like my career, it’s been crazy… so many guys using PED’s,” said Wilder, referring to Luis Ortiz, Wilder’s original opponent who tested positive for a banned substance and fell out, replaced by Stiverne, Wilder’s mandatory challenger. “I just want to prove that I am the best. I know I am the best but I wanna prove I am the best.
“One champion, one face, one name, he goes by Deontay Wilder.”
“ 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? ” WBC Heavyweight World Champ Deontay Wilder to British Titlist Anthony Joshua
Wilder also served notice with who he wants next—British heavyweight titlist Anthony Joshua.
“I’ve been waiting for that fight for a long time now… I declare war upon you. Do you accept my challenge?” Wilder said, addressing Joshua in the ring. “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?
“You gotta give props to Stiverne for getting in the ring. It takes a lot of courage, it takes a lot of pride to step in the ring with someone like me… we do what we gotta do in the ring and at least he stepped up. He was a clean fighter.”
As for his opinion on a Dillian Whyte-Joshua fight, Wilder said, “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… why should I go to England to fight a peasant without the king on the contract… The world wants Joshua, the world wants Wilder, I want Joshua. Joshua come and see me baby. No more dodging, no more dodging, no more excuses… make the date, don’t wait.
“I’m too athletic. I told y’all I’m mobile, I’m hostile, I am the king baby and no heavyweight can compare to me… I’m very confident in what I do and tonight I showed that.”
Former 147-pound champion Shawn Porter raises his hand in victory after defeating Adrian Granados at Barclays Center on Saturday, November 4, 2017. (Ryan Hafey/Premier Boxing Champions)
Shawn Porter outlasts rugged Adrian Granados, hurts hand in action-packed 147-pound affair
Shawn “Showtime” Porter knows only one way to fight and that’s coming straight ahead with full fists of steam. It’s pretty much the same way Adrian Granados fights, too. Porter likes to suffocate his opponents, mixing in a little mauling and wrestling. It made for an interesting give-and-take, action fight.
Referee Gary Rosato’s blue shirt had dark blotches, drenched in the 10th round from breaking the two up so often.
Porter simply was too strong, winning 117-111 on judges Julie Lederman, John Stewart and Kevin Morgan’s scorecards.
In the third, Porter had Granados swelling up. To his credit, Granados withstood Porter’s assaults, and with his back against the ropes, tried going firepower-against-firepower. In the fourth, Granados’ tactics changed at the outset. But he couldn’t change who he is—and that surfaced again in the last minute of the fourth when he tried going punch-for-punch with the stronger, faster Porter.
It made for a great exchange, though it began zapping Granados of his strength.
By the sixth, Granados’ work rate fell off. His hands were down. He literally ran away from Porter near the end of the round, somewhat defenseless. By the seventh, Granados had little on his punches. They may have landed on Porter, but like a bull, Showtime walked through them showing little effect.
“He gave me a little trouble here and there,” Porter said about Granados. “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.
“We're gonna rest for about a week and then get back to work. We want Keith Thurman as soon as possible.”
Both fighters had swollen faces. Both were nicked up. But Granados saw a far different fight than everyone else did.
“I thought that I was controlling the fight and keeping up with him the whole time,” Granados said. “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 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.”
Unbeaten Sergey Lipinets celebrates winning the vacant 140-pound IBF world title with a unanimous decision win over Akihiro Kondo. (Amanda Westcott/Showtime)
Sergey Lipinets captures vacant 140-pound title with unanimous decision win over Akihiro Kondo
Neither Sergey Lipinets or Akihiro Kondo gave up much of the canvas in their 140-pound title fight for the vacant IBF belt—hovering within inches of each other throughout. They played a game of catch and counter, and just when it appeared the sway of the fight was going in one direction, a few well-placed shots changed it.
In the end, Lipinets (13-0, 10 KOs) remained undefeated and with some hardware in tow, after winning a unanimous decision over Kondo (29-7-1, 16 KOs).
At the outset, neither fighter could sustain anything.
By the fourth round, however, Lipinets’ face began to swell and it looked like Kondo was gaining an edge. In the fifth, Kondo hurt Lipinets. He had Lipinets against the ropes after landing a straight right to the chin. It appeared he had in some Lipinets in some trouble. With 1:06 left in the sixth, referee Ricky Gonzalez momentarily stopped the fight to take a look at a cut on Lipinets’ head, caused by an accidental headbutt.
“I think the scorecards were accurate but it was a good fight. The headbutt really impaired my vision and it led to me walking into some stupid shots,” Lipinets said. “I'm happy with my performance. I'm just going to keep getting better from here. I'm ready to take any on the challenge thrown my way.”
In the last :30 of the seventh, Lipinets began picking up his pace. He no longer was content on waiting on Kondo and countering him. He began stepping towards Kondo, still with blood pouring down his forehead from the cut he sustained in the sixth. Kondo steered the round in his direction with a devastating straight right, hard to enough to wonder what kept Lipinets up.
Lipinets started well again in the 10th. Kondo, however, stifled his attack by coming forward with a high guard, absorbing a few jabs and firing away himself. The last round featured the both of them attacking each other non-stop.
Though the crowd disagreed, punch stats bore out Lipinets’ superiority. He landed a total of 173/621 total punches (28%) to Kondo’s 140/567 (25%).
“It was a fair decision. He hit me with a lot of hard punches and I felt like I needed at least a knockdown in the last round,” Kondo said. “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. I'm going to go back and get stronger and stronger to get back in the ring. I'm thankful for this opportunity and I congratulate Sergey on a great performance. This was a once in a lifetime experience.”
For a complete look at Wilder vs Stiverne, visit our fight page.
