• Steve Bunce

Stiverne and Wilder will light up the strip - and America

Will Deontay Wilder's punching power be too much for Bermane Stiverne in Las Vegas? © PA Photos

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There is little chance of Deontay Wilder's attempt at winning the WBC version of the heavyweight title against Bermane Stiverne on Saturday being a bore.

Stiverne and Wilder would probably be picked to pieces, cut to shreds and left reeling on the canvas if either of them were facing Wladimir Klitschko, who still holds three versions of the heavyweight title, in their next bout.

However, Saturday's fight inside the opulent halls of the MGM on the infamous Las Vegas strip is not about proving who is the best heavyweight in the world - it is about introducing the American market to heavyweight excitement in a fight that will deliver.

Buncey's Vaults

"Joe Calzaghe would have knocked out Nigel Benn" © Getty Images

• News that Nigel Benn had denied a possible ring return was greeted warmly.
• "'My last great fight was (Gerald) McClellan,' said Benn. 'My friends say that I've not been the same in the ring since that night.'" The rumours had started after Jimmy Tibbs, Benn's trainer, had hinted that the pair would be reunited.
• There was also a word of warning from Tony Booth, "a hired sparring partner with legendary resistance who had helped Benn prepare for six world title fights".
• Booth had been sparring with new world champion Joe Calzaghe and he quit after two days.
• "Calzaghe, from Newbridge, beat Benn's nemesis Chris Eubank to win the World Boxing Organisation super-middleweight title."
• Booth was impressed with Calzaghe: "'Joe would have knocked out Nigel.' Hopefully, we will never find out." Benn stayed retired.
• As reported in The Daily Telegraph, January 22, 1998.

Boxing fans have a traditional love of wild fights and reckless fighters that deliver terrific scraps. The average fan does not care about the belt or belts the pugilist they back has strapped across his chest and waist, they just want action.

The fans backed Arturo Gatti, they have failed to back Guillermo Rigondeaux. The fans backed Carl Froch, they have failed to back Andre Ward. This Saturday they will back Wilder and Stiverne because they know they will see two fighters swinging, hurt, dropped, stunned, reeling and at one point either Stiverne or Wilder will end up in the referee's arms.

Stiverne is the sensible one, the champion after a six-round slugfest with Chris Arreola last May, and on that night two of the judges had him trailing before his fists decided the outcome. That ticks a few boxes straight away.

Wilder is the pantomime figure in the fight, the man that has so far dropped and stopped every single one of the 32 men that have tried to share a ring with him. His show reel is magnificent with dozens of reeling victims looking like they are auditioning for a part in The Walking Dead.

"He's a clown, he thinks boxing is wrestling and I will show him just how much it can hurt," vowed Stiverne, who has been training at the Mayweather complex in Las Vegas. Stiverne by the way is 36, a late developer in the boxing game.

At the Beijing Olympics, Wilder returned with a bronze medal - one of only seven American boxers to win medals at the last four Olympics - and started his pro career on a diet of unknown victims; ten of his first 12 fights ended in the opening round and in 32 fights he has never been beyond four rounds. Stiverne stopped nine of his first 11 opponents in the opening round - this fight will be short.

"Stiverne has been hurt by men that could not punch hard - how will he stay up when I'm hitting him. This will be quick and easy," claimed Wilder, who is 29. Also - this is important - he has not just met unknown fighters that have been far too willing to collapse; his ten last opponents all had pedigree. In simple terms, they have not all been bums.

Wilder fights on fear, a furious blur of speed and punches that often catch his opponents before they have settled. He hit and hurt and stopped and dropped Audley Harrison inside about 30 seconds and several of the punches were illegal. Poor Aud was down and trying to get up as Wilder kept banging away.

Stiverne will try to be cautious and that will last about as long as it takes Wilder to clip him with a high shot somewhere on the temple. I would be amazed if there is a quiet round and even more amazed if we all get to see round six.

Wilder will hurt Stiverne and then Stiverne will hurt Wilder and that is when we will find out about the fight: Can Wilder take a punch, can Stiverne survive the early onslaught? It's just a great night.

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