WILDER KNOCKS OUT STIVERNE IN RD 1
WBC heavyweight champ retains title, calls out challenge to Joshua
DEONTAY Wilder left Bermane Stiverne in a mess of limbs on the canvas before ‘declaring war’ on Anthony Joshua. The American polished off his challenger in the very first round to retain his WBC heavyweight title in Brooklyn.
Wilder sent Bermane Stiverne to the canvas three times before being hauled off his victim on Saturday night in Brooklyn.
Afterwards he said: ‘Anthony Joshua I declare war upon you. Do you accept my challenge? ... 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?’
And fresh from his triumph, the champion was adamant Joshua should be his next opponent rather than Dillian Whyte.
He added: “A king don’t chase the peasants. A king takes kings. I want Joshua. If he don’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 want Joshua, the world want 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.”
The 32-year-old Wilder jabbed through much of the first round while Stiverne, who hadn’t fought in two years, moved slowly and cautiously around the ring. Suddenly, Wilder lashed out with a huge right that felled Stiverne (25-3-1).
Already, Wilder was celebrating, but Stiverne got up. Unwisely, it turned out, because another big right as part of a flurry of punches sent the 38-year-old challenger back down.
At that point, Wilder climbed atop the ropes in a neutral corner, shouting at Stiverne's trainer to end things.
When they didn’t, another right and then a mammoth left hook sent down the challenger for the final time with his ‘Alabama Slammer’.
Wilder won the belt from Stiverne in 2015 in a 12-round decision. He repeatedly insisted Stiverne would go down and out early in this one. He is now 39-0 with 38 knockouts.
Wilder now can set his sights on something he has been promising throughout 2017: unifying the heavyweight belts.
This was Wilder’s sixth defense, and his most ferocious. Stiverne never had a chance. He was a substitute for Jose Ortiz, who failed a drug test. Daily Mail