Saturday’s boxing match between Bermane Stiverne and Deontay Wilder for the WBC Heavyweight title has the potential to leave a North American with a piece of the heavyweight crown for the first time in eight years. And, according to oddsmakers, Wilder is favored to do just that.
The Alabama-bred fighter is 32-0 with 32 knockouts in his career. Though impressive, it is against questionable competition, and Wilder rides his bronze medal to hint at an amateur pedigree. He certainly deserves credit for his accomplishment in the Olympics, but the fact remains he had never boxed before the age of 19, and it shows in his game when he opens up. In Stiverne, he is facing a gritty pro who has been in long fights and does not fade easily.
The winner will almost certainly get a gig against Wladimir Klitschko. If it is Wilder, that will probably be scheduled in April or May at the Barclay’s Center in Brooklyn, as Klitschko’s negotitations to fight there in that time frame against Bryant Jennings have not advanced. If Stiverne gets by Wilder, look for Stiverne-Klitschko to go down in Ukraine.
Take a look at our boxing expert Miguel Iturrate‘s look at where the lines are and what might develop in this fight:
