For the first time since 2006, an American boxer holds one of the major heavyweight crowns.
Deontay Wilder won the World Boxing Council title with a 12-round decision over Bermane Stiverne on Saturday night at the MGM Grand Hotel in Las Vegas. Wilder, the 29-year-old who won a bronze medal at the Beijing Olympics, won easily on all three judges cards and is 33-0, with 32 knockouts.
I want to bring excitement back to the heavyweight division, the Bronze Bomber said, after becoming the first U.S.-born fighter to win a world heavyweight title since Shannon Briggs held the World Boxing Organization belt in 2006.
Judges scored the fight 118-109, 119-108 and 120-107.
I answered a lot of questions tonight, said Wilder, who won an Olympic bronze at the Beijing Olympics. I already knew I could go 12 hard rounds and take a punch. I am just excited.
Stiverne, the 36-year-old now former champion who said he had an off night, is 24-1-1 with 21 KOs.
It just feels like I was flat in the ring, Stiverne said. I didnt do what I know I can do. I need to go back and work on the mistakes. I couldnt cut the ring. I couldnt move my head like normal.
As many have pointed out, hes now the best heavyweight champ not named Klitschko. Could he beat Wladimir?
There are other dangerous fighters, who I value more than Wilder, James Ali Bashir, Klitschkos assistant trainer, said last month. For example, Mariusz Wach [who went the distance with Wladimir in 2012]. I think that Wladimir would stop Deontay by the sixth round.
After spending most of her career in traditional print sports journalism, Cindy began blogging and tweeting, first as NFL/Redskins editor, and, since August 2010, at The Early Lead. She also is the social media editor for Sports.
Source: http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/early-lead/wp/2015/01/18/deontay-wilder-crowned-heavyweight-champion-after-win-over-bermane-stiverne/
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