This Saturday, January 17, 2015, Bermane “B. Ware” Stiverne (24-1-1, 21 KOs) defends his WBC strap against hard-hitting American, Deontay “The Bronze Bomber” Wilder (32-0, 32 KOs).
The fight–which is aptly named “Return to Glory”–can single-handedly bring back interest in the heaveyweight with a bang!
Stiverne and Wilder, who haven’t been shy about predicting a knockout, continued the trash-talking at the final press conference on Thursday.
In only two days, the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas, NV will play host to this hard hitting matchup. The winner will line himself up for a huge unification bout with the Heavyweight king, Wladimir Klitschko.
Also on the card will be a 12-round co-featured bout between unbeaten WBC Super Bantamweight World Champion Leo Santa Cruz (28-0-1, 16 KOs) and Jesus “Estrella” Ruiz (33-5-5, 22 KOs) and undefeated Amir “Young Master” Imam (15-0, 13 KOs) meeting up against Fidel “The Atrisco Kid” Maldonado Jr. (19-2, 16 KOs) in a 10-round super lightweight bout for the WBC Continental Americas Super Lightweight Title.
Read on for RBRBoxing’s staff predictions for the three-fight card which will air live on Showtime Championship Boxing starting at 10:00 pm, EST on Saturday night.
Let us know who you think is going to win this Heavyweight showdown.
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Fidel Maldonado Jr.
vs.
Amir Imam
Lou Catalano, Senior Writer
This fight could start off the show with some serious fireworks. Amir Imam can bang, and the southpaw Fidel Maldonado certainly doesn’t shy away from violence.
In the end, I’m going with Imam, who seems to be on the path to stardom.
Let’s watch him play Headzo with Jared Robinson again. Imam by KO.
Prediction: Imam
Zuri Lopez, Contributing Writer
Fidel Maldonado and Amir Imam could perhaps end up stealing the spotlight on Saturday night.
Both guys have immense power. I see them going back and forth, so they will need to be on their best defense. Imam is undefeated, but Maldonado will bring the heat. Maldonado wins.
Prediction: Maldonado
Brandon Glass, Contributing Writer
Amir Imam is a talented prospect with a solid punch. I doubt this goes all 10.
Imam by KO in four.
Prediction: Imam
Alex Burgos, Editor-in-Chief
I love the Atrisco Kid! He let’s it all hang out and gives 110 percent each time he’s in the ring. Unfortunately, I think he’s in over his head with the young heavy-hitter, Amir Imam.
Maldonado may have a good start, but as fights wear on he tends to get lackadaisical when it comes to defending. If caught with a clean punch by Imam, it might be an early night for Maldonado.
Prediction: Imam
Porfirio Barron Jr., Photographer
Amir Imam wins by split decision.
Prediction: Imam
Juan Carlos Galvez, Photographer
Amir Imam wins by unanimous decision.
Prediction: Imam
Leo Santa Cruz
vs.
Jesus Ruiz
Lou Catalano, Senior Writer
Leo Santa Cruz continues on his “Toss away all goodwill I earned and make everyone hate me” quest, by eschewing any kind of meaningful fight to square off with hopelessly over matched Jesus Ruiz.
But hey, Al Haymon everybody! The Haymon Way, the formula that appears to be so hard to pass up, seems to be little more than ducking away from risk in order to fight shitheads on a network ready to bend over at any moment.
Effective stuff. LSC by homicide.
Prediction: Santa Cruz
Zuri Lopez, Contributing Writer
Another defense for Leo Santa Cruz. He will be taking control of this fight from early on and will dictate the pace as well. Jesus Ruiz will have some good shots for the champ, but it will not be enough to snatch his title.
Leo will enjoy another successful defense of his title.
Prediction: Santa Cruz
Brandon Glass, Contributing Writer
Sigh…. No disrespect to Jesus Ruiz, but what the hell, man?
I know it’s really not Leo Santa Cruz’s fault, it’s business. Maybe the new Premier Boxing project on NBC is the cash cow Al Haymon has been waiting on to risk his fighters in the ring against each other. The only caveat is: if Guillermo Rigondeaux signs with Roc Nation, we can kiss that potential fight goodbye. Haymon is rumored to be against working with Roc Nation.
Santa-Cruz’s dad is already talking about Rigondeaux and his style claiming he’s a runner and doesn’t like how Rigo fights.
Its almost like he knows that’s a bad matchup for his son. Sorry for rambling. Let me get back to Saturday; I don’t doubt a fighter with Ruiz’s record has something to offer, but he won’t win this fight.
Prediction: Santa Cruz
Juan Carlos Burgos, Contributing Writer
This questionable fight will only go one way, and that’s a Leo Santa Cruz landslide.
Jesus Ruiz will need to land a Hail Mary and that’s not going to happen. Leo is on another level and he wins this easy.
There is no doubt Leo needs to step up his opposition next time out.
Prediction: Santa Cruz
Alex Burgos, Editor-in-Chief
I used to love watching Leo Santa Cruz fight. Now in days, not so much. Santa Cruz vs. Jesus Ruiz is another stupid exhibition and embarrassment. This shouldn’t be televised, let alone the co-feature of an awesome main event.
Santa Cruz should score an early knockout and then give another post-fight interview in which he proclaims that he wants to fight Guillermo Rigondeaux, Superman, Wolverine, The Lochness Monster, Jack Dempsey and any other challenger. Unfortunately, he won’t be fighting any of those beasts.
Prediction: Santa Cruz
Porfirio Barron Jr., Photographer
Leo Santa Cruz wins by split decision.
Prediction: Santa Cruz
Juan Carlos Galvez, Photographer
Leo Santa Cruz with a with a third-round KO.
Prediction: Santa Cruz
Bermane Stiverne
vs.
Deontay Wilder
Photo by Esther Lin/Showtime
Lou Catalano, Senior Writer
Deontay Wilder is somehow the favorite here, despite beating absolutely no one of note.
Bermane Stiverne will have to work his way inside, while Wilder will do what he always does–throw bombs and try to rip through his man. Except Stiverne is on another level from anyone Wilder has fought. Not that it’s hard to be on another level from comatose.
Anyway, Stiverne is too seasoned and too skilled, and Wilder is simply too sloppy. Stiverne by knockout.
Prediction: Stiverne
Lauren Pinkerton, Staff Writer
This is one of those times where who I want to win and who I think will win are two different answers.
I want Deontay Wilder to win. I like the way he thinks and holds himself, and I think he makes a good icon for the stereotypical tough heavyweight boxer image. But his past career has set him up for failure in this fight.
His past opponents are arguably not of caliber with the expertise of Bermane Stiverne, and I think that’s really going to show. Wilder’s ultimate demise, however, is keeping those darn hands down! Whether it’s him being cocky or just actually forgetting where his gloves are supposed to be, it’s too much of a flaw to enable a win in this bout.
Stiverne’s no idiot, he’s going to work this to his advantage. I’m imagining a TKO somewhere in the earlier rounds.
Prediction: Stiverne
Zuri Lopez, Contributing Writer
This is definitely a fight to watch, I’m intrigued by both fighters and their size. Deontay Wilder has the athletic body and from what we’ve seen up to now, he should have the power to put Bermane Stiverne away.
But of course Stiverne is as dangerous as they come and he will be a force to reckon with. The winner of this fight is said to get a shot at Wladimir Klitschko and I would personally like to see Wilder dethrone him.
I think this fight will be an absolute war and both fighters will be tested on the night. Wilder will need to do what he does best and go after Stiverne from the first round. If this fight gets past the fourth round, Wilder is in trouble. Stiverne will respond with powerful counter punches, which are his expertise, but will also need to go to work early to the body.
I think this fight ends with a KO. I am going to have to go with Wilder.
Prediction: Wilder
Brandon Glass, Contributing Writer
This Saturday we finally get a fight that is worth a mention in the once captivating, now mostly bland, heavyweight division. The first Haitian-born heavyweight champ, Bermane Stiverne seems focused on preparation more so than the pre-fight theatrics. On the other hand, his challenger, the WBC No. 1 ranked Deontay Wilder, has been more than vocal about taking the title and how he plans to do so to anyone within an earshot. However, I don’t think it will be as easy as Wilder has convinced himself it will be.
Wilder has good reason to be confident. He knows that he can change the course of any fight if he lands a hard shot. None of his opponents have ever made it out the fourth round, if they got that far. There’s always a catch; he hasn’t fought anyone worth bringing up. Seriously, the last time a “Bronze Bomber” fight had this kind of buzz was when he embarrassed some internet troll/boxing fraud for harassing him online.
That’s why I’m taking Stiverne. He’s got the edge in experience and he has more skills in his arsenal. Of course, this has to do with what we saw in the Chris Arreola fight. Stiverne proved he could box and could take a punch. The fight also exposed him; Arreola did his best work with Stiverne on the ropes. If Stiverne can keep Wilder in the middle of the ring without getting caught on the ropes this fight should be easy. Wilder has never really had to prove his mettle and Stiverne is the guy who can make him. Stiverne will get the TKO in Round 8.
Prediction: Stiverne
Juan Carlos Burgos, Contributing Writer
Get your popcorn ready because for however long it lasts it’s going to be fun. I’m concerned with Deontay Wilder’s lack of world class competition, but I’m also concerned with how Bermane Stiverne seems to be willing to lay on the ropes.
Stiverne must start cautiously and take Wilder into the later rounds. Wilder should to what he always does, attack and don’t give up his height and catch Stiverne with one of his long bombs. I like Stiverne surviving some rough early patches and taking out Wilder in the mid rounds.
Prediction: Stiverne
Alex Burgos, Editor-in-Chief
Everyone has that one annoying friend who always complains when Saturday night rolls around and instead of hitting the bar, you want to stay home and watch “boring boxing.” Well, call that friend up, tell him to bring a six pack of beer over, sit him down in front of the television and tell him not to blink.
This fight is what casual fans drool over. Two hard-hitting Heavyweights with disdain for another and an interest in scoring a huge knockout.
We all know the storyline by now, Deontay Wilder is the guy who has knocked everyone out, but nobody knows if he can take a punch. Stiverne is the battle-tested champion, but also the underdog.
As long as Stiverne doesn’t take his normal 15 minute coffee and donuts break on the ropes, I think he catches Wilder with something he’s never felt in the professional ranks, a real punch.
I will say this, Wilder’s best chance to win is to do what he does best, bum rush Stiverne early and try to land one of his patented slobberknockers. Here’s to hoping someone gets knocked out, at least to shut up that one friend.
Prediction: Stiverne
Porfirio Barron Jr., Photographer
Bermane Stiverne KO’s Deontay Wilder in the 10th round.
Prediction: Stiverne
Juan Carlos Galvez, Photographer
I’ve got Deontay Wilder with a fourth-round knockout.
Prediction: Stiverne
