WBC heavyweight champion Deontay Wilder and former world champion Bermane Stiverne went face-to-face and exchanged words onstage Thursday at the final press conference before they battle this Saturday, November 4 from Barclays Center in Brooklyn.
Former WBC heavyweight champion Bermane Stiverne believes that Wilder has been avoiding him since their first fight in 2015. A fight in which Wilder won by unanimous decision and captured Stiverne’s title. Stiverne is the only fighter to go the distance against Wilder.
“Deontay Wilder has been trying to duck me. He’s been giving a lot of excuses about my career. He should be happy if I’ve been inactive. He should be jumping in the air. Everyone knows that means he’s scared.” Stiverne said on Thursday. “He knows what time it is. He already gave me his best. I had nothing last fight. But now I’m a very dangerous man. Everyone here knows what time it is. I feel great and I feel strong. There will be no excuses this time. I can guarantee you this. I’m 100 percent this time. Deontay said he fears for my life. Well, I don’t fear for his life. I’m going to do whatever it takes to grab that title. And I’ll walk away with a smile on my face.”
Stiverne believes Wilder is the same guy he saw in their first fight:
“His last fights that I’ve watched, I haven’t seen any progress. Saturday, November 4 I will be two-time heavyweight champion of the world. No one can stop me. He can smile all he wants. But on Saturday I’m taking that belt home with me,” Stiverne said.
Presented by Premier Boxing Champions, the event features former world champion Shawn Porter taking on Adrian Granados in a welterweight world title eliminator. The three-fight SHOWTIME CHAMPIONSHIP BOXING telecast begins live at 9 p.m. ET/6 p.m. PT with unbeaten Sergey Lipinets battling Japan’s Akihiro Kondo for the vacant IBF Junior Welterweight World Championship.
Photos from Ed Diller/DiBella Entertainment
