Page 18 - ARUBA TODAY

A18 SPORTS
Saturday 4 November 2017
Wilder wants to get rid of Stiverne, then unify heavyweights

By BARRY WILNER If that is his plan, then sign
AP Sports Writer the deal. That’s all it takes
NEW YORK (AP) — Deon- to make it happen. Next
tay Wilder is steamed. And fight, we’ll make it hap-
drained. And very, very ea- pen. But he doesn’t want
ger. to fight me, period.”
All of those descriptions England’s Joshua just
are delivered by the WBC stopped journeyman Car-
heavyweight champion los Takam in 10 not particu-
himself as he prepares to larly impressive rounds to
fight Bermane Stiverne on keep his WBA and IBF belts.
Saturday night at Barclays The other heavyweight
Center. champ, Joseph Parker of
Wilder is 38-0 with 37 knock- New Zealand, owns the
outs. The only opponent WBO crown. Wilder says
who went the distance boxing fans are confused
with him is Stiverne, whom about so many champi-
Wilder outpointed for the ons, and he is doing a ser-
belt in 2015. vice to the sport by unify-
Since, Wilder has stopped ing.
five others in defense of Should Wilder handle Sti-
the title, but the fact that In this Jan. 17, 2015, file photo, Deontay Wilder, left, punches Bermane Stiverne during their WBC verne in the Showtime
Stiverne was standing heavyweight championship boxing match in Las Vegas. Associated Press main event Saturday night,
at the end of their previ- he won’t be satisfied if it
ous bout has the champ against me. He was noth- now I’m a very dangerous promotion of this fight has isn’t by knockout.
“steamed.” ing but a lot of lumps and man. Everyone here knows been on his shoulders. He’s He wants to put on a show,
Add that Stiverne has excuses after the first fight.” what time it is. Deontay crisscrossed the country particularly with a UFC
claimed many times he Stiverne, naturally, dis- Wilder has been trying to drumming up interest, and card taking place in New
was not at peak health agrees. duck me. He’s been giving he’s ready to finish his busi- York the same night.
for that fight, and Wilder “He already gave me his a lot of excuses about my ness for 2017 and get on “This will be an electrifying
shakes his head in disgust. best,” says Stiverne (25-2- career. He should be hap- with unification next year. fight,” Wilder says. “That
“Stiverne was the only man 1, 20 KOs), who turned 39 py if I’ve been inactive. For that, Wilder adds, he belt isn’t going anywhere.
to survive the ‘Alabama on Wednesday and hasn’t He should be jumping in can’t wait. I will unify the division. I will
Slammer’ and avoid a fought in two years. He is the air. “I’ve promised I will unify be the undefeated, undis-
knockout,” the 32-year-old stepping in for Luis Ortiz, Everyone knows that the heavyweight titles and I puted heavyweight cham-
native of Tuscaloosa says. who was disqualified by means he’s scared.” will,” he says. “Those others, pion of the world.”
“When I knock him out, the sanctioning body when Rather than scared, Wilder (Anthony) Joshua, have The undercard features
then nobody will be able he had a positive drug test. sounds weary. other plans. I don’t think he one of the area’s favorites,
to say they made it through “I had nothing last fight. But He notes that the entire has the motivation to unify. Shawn Porter, who faces
Adrian Granados in a wel-
terweight matchup. Por-
ter probably has the best
resume of anyone on the
card, and previous fights
at Barclays against Keith
Thurman, Devon Alexan-
der and Andre Berto make
the former world champ a
solid draw.
What most impresses Por-
ter (27-2-1, 17 knockouts)
about Granados (18-5-
2)? Well, at the final news
conference for the bouts,
the always-dapper Porter
complimented Granados
on his fine clothing.
“The respect that Grana-
dos and I have for each
other, that’s what boxing is
all about,” Porter says.
“It’s about getting in the
ring and competing. We
wanted someone that was
going to come here and
fight me.
We didn’t want someone
who was going to run or
lay down.
We want to close the year
out in fantastic form, and
the best way to do that is
by facing Granados.”q