14.07.08 – By Ted Sares: We will serve no wine before it’s time. — Paul Masson slogan: This Canadian born heavyweight has a KO percentage of 93.75 and an excitement factor of 100%. A little over a year ago, I said the following about him:
“From Laval, QC, Canada and now residing in Las Vegas, This heavyweight is 12-0 with all wins coming by KO. I have seen him fight twice and both times, he rendered his opponent unconscious (one was veteran Harold Sconiers).
“Stiverne moves nicely for a big man and is very athletic. He has fast hands, uses stiff jabs, nice hooks, and closes matters with a devastating right. He also possesses good defensive skills. I see him as having the entire package, but at age 30, he needs to step it up. I believe his agent is Lennox Lewis.
“As to why he was not in the Olympics, he “was robbed” in a qualifying tournament in Mexico where he knocked down his Mexican opponent three times but still “lost” the decision and the place in Olympics. [He was Canadian super heavyweight silver medalist in 2005]..
“I am going on record as predicting great things for B. WARE“
That was then and this is now–and now he is no longer undefeated having been taken out by young, fast improving, and iron-chinned Demetrice “The Next Big Thing” King on July 7, 2007 in an upset that sent shockwaves through the boxing world. Since then, however, he has won three in a row all by first round stoppage. In all, he has twelve first round wins and only 24 rounds in 16 fights–and that’s the rub. King had been in with a veritable whose-who of the Heavyweight division and had 138 rounds under his belt. It was an ambush waiting to happen.
Still, I believe the Don King promoted-Stiverne has a bright future and can add some excitement to a division badly in need of excitement. With an outstanding amateur grounding, he possesses a ring fury strikingly reminiscent of Nigel Benn and at 245-250 lbs., can render an opponent ice cold with his trademark left hook. And having Lennox Lewis as his agent is certainly no hindrance to career advancement.
Last week, Stiverne made quick work of previous unbeaten American Brad Gregory (10-1). He ended the scheduled eight-rounder with his second knockdown 2:35 into the first round. It was “B. Ware’s first fight in Montreal. Said Stiverne: “I felt good tonight. I will never let what happened to me against Demetrice King in my last fight ever happen again. The referee stopped that bout too soon. When I step in the ring, I come to hurt you now. Demetrice King needs to step back into the ring with me so we can finish what we started.”
The Need for Rounds
AsI have written before, the great bomber, Gerald McClellan, began his career with ten wins all coming by way of KO. Seven were in the first round and the other three did not go beyond two. In all, he has 13 professional rounds under his belt against terrible opposition when he met slickster Dennis “The Magician” Milton in Atlantic City on June 24, 1989. Milton was 11-2-1 coming in and was the first tough opponent McClellan had been matched against. Lo and behold, “The Magician” boxed rings around the murderous puncher, taking a PTS win over six magical rounds
Like McClellan, “B. Ware” needs to get quality rounds under his belt; he certainly needs to fight past the 4rth stanza which is his longest to date. If not, he will be taken out by another Demetrice King.
Sure, fighting a Cliff Couser, Byron Polley, or Jason “The Native American Nightmare” Nicholson type of opponent will put a notch in B. Ware’s win column, but it will only set him up for the ambush that awaits. He needs to get in there with someone like rugged Robert Hawkins who might be able to extend him into the later rounds, though I can see a fight against Michael Grant an exciting possibility.
Where is Marian “Mo” Wilson when you need him?