Former WBC world heavyweight champion Bermane Stiverne (25-4-1) knows a thing or two about facing the current WBC champ Deontay Wilder (40-0-1). Back in 2015, Stiverne had his first title defense since capturing the vacant green and gold belt and the man in the other corner was Wilder.
Deontay Wilder: "I would love to smash Dillian Whyte. Did you see Stiverne? That would be Dillian Whyte all over again." pic.twitter.com/LcmxMTFMD4
— bet365 (@bet365) November 7, 2017
The 33-year-old from Alabama came up victorious after a UD. Two and a half years later Stiverne had his rematch with “The Bronze Bomber”, but the 40-year-old got demolished in the first round after three knockdowns.
Now, year and a half after their last fight, Stiverne is adamant that Wilder has been using a secret weapon. After an operation to treat an accident Wilder had metal rods inserted in his arm and Stiverne is claiming that Wilder used a forearm smash to secure his knockout victory over him when they fought in 2017.
“It was a forearm behind the head and I just couldn’t recuperate,” Stiverne said. “He threw a combination with the jab and the right hand. I went down. I went down because I wanted to gain time. Tried to shake it off. I got up. I was just hurt.
“If you look at his fight with Ortiz, he did the same thing. Forearm behind the head. We all know with the accident he had with the motorcycle, he’s got a metal plate. He used it.
“But hey what can I say, it’s part of the game. I just wish that it would be more something that the referee should look at. The way he uses his forearm”, Stiverne said.
