Bermane Stiverne


Bermane Stiverne is a Haitian-Canadian former professional boxer who competed from 2005 to 2023. He held the World Boxing Council heavyweight title from 2014 to 2015.

Amateur career

Stiverne started boxing at the age of 19. As an amateur he won a silver medal in the super heavyweight division at the 2005 National Championships, as well as bronze in the 2003 and 2004 Championships. In international competition he beat Robert Helenius and David Price. His total amateur record was 49 wins and 10 losses. Stiverne commented about his absence from the Olympics: "In a qualifying tournament in Mexico I met a Mexican fighter in the semi-finals and I was robbed. I knocked him down three times but still they gave him the decision and the place in Olympics." That fighter was Mexican-American George Garcia.

Professional career

Early career

Stiverne turned professional under promoter Don King, and knocked out his first twelve opponents with his favoured left hook.
In 2007 he lost by TKO to Demetrice King. In January 2011, he fought and knocked out Kertson Manswell in the 2nd round. He won the vacant WBC International, vacant WBC USNBC and vacant WBA Fedelatin heavyweight titles. He fought Ray Austin on June 25, 2011 for the vacant WBC Silver heavyweight title. Stiverne won the fight by a 10-round TKO, becoming the mandatory challenger for the WBC heavyweight championship, then held by Vitali Klitschko.

WBC Heavyweight champion

Stiverne vs. Arreola II

On December 19, 2013, the WBC ordered their #1 ranked heavyweight Bermane Stiverne, and their #2 ranked heavyweight Chris Arreola to fight for the world heavyweight championship, which was vacated by Vitali Klitschko in October. The fight was an immediate rematch of their April 27, 2013 bout, which Stiverne won by unanimous decision. The title fight was scheduled for May 10, 2014, and was held at the Galen Center in Los Angeles, California. Despite beating Arreola in their previous meeting, Stiverne entered the bout as a +140 underdog, with a number of media outlets predicting an Arreola win. Stiverne won the rematch by a sixth-round technical knockout. Arreola was caught with a right hand early on in the round, and was unable to defend against the increasing volume of Stiverne, which prompted the referee to wave the fight off. Stiverne became the first Haitian-born boxer to win a world heavyweight championship. He was congratulated by notable Haitians on this accomplishment, including by the President of Haiti, Michel Martelly

Stiverne vs. Wilder

Stiverne made his first WBC heavyweight title defense against the 2008 Olympic Games bronze medalist Deontay Wilder. The fight was scheduled for January 17, 2015, and was held at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas, NV. Stiverne lost the fight by unanimous decision, with scores of 120–107, 119–108 and 118–109. Stiverne landed just 110 punches over the course of the twelve rounds, while Wilder landed 227 punches. Stiverne was hospitalized with dehydration following his title loss, but was released a few days later.

Post title reign

The cancelled Povetkin vs. Stiverne fight

In 2016, the WBC ordered mandatory challenger Alexander Povetkin to fight Stiverne for the interim WBC heavyweight title. On November 11, the WBC were informed that Stiverne had tested positive for the banned substance methylhexaneamine. Stiverne claimed he ingested a supplement without knowing that it contained the banned substance. The WBC took into account that it was Stiverne's first offence when making its ruling and fined him $75,000. Just 20 hours before the fight was to take place, the WBC withdrew its sanction of the fight stating Povetkin had failed a drug test for ostarine. Stiverne declined to fight Povetkin.

Stiverne vs. Wilder II

On November 4, 2017, Stiverne again fought Wilder for the WBC world heavyweight title. Before the fight he had remained largely inactive with only two bouts in nearly three years. At the time of the fight he was the only man to go twelve rounds with Wilder. The rematch proved to be disappointing as he was knocked unconscious in the first round. Stats showed that he only threw four punches during the entire fight, none of which connected.

Stiverne vs. Joyce

In 2019, Stiverne faced undefeated British heavyweight contender Joe Joyce on the undercard of Chris Eubank Jr. vs. James DeGale on February 23. Joyce was ranked #5 by the WBA at heavyweight. Joyce opened up by throwing power shots and pressing the opponent. The out of shape, 40 year old Stiverne had some successful counterattacks but stayed passive most of the time. The fight was stopped by the referee in the 6th round, Stiverne losing by TKO.

Stiverne vs. Bryan

On January 29, 2021, Stiverne faced WBA regular heavyweight champion and #1 WBA ranked heavyweight Trevor Bryan. Bryan managed to drop Stiverne twice, with the referee stopping the fight shortly after the second knockdown, in the middle of round eleven.

Personal life

Stiverne was born in Plaine-du-Nord, Haiti. He is the youngest of 14 children, having eight sisters and five brothers. In July 2011, he volunteered at the Welcome Hall Mission in Montreal, to offer training and inspiration to local homeless youth. Stiverne is known to be a fan of the Miami Heat.

Professional boxing record

No.ResultRecordOpponentTypeRound, timeDateLocationNotes
32LossJonathan GuidryUD10Jan 21, 2023Casino Miami, Miami, Florida, U.S.
31Loss25–5–1Trevor BryanTKO11, 1:26Jan 29, 2021Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino, Hollywood, Florida, U.S.For vacant WBA heavyweight title
30Loss25–4–1Joe JoyceTKO6, 2:20Feb 23, 2019The O2 Arena, London, EnglandFor Commonwealth and inaugural WBA heavyweight titles
29Loss25–3–1Deontay WilderKO1, 2:59Nov 4, 2017Barclays Center, New York City, New York, U.S.For WBC heavyweight title
28Win25–2–1Derric RossyUD10Nov 14, 2015The Joint, Paradise, Nevada, U.S.
27Loss24–2–1Deontay WilderUD12Jan 17, 2015MGM Grand Garden Arena, Paradise, Nevada, U.S.Lost WBC heavyweight title
26Win24–1–1Chris ArreolaTKO6, 2:02May 10, 2014Galen Center, Los Angeles, California, U.S.Won vacant WBC heavyweight title
25Win23–1–1Chris ArreolaUD12Apr 27, 2013Citizens Business Bank Arena, Ontario, California, U.S.Retained WBC Silver heavyweight title
24Win22–1–1Willie HerringUD8Apr 14, 2012Jai-Alai Fronton, Miami, Florida, U.S.
23Win21–1–1Ray AustinTKO10, 0:43Jun 25, 2011Family Arena, St. Charles, Missouri, U.S.Won vacant WBC Silver heavyweight title
22Win20–1–1Kertson ManswellTKO2, 1:52Feb 29, 2011Silverdome, Pontiac, Michigan, U.S.Won vacant WBA Fedelatin, WBC International, and WBC–USNBC heavyweight titles
21Win19–1–1Ramon HayesKO1, 2:08Nov 11, 2010Corona Theatre, Montreal, Quebec, Canada
20Win18–1–1Jerry ButlerTKO7, 1:34Oct 31, 2009Treasure Island Hotel and Casino, Paradise, Nevada, U.S.
19Draw17–1–1Charles Davis6Apr 29, 2009Scottrade Center, St. Louis, Missouri, U.S.
18Win17–1Robert Hawkins8Feb 14, 2009BankAtlantic Center, Sunrise, Florida, U.S.
17Win16–1Lyle McDowellKO1 Dec 20, 2008Hallenstadion, Zürich, Switzerland
16Win15–1Brad GregoryTKO1, 2:35Jul 11, 2008Uniprix Stadium, Montreal, Quebec, Canada
15Win14–1Jimmy HaynesKO1, 2:08Mar 27, 2008Scottrade Center, St. Louis, Missouri, U.S.
14Win13–1Edward GutierrezTKO1, 2:58Oct 6, 2007Madison Square Garden, New York City, New York, U.S.
13Loss12–1Demetrice KingTKO4, 1:59Jul 7, 2007The Arena at Harbor Yard, Bridgeport, Connecticut, U.S.
12Win12–0Earl LadsonKO3, 2:10Apr 28, 2007Foxwoods Resort Casino, Ledyard, Connecticut, U.S.
11Win11–0John ClarkTKO1, 2:59Mar 2, 2007Belterra Casino Resort & Spa, Florence, Indiana, U.S.
10Win10–0Harold SconiersKO1, 2:05Feb 3, 2007Silver Spurs Arena, Kissimmee, Florida, U.S.
9Win9–0Otis MillsTKO1, 1:48Jan 6, 2007Hard Rock Live, Hollywood, Florida, U.S.
8Win8–0Charles Brown2, 2:03Oct 7, 2006Allstate Arena, Rosemont, Illinois, U.S.
7Win7–0Franklin LawrenceTKO1, 0:57Jul 8, 2006Savvis Center, St. Louis, Missouri, U.S.
6Win6–0Marcus DearTKO3, 2:44Apr 8, 2006Thomas & Mack Center, Paradise, Nevada, U.S.
5Win5–0John TurlingtonTKO1, 2:23Jan 7, 2006Madison Square Garden, New York City, New York, U.S.
4Win4–0James HarrisonTKO1, 1:16Dec 1, 2005The Plex, North Charleston, South Carolina, U.S.
3Win3–0Gary LavenderTKO1, 2:32Oct 27, 2005The Plex, North Charleston, South Carolina, U.S.
2Win2–0Benny BlandTKO1, 1:02Sep 9, 2005The Frosted Mug, Morgantown, West Virginia, U.S.
1Win1–0Roy Matthews1, 1:26Jul 29, 2005The Plex, North Charleston, South Carolina, U.S.