Stiverne shuts down Arreola in 6!
Chris “The Nightmare” Arreola (36-3, 31 KOs) stepped into the ring on Saturday night at the USC Galen Center and had his sites set on “Heavyweight History”, to be the first heavyweight of Mexican decent to be crowned world champion.
After five intense rounds, the Riverside fighter’s dreams seemed to be within reach. His opponent, Hatian born Bermane “B’Ware” Stiverne (23-1-1, 20 KOs) had given up many of the early rounds and had allowed Arreola to dictate the pace.
The 36 year old Stiverne needed something big to turn the table on an aggressive Arreola. That equalizer would come in the form of a crushing right hand that landed high on Arreola’s head in the sixth round.
Arreola, 33 would hit the deck as a result and was on shaky legs when he was allowed to continue. A follow up barrage sent a hurt Arreola stumbling to the canvas and it was all but over. Referee Jack Reiss gave Arreola plenty of time to gather his senses but he was unable to fully recover. Reiss would wave it off at 2:02 of the sixth round with Arreola on his feet but clearly done.
“I felt like I was up on the cards but once again I got caught with that right hand” said Arreola “that was the same right hand that broke my nose (in the first fight) and this time he was able to finish it off because it happened early in the round. B’ware hit me with that crushing right hand and I couldn’t recover”
Stiverne, now fighting out of Las Vegas claimed the vacant WBC heavyweight crown and cemented his place in history as the first heavyweight world champion of Hatian decent.
“ I came here with a mission because of what i’ve been through in my life. I did my homework” said Stiverne “I watched Chris, all of his tapes. That’s all I do. Watching his mistakes and how he fights, brings me here today. I prevailed because I did my homework”
On the undercard,
Undefeated Jr. middleweight Amir Imam (14-0, 12 KOs) remained unbeaten in the co-feature, defeating Yordenis Ugas (15-3, 7 KOs) by unanimous decision after eight rounds. Imam was rocked twice early on in the bout but boxed smart and stunned Ugas in the second half with big right hands. Imam would earn scores of 79-73, 78-74 and 78-74 for the win.
San Antonio’s Mario Barrios (4-0, 1 KO) won a wide unanimous decision over a scrappy Jaxel Marrero (1-3-1) of Puerto Rico. All three judges would see it the same with scores of 40-36.
Heavyweight Razvan Cojanu (10-1, 4 KOs) stopped Rodrick Ray (5-7, 2 KOs) in the fifth round of a scheduled six. A left hook to the body dropped Ray to the canvas and a follow up barrage ended it. Referee Ray Corona would step in and save Ray at 2:51, saving him from further punishment.
Middleweight Caleb Hunter Plant (1-0, 1 KO) made his professional debut in spectacular fashion, scoring a one-punch knockout over Travis Davidson (2-3, 2 KOs) in the opening round of a scheduled four. It was less than a minute into the first round when a single shot sent Davidson to the canvas and nearly through the ropes. Referee Zach Young began a count but chose to wave it off before ten.
Cruiserweight Bj Flores (28-1-1, 18 KOs) kicked off the night of action, returning to the ring after a year and a half lay-off to score a first round KO over Adam Collins (12-9, 8 KOs). Referee Ray corona would reach the count of ten with Collins laid out on the canvas. Official time was 1:58.