Stiverne vs. Wilder: Live Round-by-Round Results and Highlights

Deontay Wilder became the first American to hold a share of the heavyweight championship since Shannon Briggs in 2007, taking the WBC title from Bermane Stiverne with a one-sided unanimous decision on Saturday night in Las Vegas

Scores were 120-107, 119-108 and 118-109, all for Wilder.

Wilder (33-0, 32 KO) came out boxing early in the fight, using his long jab and straight right hand to frustrate the typically slow-starting Stiverne. He landed several huge power shots in the opening rounds, the type that stopped his previous 32 opponents, but didn’t overcommit and punch himself out trying to force a knockout.

He answered a bunch of questions about his stamina—this was his first fight past four rounds—ability to take a punch—Stiverne tagged him with a few big, heavyweight shots—and potential to beat a top-tier fighter, demonstrating an ability to rely on other facets of his game besides just power.

Stiverne (24-2-1, 21 KO) was never able to cut off the ring or force Wilder into making a crucial mistake. He was content to follow his opponent around the ring, eating a steady diet of big shots without getting off much in return.

Shockingly, there were no knockdowns in the fight, though Wilder probably could’ve been credited with one when he sent Stiverne to the mat at the bell in Round 2.

In the co-feature, Mexican dynamo Leo Santa Cruz successfully defended his WBC Super Bantamweight Championship with an eighth-round knockout of a surprisingly game but overmatched Jesus Ruiz.

Santa Cruz (29-0-1, 17 KO) appeared willing to coast his way to an easy points victory before stepping on the gas in Round 8 and forcing Kenny Bayless to halt the contest. Ruiz (32-6-5, 22 KO) remained on his feet and fighting back, but he took a large number of power shots along the ropes necessitating the stoppage.

In the opening contest, blue-chip junior welterweight prospect Amir Imam (16-0, 14 KO) survived the first knockdown of his professional career, dropping a game Fidel Maldanado Jr. (19-3, 16 KO) four times en route to a fifth-round stoppage.