LAS VEGAS, NV- Although he has lived in Las Vegas for the past decade, Bermane "B. Ware" Stiverne (24-1, 21 KOs) is extremely proud to be the first world heavyweight champion from his native Haiti, as well as the first from the Province of Quebec to hold that coveted title.
Today, Stiverne is a role model in his native Haiti, as well as in his second home, Quebec, where he trained for many years as an amateur and professional, in addition to fighting in Montreal twice as a pro.
Stiverne makes the first defense of his World Boxing Council (WBC) heavyweight title, which he captured last May with an impressive sixth-round technical knockout of dangerous Chris Arreola (35-4), this Saturday night (Jan. 17) against undefeated, mandatory challenger Deontay "The Bronze Bomber" Wilder (32-0, 32 KOs), airing live on Showtime Championship Boxing (10 p.m. ET/7 p.m. PT) from MGM Grand in Las Vegas. Stiverne-Wilder is also airing live in Canada on TVA Sports.
Born in Haiti as the youngest boy and 11th of 13 children, "B. Ware" moved with his family at the age of 10 to Miami, where, ironically, he was bullied at school. He resettled in Montreal, Quebec, often going back and forth between there and Miami, before moving to Las Vegas in 2004.
"I've lived here in the United States since 1988," Stiverne said. "My parents moved to Miami and then back and forth between Miami and Montreal. After school, when I was older, I moved to Las Vegas to pursue my boxing career.
"I represent the country I was born in, Haiti, and then Quebec, but I also love the United States. But, first, I'm from Haiti and I want to give hope to those Haitians who don't have a lot. I want to inspire people there by letting them know it doesn't matter where you are born, that dreams can come true like it has for me. There aren't a lot of opportunities there and I hope Haitians pursue their dreams like I did."
"I know how proud Bermane is to be the first Haitian and first guy from Quebec to be heavyweight champion of the world," Stiverne's manager Camille Estephan added. "It really means the world to him. Quebec is a hotbed for boxing and the heavyweight division is the flagship of boxing. We've proven that and silenced those who say boxing is dying. The record number of media credentials request for this fight at an international level is crazy."
"B. Ware" of Stiverne!
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