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Stiverne vs. Wilder, a 12-round fight for Stiverne’s WBC Heavyweight Championship takes place at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas, is co-promoted by Don King Productions and Golden Boy Promotions and sponsored by Corona and Mexico – Live It To Believe It!.
In the 12-round co-feature, unbeaten WBC Super Bantamweight Champion Leo Santa Cruz defends against Jesus Ruiz and undefeated Amir Imam meets Fidel Maldonado Jr. in a 10-round super lightweight bout for the WBC Continental Americas Super Lightweight Title.
The event will take place at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas, Nev., and will air live on Showtime at 10:00 p.m. ET/ 7:00 p.m.
Leo Santa Cruz, WBC Super Bantamweight Champion:
“I’m 100 percent ready. I’ve been training for this fight like all of my fights. I’ve been training really hard.
“It’s not going to be an easy fight, he’s a tough fighter. A lot of guys have tried to take the belt away from me and none of them have. I know he’s hungry for the title but I’m not going to let that happen.
“I want my opponent to come ready and leave it all in the ring. I want to steal the show and be the fight of the night.’’
Jesus Ruiz, Super Bantamweight Contender:
“I want to thank everybody who helped me get this opportunity and I promise not to let you down.
“There’s a lot of naysayers out there and a lot of people who don’t know anything about me. Come Saturday I’ll have to show the world who I am. I’m not here to collect a paycheck or take a dive, I’m here to win a world title. I’m going to give everything I have on Saturday to bring that title back to Mexico.
“I’m expecting Leo Santa Cruz to come here in great shape because this is going to be a great fight. I’m going to lay it all out on the line and I promise to bring that title back to Mexico.’’
Amir Imam, Undefeated Super Lightweight Contender:
“I’m ready to put on a show for you all. I want to thank my whole team. I don’t think you know what you got yourself into, Fidel. You’re going to be the one laying on the mat come Saturday night. You’re scared and I can see it in your face.’’
Fidel Maldonado, Jr., Super Lightweight Contender:
“I know I’m not underestimating this fight but come Saturday we’ll see how it is when he’s out on the floor.’’
Don King, Hall Of Fame Promoter:
“The fact of the matter is, the heavyweight title has not been the world championship. It’s been the German championship.
“Now, the heavyweight title is back here with Bermane Stiverne and it’s great to be able to present it in the world’s capital of boxing, Las Vegas. To be at the great MGM Grand is a delight.
“Deontay is a tremendous fighter with a perfect record of 32 fights and 32 knockouts. Bermane has 21 knockouts so it’s going to be a heck of a fight.
“We want the fans to know that we are bringing boxing back to the people. That’s what really counts. The enthusiasm and passion of a promotion leads to people asking ‘when is the next one?’ That’s what we’re aiming to do here.
“This is going to be a great fight so don’t blink. Don’t go up and get any water or anything because this fight is going to be super sensational.’’
Bernard Hopkins, Future Hall Of Famer and Golden Boy Promotions Partner:
“I’m proud that Don King has been a part of my history. What I constantly hear is, ‘is boxing in a good position?’ I feel like more business people coming to boxing and making the best fights is great. Don King has laid the foundation for that. If we all think one way, we have to think about what is best for boxing.
“We know that the drought in the heavyweight division has gone on long enough and I believe that this Saturday, whoever wins this is going to be talked about. I don’t see this going 12 rounds. This is good for boxing.
“I’m here in Las Vegas, on my 50th birthday, I get to be here sharing it with Don King and all of you in this sport that I passionately love so much. This is about a sport that gave me a second chance in life. I put the challenge out to everyone in the sport, let’s do what is right for the people who buy our sport.
“I’m proud to sacrifice this time that I could be with my family to be here for this fight and be here for this sport that has done so much for me.’’
Robert Gasparri, COO of Golden Boy Promotions:
“Golden Boy Promotions is thrilled to be promoting this great card alongside legendary boxing promoter Don King. On behalf of Oscar De La Hoya and everyone at Golden Boy Promotions, I would like to thank the MGM Grand, Corona, Mexico Tourism and all the fighters that are working extremely hard to make this a successful event.
“Golden Boy wants to make the best matches and work with all the promoters, and Saturday night is no exception. This is a heavyweight title fight in America with the potential of having the first American heavyweight champion in a decade.”
Richard Sturm, President and COO MGM Resorts Entertainment and Sports:
“The 2015 Las Vegas boxing calendar kicks off Saturday night with the most anticipated heavyweight fight in the United States in a decade. We are confident that the sports fans watching will enjoy this fight card.’’
Stephan Espinoza, Executive General Manager and Vice President, Showtime Sports:
“I can’t think of a better fight to kick off this year than Stiverne vs. Wilder. It’s the most significant heavyweight fight in the U.S. in at least a decade. It’s the biggest heavyweight title fight here at the MGM Grand since Tyson-Holyfield II in 1997.
“When we talk about a Return to Glory, there’s no more history than here at the MGM and in the heavyweight division.
“We’re very proud to have this fight on Showtime and we’re very proud to be in business with these two young men. They’re both intelligent and articulate people who are great representatives for our sport. We’re proud to have these men on Showtime and we’re proud to call them Showtime fighters.
“This is a high quality card of boxing and a high quality card of young men, top to bottom.”
Jay Deas, Wilder’s Trainer and Manager:
“This is going to be a tremendous fight. Not a lot of people think about Alabama and boxing, but if you know boxing you know that Joe Louis was born in Alabama, Evander Holyfield was born in Alabama, Ernie Shavers was born in Alabama. Those guys left Alabama to get their careers going, but Deontay stayed and he’s looking to bring Alabama to the party come Saturday night.
“We know Stiverne is a great champion, we know he’s at his peak and we know that he’s at his best and that’s how it ought to be. It’s a great fight between two great heavyweights.’’
Stacy Mckinley, Imam’s Trainer :
“Amir Imam is a young version of Bernard Hopkins. You have fighters out there throwing punchers like rock em’ sock em’ robots. I took a look at this kid Imam and I knew I had to go drop everything and train him.
“Imam trains every day, all he does is train. Even when he’s walking through the mall he’s shadow boxing. He wants to be one of the greatest that’s ever lived.
“This is a young man who has the skills of Ray Robinson, the defense of Joe Gans. He also has the skills of Harry Armstrong. You put that together and there’s nothing left, that’s how he became the ‘Young Master.’
“You’re looking at the future of boxing, he’s going to be the future face of boxing. Boxing needs a superstar. Imam can fight any style and that’s why he’s The Master.‘’
