How good is Bermane Stiverne?

[world ranked]

The same as every other fighter that has ever lived; the period where he was at his best. I'd say it likely ran from 2010-2015 when Wilder beat him.

Prime isn't the same for every fighter.'

Every fighter has a prime and that prime is the period when they are at their best. I'm not sure if that's what you're trying to disagree with or was it something else?

I thought you were saying that fighters reach there primes at the same age and end at the same age. I misunderstood.

[jezzamundo]

Bermane Stiverne was a legitimate Top 10 and arguable Top 5 heavyweight during a very weak era for the division.

He was overweight more often than not which affected his performances negatively. He always had excellent punching power (I'd argue he had more 1-shot power than Povetkin), decent handspeed and a good chin, which was offset by his slow feet and poor stamina. Wilder's superior athleticism - footspeed especially - coupled with his reach won him their first fight. After the first Wilder fight, Stiverne can be considered post-prime.

He gets criticism for being behind on points against Ray Austin, but I think it's actually a good come-from-behind win over a much taller and experienced opponent let's not forget that Austin held future titlist Sultan Ibragimov to a draw.

Overall I'd say he's being overrated by some and underrated by others. He definitely rates below titlists like Byrd and Ruiz, but he should get credit for decisively beating (and arguably ruining) a prime Chris Arreola.

[jamamb]

ray austin drew with ibrag 5 years earlier . and actually watch the fight, stiverne was utterly clueless for most of it. ray austin has never looked like such a polished boxer. he was jabbing stivernes head off.

and before that stiv had twice failed to beat journeymen, he really has very few good showings, although he was legit top 10 for a bit due to beating arreola.

arreola
the come from behind vs austin
derrick rossy? kerston manswell?

i think these are his best wins. some solid power but absolutely glacial feet and just a really lazy uninspiring fighter.

[MarkMcBurney]

Well, if he was named as the next opponent for Joe Joyce, I wouldn't be blown away.

Did well to win a belt but would have got nowhere near a belt in any other era. Seemed to just check out mentally after losing to Wilder and is riding the gravy train ever since.

[candyslim]

Well, if he was named as the next opponent for Joe Joyce, I wouldn't be blown away.

You wouldn't but Stiverne would ... probably in one or two rounds.

[boxing_rocks]

I can't believe that Stiverne thread got 3 pages of posts. He has never been a top 10 HW.

[jamamb]

he was for a period, for beating arreola

[snake33]

Except for a couple punches he wasn't even better than Arreolla.

[world ranked]

I can't believe that Stiverne thread got 3 pages of posts. He has never been a top 10 HW.

This is crazy after beating Arreola most considered him top 5 let alone top 10. You might personally think he wasn't but most did.

[jezzamundo]

People want to tell me, that in the time of Povetkin, Klitschko (both actually), Valuev, Ibragimov, Eddie Chambers, Maskaev, Adamek, Samuel Peter, James Toney, Tyson Fury, Jennings, Pulev, Wach, Thompson, Haye, Chagaev, Helenius that Stiverne was arguably a top 5 boxer? Lol, just lol.

In terms of how good he was - I agree he was never Top 5, but ranking him 5th after the Arreola rematch was justifiable. Of the fighters you mentioned, only Wlad, Povetkin, Fury and Pulev were clearly ahead of him. The rest were either retired or has come off losses and/or poor performances.