Big heavyweight Joe Joyce stops Bermane Stiverne

A few days ago, Joe Joyce remarked that he wouldn’t knock Bermane Stiverne out as quickly as Deontay Wilder. The WBC champion did it one round. Stiverne, 40, said that Joyce wasn’t ready for a fighter of his caliber.

The 6-foot-6-inch Joyce’s prediction was closer to the truth. He didn’t knock Stiverne out in the opening round. Took a little longer. Five rounds to be exact. Joyce sent Stiverne into oblivion in round six at the O2 Arena in London, Eng. Saturday night.

The fight was hardly artisic.

Joyce (8-0, 8 KOs) walked after Stiverne (25-4-1, 21 KOs) in the first round. He jabbed and landed some good combinations. Stiverne looked to counter. He managed to land a few right hands, but Joyce took them well. Joyce unloaded on Stiverne in round two. He landed everything but the kitchen sink.

Stiverne staggered back into the ropes. His eyes were glassy-his movements slow. Joyce was gassed from hitting Stiverne at the end of the round. Joyce went right after Stiverne in the next stanza.

A right hand put Stiverne down for a count of two. He got up punching. Joyce kept throwing shots right down the middle. The punches weren’t very fast or powerful. Stiverne went to the body. Joyce even fired a bolo punch that landed. Joyce kept busy in round four. He stuck out his long jab. Stiverne wasn’t punching much. He landed a wide left, but little else. Joyce worked him over with blows to the head and body.

The beatdown continued in round five. Joyce used angles and fired punches. Stiverne was more punching bag than boxer. His only chance was to counter, but he had nothing. Joyce did more work in round six. He landed a big left hook that caused Stiverne to stumble. A number of punches rained down on Stiverne until referee Howard Foster stepped in and waved the fight off.

The time was 2:20 seconds into round six.