The former IBF heavyweight champion of the world vs The former WBC heavyweight of the world Take them prime for prime if you like.
We will he able to judge better after the Washington fight (which I favour Martin in). Only two real tests so far for Martin: AJ - Aj beat him early without breaking a sweat. No shame in losing to the current number 1 divison. Kownacki - Martin won the second half of fight and had it been 12 I'd favour Martin to have won as he was coming on strong late. Stiverne was vastly overrated in his prime, I mean his best wins are against the likes of Arreola and Rossy say it all.
I am by no means high on Martin, or down on AJ - but I feel like that particular fight was a legit "bad day in the office" performance. AJ was going to win, but I think Martin had more to offer in that fight than he showed and was basically over-awed.
Martin beats Stiverne every time. Though Martin is no master boxer, he can move a little, whereas Stiverne can't seem to move for shyte. Both are tough, take a good punch, but Martin's work rate is so far to superior to Stiverne's he would out punch Stiverne 3 to 1.
An ANCIENT Ray Austin was outboxing Stiverne. That's all that needs to be said. Martin would outbox him no questions asked.
Stiverne was a pretty decent fighter from around 2007-11. It's true that he did look bad against Austin, but he also got the job done. He was faded by the time he got to Arreola (was around 35 at the time) and is now in his 40s, so you can't really judge him based on the second Wilder fight. He looked okay in the first one, as it goes. He was dangerous. Martin would fold and eventually get caught, I think. But it would be an interesting fight and I can see the arguments going the other way.
I would be ashamed if I was him. Talk a big fight, dress like pound shop prince and hardly throw a punch....and get ktfo in the second round....all in front of thousands of people and millions watching worldwide. I would f****** die if that was me.
I'm not sure what the best version of Stiverne is but don't think it would be when he was actually champ.
