Bermane Stiverne realises dream as he becomes WBC heavyweight champion
Inspired by former champ Mike Tyson, Canadian wins vacant title left by Vitali Klitschko after pummeling Chris Arreola
Bermane Stiverne claimed the vacant World Boxing Council heavyweight title, stopping Chris Arreola to become the first fighter in years not named Klitschko to grab a share of the heavyweight crown.
The 35-year-old Canadian Stiverne knocked Arreola down twice in the sixth round before referee Jack Reiss stopped the bout at 2:02 of the round, giving Stiverne the victory in the first heavyweight championship bout on American soil since 2009.
I had a dream to be the world champion. For me it was an impossible dream but I just kept going. I didn't stop
"I had a dream to be the world champion," Stiverne said. "For me it was an impossible dream but I just kept going. I didn't stop."
Stiverne connected with a right cross to the temple that sent Arreola to the canvas for the first time early in the sixth in front of a crowd of 3,992 at the University of South California's Galen Centre arena.
Arreola's knees buckled and he stumbled several feet across the ring before going down.
Later in the round Stiverne knocked the American halfway through the ropes with a left and then finished him off with a barrage of lefts and rights in Arreola's corner.