Zuniga was suppose to fight Pascal last year. Pascal pulled out to fight Froch for the WBC vacant title. Zuniga was then suppose to fight Stevenson who also pulled out. He was then suppose to fight Sebastien Demers. But this time it was Zuniga who pulled out of the fight at the last minute. Later, Zuniga came to Montreal to spar with Bute (leading to the Andrade fight). Zuniga spent only a week in camp with Bute before he got a call to fight Inkin for the vacant WBO title on 2 weeks notice. I'm not sure if that's all accurate. :rofl
I'm almost sure he was denied entry because of some sort of blood borne disease... I'll have to pull Boo in. He'd probably remember. Maybe I'm thinking he got screwed out of a shot at AA when he was the number one mando. Like you point out, this can all run together.
That's exactly what I remember too. It's interesting that Lacy was rejected by the US TV. It's about time. At least, this time, Zuniga will have proper time to train for a championship fight.
I suppose it will be on Showtime. They said they wanted to broadcast a lot o SMW fights. Bute-Zuniga will be good to promote Bute-Andrade II, if both fighters win their fight.
Zuniga did pull out of the Demer's fight due to a blood borne virus. He could not get a passport until the virus thing got cleared. Zuniga was also denied a shot at Abraham when he was the rightful mandatory. For reasons that no one has ever even tried to explain AA was allowed to defend against the great Elvyn Ayala. (Zuniga can bang, but Ayla had a KO ratio around 36%. Do the math.) Fulgencio Zuniga is a good contender. His losses were: Santos at 154, a weight he should have probably never been fighting at. Pavlik at 160; up until the Taylor rematch Zuniga lasted longer and pushed Kelly harder than anyone else. And then the loss to Inkin; a fight he took on pretty short notice. Anyone who is interested in seeing Zuniga at his best should watch him against Pavlik, Zertuche X 2, and Oganov.
I'll have to watch more of Bute, and trust me I will. I think Zuniga is a deserving contender. He gives his all, ducks no one, and his fights are usually pretty entertaining. He had the IBO belt at 168. He did not lose it. I'm uncertain whether he vacated or got stripped during the period of inactivity after Oganov. Anyhow, I'd love to see him win a "major" title even if he doesn't keep it long.
Well, for myself I'll have to watch more fights of Zuniga. I remember many posts saying the guy diserves a shot. I prefer Zuniga rather than Larsen or Lacy.
OK. Thanks. I think I see where I got confused. Demers is Canadian, but it was some minor title involved?
He's only been Ko'd once by Pavlik but that was @160, he should be more sturdy @68. This will be good fight he's hard hitting Columbian
People can't say that Bute has no balls. Facing a big puncher like Zuniga after what happened in his last fight.