~~~The Lightning Lucian Bute Battleship~~~

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Six questions for Lucian Bute

Wednesday, March 11, 2009

Since Joe Calzaghe left the super middleweight division behind for light heavyweight and then retirement, the 168-pound division has been without a king.

Denmark's Mikkel Kessler, whom Calzaghe dominated in their 2007 megafight, later regained a belt and is viewed by many as the No. 1 guy. But he has been fighting with his promoter and has no bouts on the horizon. When he has fought, he has faced woeful opposition.

England's Carl Froch also holds a belt after winning one that Calzaghe vacated, and he is set for his first defense April 25 on Showtime. He'll face former undisputed middleweight champion Jermain Taylor, who is now at super middleweight, and another fighter who could someday rule the division.

Another of the titleholders is Karoly Balzsay of Hungary. He claimed his belt in January from Denis Inkin, who previously had won another of Calzaghe's vacant titles. Balzsay will make his first defense April 25 in Germany.

With so much upheaval in the division since Calzaghe's exit, Lucian Bute is the longest-tenured titleholder. The Romanian-born, Montreal-based Bute claimed his belt via a spectacular 11th-round knockout of Alejandro Berrio in October 2007 and has made two defenses: a punishing 10th-round stoppage of former middleweight titleholder William Joppy in February 2008 and a decision win against quality contender Librado Andrade in October. Their fight was tinged with controversy because of Andrade's near knockout of Bute in the final seconds of the fight. Many believe that referee Marlon Wright's slow actions during the knockdown helped Bute survive.

Bute will return from that near calamity to make his third defense against rough Fulgencio Zuniga (who lost a competitive decision to Inkin for a vacant belt in September). They'll meet on Friday at the Montreal's Bell Centre, where Bute will fight his 11th consecutive bout. Showtime, which also covered Bute-Andrade, will have live coverage in the U.S. on a special edition of "ShoBox: The New Generation" (11 p.m. ET/PT).

Showtime also will air Froch-Taylor next month and has been televising bouts involving Andre Dirrell and Andre Ward, two of the rising stars of the division. The network has made it clear it wants to be heavily involved in the talent-rich 168-pound division.

With a few more notable victories, Bute could separate himself from the pack of hopeful super middleweight kings. Heading into Friday's fight, he answered a few questions for Showtime. Here's what Bute had to say:

Question: How important is Friday night's fight to you and the people of Montreal?

Bute: Montreal has become my second native land. I came here to fight my pro debut and just fell in love with the people and the culture. We're going to keep bringing the major, major championship fights to Montreal because I know the main thing that we are doing here is selling out, and that is something not too many promoters can do in other places. This is a tough time for many with the economy where it's at, but boxing still remains an important part of everyday life in Montreal.

I like being on Showtime, and I like being on TV. That's the way you build up to the big fights. You have to make your name in America. To make the big money, you have to be involved in the big fights, and Showtime and "ShoBox" are giving me that opportunity now.

Question: Do you feel like fighting in Montreal gives you a clear-cut advantage in your fights?

Bute: When you are fighting at home, there are some slight advantages, but once that bell sounds, there is no one that can help you but yourself. Sure, the arena is packed, and they are screaming your name, but no one can help you. You are all by yourself, and you have to perform. Between the ropes, there is no more advantage.

Question: What do you think about Zuniga?

Bute: I've been watching Zuniga's fights on tape, especially his last three fights. Of course, I saw his fight against Denis Inkin. It was a really, really close fight, and I even thought Zuniga won the fight. But the fight was in Germany. I do think that if that fight was in America that Zuniga would have been declared the champion.

I also have watched his fight three years ago against David Lopez, who like me is a southpaw. He was beating him until the final round, when Zuniga knocked him out. That just shows me how much heart Zuniga has. He will never quit in a fight, especially a title fight. I also saw his fight against Victor Oganov. I feel like I've got the speed on my side. I've got the boxing ability, and I will make sure we will keep fighting on my level. At my level, speed kills.

Question: Can you compare Zuniga to your last opponent, Librado Andrade?

Bute: They are a little similar. I would say that Andrade is a busier fighter and physically a little bit stronger. In fact, probably quite a bit stronger. But on the second punch, Zuniga is probably quite a bit stronger. He has more power on every single punch than Andrade does.

Question: Many call your win over Andrade controversial because of what happened at the end of the fight. What are your thoughts about the way the fight ended?

Bute: I think it was not a mistake on my part. I just got so tired in that last round. A 126-pounder could have knocked me out, I was so tired. I learned from that experience. When I went down, there were four seconds left in the fight, so all I needed to do was stand up. There were eight seconds when I got to one leg. Whether the ref told Andrade to go back to his corner or not, it's irrelevant because with just four seconds left in the fight, I knew he couldn't hit me anymore. So I think the referee did the right thing.

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:happy:happy:happy:happy:happy

 

Is it just me or you guys like that new attitude in Lucian? This must be the first time Bute has fire in his eyes and look pissed-off. If there was one thing I could't understand about this guy it was his kindness. All the time, with everybody, even his opponent before and after a fight.

It's now time to show the meaness a Champion boxer needs to survive in the jungle of boxing. After all, the ending of the last fight may be a turnpoint in Bute's career. The fear of loosing, plus the agressive attitude could help him be a better boxer, when time comes to face Andrade again and Kessler a little later. Hope I'm right!!!!

Make us proud, show the world you are the man!!

:fireGo Lucian Go:fire

 

I can't wait till tonight!!!!!!Fight is gonna be great!
GO BUTE!!!:vonnecunt:bananamaniacarty

 

I like indeed to see fire in his eyes. Not that he was kind in the ring. Against Berrio, we saw that he is not. There was no pity when he finished him. And anytime he gets hit, Lucian gets mad. Yesterday, at the weight-in, a reporter asked Larouche if he wishes Lucian to get hit early in the fight, to see how he reacts. Larouche just told he perfectly knows how Bute reacts when he gets hit. When it happens in training, he gets really mad. We may have a non accurate perception of Lucian, of his kindness. He's mad when he has to. But this time, he's even angry before the fight and that makes it exciting. I hope he stays calm though when the bell rings.

By the way, on CKAC this morning, Larouche said Bute would use all his arsenal, a thing he didn't do against Andrade. He will go to the body.

War Lucian! :fire

 

Decebal and Thunder, is there something different in the Romanian press?

It was fun to hear so much romanian yesterday at the weight-in. It looked more international, french, english, romanian and spanish.

 

There ain't much that hasn't been already said.There are a few articles.Some more interesting lines of Bute:
''I move faster than he does a lot.My speed will make the difference.It will make victims.He will leave with his 4th loss..
Bute about the ref:''They could put a colombian ref,I don't have nothing against it''.
About Andrade vs Tsypko:''I'd wish Andrade would win.We have unfinished business.''

 

[GV][/GV]

Thanks!

 

Bute looks **** off when the journalist ask him about the end of andrade fight , the look on Lucian face was priceless!!

now its time for serious buisness!!

OHÉ OHÉ OHÉ OHÉ OOHÉ OOHÉ!!

 

I hope Bute whoops Zuniga to bits.

He's a really good guy with a big heart, and that left of his is mean business.

 

Morning weight-in went well: Bute 177.15 - Zuniga 176

It's on for tonight!!!

 

I didnt know this was a LHW fight.

 

Good,I was thinking Bute would force the 178 lb limit.
@ MrMagic what do you mean?The IBF just has this same day weigh-ins in which they must be no more than 178(10 lbs over 168 limit).