There was a post on here recently asking who the number 1 SMW was, either Andre Ward or Lucian Bute. I voted for Ward as he beat the man previously considered as number 1 in the division (Kessler). He also dismantled Green over 12 (although i dont think Green is in the same class as Ward, the margin of victory was impressive nonetheless). But i really cannot understand how anyone can place Bute above him. Dont get me wrong, the guy is super talented and ive enjoyed watching his recent fights, but i dont get how anyone can place him as number 1. In my opinion Froch, Dirrell and AA would all be undefeated if they had fought Bute's opponents, and Kessler would have dispatched them all as well. So can some1 please tell me how can he be considered number 1 after beating Bika, Andrade and Miranda? At best the guy should be at number 2 no?
imo he is good but he got knocked out against andrade first fight and someho got the decision id rate him at 5 after ward dirrel abraham kessler
You make a really good point. It's something that i have never really considered.... for some reason i have always given Bute a pass as the number 1 or 2 in the division. But considering the level of his competition he has to rank behind most of the super 6. Good thread
Bute just reeks of potential, so it does get a little overdone, but he is more exciting than ward. That's how I have looked at it.
I am from montreal and a bute is a bum who has he fought, u guys are clowns if u think bute can handle these other guys.
That's very intriguing. Bute reminds me of a vicious nd calculating mongoose dat understands timing, like a cobra powerful venom strike. I would pick Ward.
I agree based on the bolded portion...If you beat the man of the division then you become and thats exactly what Ward has done! Bute is very impressive no doubt, he's just getting ranked a little too high IMO.
Bute is good fighter but he doesnt deserve it to be ranked that high. the super6 fighter face up eachother so one has to lose in each fight. Bute ducks the competition. He is exciting but imo he cant be ranked higher than #6 and he has no great achievement other than hes 1-1 with Andrade
Bute is the 2nd best SMW just behind Ward. he doesn't have the quality opposition that these other guys have becasue he isn't part of the super 6, but that doesn't change the fact that the ability is there. I would probably rank Andrade and Bika above Taylor and Green at SMW anyways and also they could maybe beat Dirrell, Froch or Abraham if given the chance. Most of these super6 guys were ranked behind Bute when they entered the tournament anyways. Its like if 8 of the top10 heavyweights other than the Klitschko's entered a tournament and started fighting each other over a period of two years. They would all have better opposition during that time than the Klitschkos, but that doesn't make them any better than them. I would still have Wlad and Vitali ranked #1 and #2 if they stayed undefeated during that period.
Here's my rationale for having Bute over Ward - depth of resume. You can agree or disagree, and there's certainly a good argument for Ward at #1 at this point. It also helps that I don't think that Bute lost to Andrade under any circumstance. Yes, Marlon Wright did a poor job there, but it didn't affect the outcome of the fight. If Andrade had done that to Bute 10 seconds earlier, he would have won, but all Bute had to do was get up, and he did that before even a normal count of 10. In terms of overall wins, I'd rank them in this order: Kessler (Ward) Andrade (Bute) Andrade (Bute) Bika (Bute) Green (Ward) Berrio (Bute) Zuniga (Bute) Miranda (Both) I don't really look much deeper than that, but if you were to, Bute's deeper resume is still a lot better than Ward's (Mock, Thysse, Tatevosyan, Salem and possibly even shot Joppy are all better than Ward's next best win, which is Sugar Poo Buchanan). So Ward has the best win overall, by a long shot. But I think Bute's overall resume is still a little better. If Ward beats Dirrell, he'll pass Bute for me.
Brick, that a very fair unbias post...I can see your reasons for having Bute #1...IMO Bute resume is a little bit better than Ward as of right now...So with that being said I see your points!:good
Bute is lucky to come out that and everything....undefeated. He is lucky to not be part of the super 6 competion and face super cats...and have a real scrap. as well as the chance of losing to hometown **** as well. He is in a great position... but he should be battling some real deal worthy opponents while everyone else is. The first cat kicked out willl give him big trouble. These are guys that are going to war...heart and soul. He won't be so bravado against any of them. His respect to any of them will be his downfall. Honestly if he beats down brinkley... that is true props as well as the miranda win. Brinkley is not a paycheck cat.... Brinkley can be trouble.. tough guy that never lost it in his mind that he can be a big champ. He comes to fight. Bute is certainly in a class above him.. But this as well...will be the mustard on the dog.