<:><:><:> ASK the EXPERTS! <:><:><:>

They consult the thread regularly either to glory in the fact that they have been recognised by the masses as experts in a certain area or to tut-tut because certain questions have not been fielded in their direction.

Still, no one is under any moral obligation to answer a question addressed to them, but anyone, if they feel they have a very good answer to a certain question can step in and deliver the goods, or, if they have been directly asked to give an answer, do the best they can in answering it. :good

 

I am by no means an expert on the SMW division. :nono There are at least 15-20 posters with considerably more expertise...

However, I DO take an inordinately large interest in it. It's a strong division and some of my favourites - Joe, Mikkel and, not least, Lucian, fight in it!

Only serious questions from now on, please!

 

Maxime and sean are the people to ask about Lucian Bute.

As for me, I know Lucian himself is realistic. He recently said that he needed a good couple of fights before he could compete with the likes of Joe and Mikkel. He was right! At the moment, they would beat him badly and he doesn't pretend otherwise.

I was impressed with him during the Bika fight - he figured Bika in the end and dominated him in the last three rounds, but it was a close fight. I thought I would see more of an improvement from him against Berrio, though. I was disappointed slightly by his relative lack of speed, poor defense and lack of stamina. I also thought he was a bit overcautious and held too much.

In hindsight, I think I was a bit harsh on him. He is intelligent and careful. From his point of view, there was no doubt he would find an opening to hurt Berrio, so he was biding his time, taking no unnecessary risks against a dangerous opponent in his first title fight.

Lucian Bute has good speed, good movement, good footwork, is a good counterpuncher, knows to hit to the body and is flexible. Most importantly, he is intelligent and hungry.

I think he will get better, but don't expect (like I did) to see miracles from one fight to another...within as little as 4 months. Bute will be 28 in February. He has only fought 21 fights. So far, he has progressed well. 2008 is a year Lucian Bute and his trainer, Stephane Larouche, have set aside to let him grow and learn some more. They will not push him against someone more dangerous than Andrade/ Lacy. In 2009, I think we should expect to see Lucian go for someone more dangerous, maybe in a unification fight? Maybe against Kessler?

Lucian is disciplined and sticks to a gameplan, but is also flexible enough to figure out an opponent with a view to dominating them in the latter rounds. The reason he is so cautious is, I think, because he was stopped by Golovkin in the 2003 WC...when, being behind on the cards, instead of biding his time, he pushed too hard and got caught. He won't repeat that mistake again! That is why a one punch KO fighter would not have an easy time stopping him these days.

Bute is cautious, but he has heart! He would get up off the canvas and do his best to finish his opponent with his last bit of strength. He would never give up or settle for second best.

In any case, the reason why I am a Lucian Bute fan is not because of his talent or boxing skills, but because of his character as a man. He wants to be the best he can be and to fight the best, win or lose, he doesn't talk any opponents down, he doesn't talk trash...Besides, he is a very nice guy (modest, humble, kind and true)!

I think these moral qualities are ultimately the key to his success.Once he moves into his prime I expect he will dare to be great and fight the best out there, win or lose, for glory, ducking no one.

Lucian Bute is good for boxing. Let's hope he will continue to be so in the future too.

His next fight will be on the 29th of February, in Montreal.

 

DanePugilist, boxfan99, Faetter_BR, Half-Dane, what news of Mikkel Kessler? How is he? What are his plans, etc.?

 

I have only heard of Mads a couple of times...am the worst person to ask...the Danish posters and sean should know, though!:yep