I for one would love to see this fight. It gives us an honest assessment of where Bute's skills really lie. If he beats Johnson convincingly then he has earned his spot in the rankings and has my full endorsement to fight the winner of the super six.
Its going to be a close one. I think Johnson will edge it he can take Butes thunder its Bute that will have trouble with Johnsons pressure and workrate. It will be a draw or a controversial win for Bute since its in Canada.
I think Bute should have to fight this one against Glen Johnson and then fight the loser of Ward vs. Froch. If he proves himself in those two fights then he deserves a shot at the winner of Ward vs. Froch.
Johnson is a good back up for Pavlik pulling out. At this point in his career Johnson can't beat guys at the top level. He'll beat guys like Mack and Green but he gets beaten by guys like Froch, Cloud, and Dawson and I think Bute belongs with the second group much more than the first. I see Johnson making it a fight but Bute should beat him in the 8-4 range. Johnson is more deserving than the other guys mentioned like Quillen and Pirog and I hope Johnson gets the fight over them but I think he matches up poorly with Bute. I haven't seen him mentioned as a Bute opponent but I'd much prefer to see Direll get the next crack at Bute but I have no idea if Showtime would be willing to give Direll another crack.
Too bad for Pavlik, I was really hyped up about that fight, other than Ward of Froch, I'm not sure I can think of a better fight for Bute. It would have been arguably an easy win for Bute, considering the style matchup, but it would have really helped build Bute's notoriety in the states and hopefully make him big enough to be able to pay the Kesslers of this world enough money to take on a fight. One thing I love about Bute's fights is you know something exiting will happen, he'll knock the guy out or get rattled, and if it goes to decision, it will definitely not be an uneventful fight.
I actually think Bute will stop him. It is really the only fight that makes sense, considering recent events. I really hope Pirog does not get this fight. Two of my favorite boxers.
I have always been fair with Bute and noted that his resume isnt bad and better than Wards. Problem is many ignorant posters dont know who the opponents are or what they have done. But G Johnson :yikes. Johnson is a glorified journeyman, deep in his 40s who has lost more at SMW than he has won. Thing is many ignorant posters rate fighters by name recognition and will call this (if he wins) Butes biggest win :-(. Terrible match up where Bute will win easy
I don't think Johnson at this age is better than Sakio Bika, whom Bute has already beaten. So yes, Bute vs Johnson would be a good fight, but no, it would not tell us much more than we already know about Bute. It will take one of Froch, Ward, Kessler and Dirrell to tell us how good Bute really is.
Johnson is an ok fight. Glenn will make bute work for it. But I agree that it will not really tell us anything we don't already know. Glenn is the level of Bika or Andrade. Still Bute had trouble with Andeades pressure in the end. But I think a 9-3 win for Bute is the safe bet. Perhaps even a KO to the body.
Bute will win by UD or maybe the first one to stop Glenncof by KO ( B-hop was a TKO) Stylewise Bute should have an easier fight then Froch had (there's no easy fight against Jonhson)