That TBA is a busy dude, He's fighting Wlad & Hopkins next I think. (J/K burning time until the fight's start)
Bute / Andrade currently under negotiation for late Fall 2009. Jeff Lacy is a likely candidate for June 19th.
Ward would be a great fight for Bute in the future. Beat a Yank who has a medal, and you've made it in America. Bute would have the home support, he'd be a poss international star. But Ward seems to want it in his hometown. Ward is fast but one handed. He's alright. In his last fight he didn't do much but jab, looked a bit like a fancy dan version of Kessler. Nowhere near ready. I don't think he's as proven as Froch or Pascal were. Pascal had beaten Ikeke. Froch had beaten Euro ranked fighters Tatevosyan, Magee, Barney (all of whom could be said to have deserved a European title). Good point on Mendy. It would be a decent quick defence for Bute.
They are four possible fights for Bute's next battle in june. If the american tv put a lot of $$$ on the table, the fight will be in the USA against Ward or Dirrell. If the american tv dont put enough $$$, then the fight will take place in Quebec city or in Montreal against Lacy or Miranda...
This website reports that it could be Bute-Bika II. http://www.ruefrontenac.com/sports/52-boxe/2191-bute-bika I'd be surprised. Bika has a tendency to price himself out of big fights.
Well, he priced himself out of a $125k offer against Andrade, in an eliminator, in Andrade's back yard. That's hardly pricing yourself out. Wasn't anything close to a serious offer.
Yeah... ...you know, the good things is that Palle actually gets on well with Interbox...so...who knows...Bute was thinking ahead for a fight with Mikkel for early 2010...:think