Diaconu v. Bute at 175 ~ who wins and why?

I put this thread up in the European forum and got four replies and three votes...:?

So...let's see whether we can do better here...

I think Diaconu would have too much for Bute. Bute would be forced to come to fight and Diaconu would eventually drop him, not because Bute has a bad chin, but because of the way Diaconu attacks...Diaconu's right hook would do a lot of damage...

Diaconu TKO8...

Here's two videos to compare the two, against iron-chinned Thysse:

http://www.dailymotion.com/relevance/search/lucian%2Bbute%2Bthysse/video/x2hn9x_lucian-bute-vs-andre-thysse-33_sport

[yt]kvo1LHYcvWA[/yt]

 

We all know what Bute does well. Very good boxer-puncher. Nice counterpuncher, good footwork, athletic, good stamina...etc.

But this is why he is made for Diaconu:

1. footwork - always mentioned as one of Diaconu's weaknesses - bearlike and flat-footed; but here's the thing - Diaconu doesn't use his footwork to box and float around the ring. He uses his feet to help him close the distance on his opponent when headhunting - he does so quickly, precisely, economically, without losing balance.

Bute would counterpunch him and use his footwork to keep himself out of trouble, but he couldn't get out of trouble when Diaconu charges - here is why:

2. Diaconu uses wide loopy shots to get himself inside and to set up his very fast, precise and powerful left hooks. These loopy shots have always worked well against Bute, as Bika has shown during the first 4-5 rounds. The difference is, Diaconu is more precise, more powerful and more explosive than Bika, but less spring-like than Bika. Also, where Bika used to land a loopy right, he rarely followed up with lefts or combinations...inside, he was just lost, and had to fall back on the dark arts, thus losing all the advantage of space his loopy rights were helping him gain. Well, Diaconu follows up very well - his loopy rights would be followed by hard precise and very fast left hooks, followed by more rights and left crosses/hooks...These combos, put together precisely and explosively would definitely put Bute on his backfoot. And guess what...Bute ain't great on his backfoot...So...once inside, Diaconu would gain the upper hand, not least with his left uppercut. Bute's height would be a disadvantage inside against Diaconu. He'd try to get out of range but Diaconu would catch him with another explosive loopy shot...Bute would fall against the ropes/fall down for sure - this is not a question of chin either, but of momentum, powerpunching delivered at the right time, precisely. A couple of these KDs and Diaconu would win on points...but this is not how I see it...

3. Diaconu's defence is nothing magnificent, but it is effective. He keeps a high tight guard and bobs up and down and left to right, like a pendulum, from the mid-section. (Diaconu doesn't do headmovement)

Bute would of course try to keep the fight on the outside, and use his jab to keep Diaconu at bay. Simple counterpunching wouldn't do here...he would need to come forward too, from time to time, and move quickly right and left when he notices a theat from Diaconu, whilst maintining the jabbing action. Bute's jab, however, wouldn't do much against Diaconu...If Bute opened up some more, Diaconu would move slightly to his left and deliver a big hook to the body with his left, making Bute lose his balance.

Bute would have to exploit Diaconu's stamina problem and inathleticism for 12 full rounds to win...and even then... cannot see Diaconu headhunting explosively. The way he hits could very easily cut Bute, leading to a stoppage (my prediction).

The worst thing Bute could do is to brawl with Diaconu. Diaconu would suckerpunch him to death and drop him for sure, if he tried that...Diaconu doesn't have chin problems and inside he is very hard to hit.

Both of them have good instincts, but Bute's weariness to press his advantage would be the downfall of him against Diaconu. Diaconu has a very well developed killed instinct; he knows when the right time to strike is.

So...even though I think someone like Andrade loses to Bute, because the latter can use movement and boxing to win in a hard fight, I cannot see Bute lasting 12 rounds against Diaconu. The difference is that Diaconu is much more dangerous than Andrade, if less tough and relentless. He pouncess; he doesn't drown you, like Andrade. Bute can deal with Andrade's style with movement; he cannot deal with Diaconu's style though.

Diaconu wins by TKO.

I would pick Diaconu against everyone at 168 except Kessler and Calzaghe...although I would expect him to drop Calzaghe at least once.

He definitely beats open-defence Froch and dodgy-chinned Inkin. Andrade would give him problems, however. This is 55/45 for me...with the slightest of edges to Diaconu who does well against fighters who like to come forward swingining...Diaconu's stamina would not be such a great problem against such fighters - even one with great stamina, such as Andrade.

At 175, Dawson has what it takes to beat him, although if Dawson's chin is shakey, Diaconu should have at least a 25% chance against him. Hopkins would beat Diaconu, though. Just the wrong style for Diaconu, I think. Everyone else would have to be on top form against a top Diaconu, to win.

This is what I think, right now, anyway.:good

What do you think?

 

Good news for both Bute and Diaconu is that they have each other to spar against for their respective fights against Andrade and Dawson - there couldn't have been that many better sparring partners for each in preparation for these opponents...:-D

 

Thysse is a tough, iron chinned top journeyman who is afraid of NO ONE. He just laughed at Bute for 12 rounds, taking his best punches.

He thought Diaconu would be more of the same...Diaconu didn't see the funny side, though. He looked much more dangerous against Thysse than Bute did and he put him on his arse. Had he really gone for it, he would have stopped him.

 

Ok///let's see them and let's think more about them:good

 

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Well, Diaconu could do a lot of damage in the first couple of rounds.

Why wouldn't Diaconu make him fight on the back foot? It's the only way he can score a KD and win the fight! Bute ain't great on his backfoot because when someone follows up a good loopy right, charging forward, he doesn't know how to deal with it...it takes him a second to reset. But in that second, unlike Joppy, Bika, Andrade...etc. Diaconu has hit Bute hard with a hard left hook and followed it with a right cross - both of them precise - whilst charging forward. I can easily see Bute falling into the ropes - first KD!

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What?...Diaconu might not have a great defence on the outside, but as he comes in , he bobs down to avoid the right hook extremely well! He makes that look very easy. If Bute did hook him, Diaconu would start hitting him back and would definitely win the brawl. Bute couldn't get out of the way/regain his equilibrium fast enough as he was being pushed backwards by Diaconu's momentum ON TOP OF the thrown hook.

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I never said he was. Diaconu has better power than Bute, that's for sure. He also commits much more to the punch, which makes his punch harder. But in the end, what makes him a dangerous puncher is the explosiveness and precision of his attack - Bute wouldn't like him charging through him like that...remember, Diaconu isn't Andrade. He is precise and explosive, not relentless and tough.

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How?:huh

He would have to get on his bike for 12 rounds...his jab is not as good as Dawson's. His footwork isn't as good as Dawson's. He doesn't close in space and move out as well/quickly as Dawson...Diaconu would only have to get him a couple of times and it's game over.

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:yikes :yikes :yikes

Miranda would definitely get suckerpunched. Diaconu KO Miranda in an easy fight for Diaconu. Miranda is MADE for Diaconu. It would be a wet dream for him!:deal

Froch wouldn't want to get into a brawl with Diaconu because he is VERY susceptible to the left hook, which happens to be Diaconu's best shot. His jab is crap, his defence - open - Diaconu would not have a tough night, honestly, unless his chin is shakey and Froch gets lucky. I have no reason to believe his chin is shakey - his style of fighting suggests a good chin, anyway. Also, Froch is not half as good a boxer to outbox Diaconu on the inside. Diaconu would definitely stand up to him; he wouldn't cover up and bear it, like the rest of the journeymen and lower league contenders Froch has been in with...I fancy Diaconu in this one.
:good

 

These two will never fight. They're mates and fight for the same club.:good

This is very much a fantasy match-up, but a fascinating one, I think.

 

I agree. Pitty Diaconu doesn't do much boxing, preferring instead to jump straight to the main course - the decapitation.

 

:nono

Bute, if he survived the early rounds, would win the middle rounds, before being stopped by Diaconu in the third quarter. Bute cannot outbox a Diaconu who lands a good loopy right followed by a good hook, as he comes in. Once Diaconu gets inside, Bute is cooked! If he stands his ground and tries to brawl, he gets dropped. If he doesn't, he gets dropped onto the ropes as he's pushed backwards.

Diaconu has the kind of punching style that opens up bad cuts...