Lucian Bute vs. Jean Pascal RBR

His reactions to getting hit make me think he could suffer serious damage if he continues. Everyone's got a different point where they just can't handle getting hit in the head, and Bute's there.

I don't think it's as simple as there just being a mental block anymore. Physically, he literally can't take punches now. And he knows it.

 

:think

 

So, should Bute retire? The consensus seems to be settling on a Yes...

Anyone disagree? Anyone think Bute can be a real force and big-time entertaining again?

 

bute should retire. so should roy jones.

 

IDK men, I'm really disappointed of Bute's mentality cuz mine would be at least in the last 3-4 rounds to put it all on the table. Cum spunem Noi "Ori la bal ori la spital"
If I was seeing that I was loosing all, I would have swing wild, risk to punch out, do anything I could and try to take him out. You knew from the 8th round on that you had no chance on the scorecards, just go all in. That's what I would've done. Maybe I would have been Ko'ed (if hypothetically whould have been in his place, obviously having his skills)

 

Bute was definitely timid throughout the fight. It was terrible to watch.

 

...He couldn't pull the trigger and he couldn't land as much as he should have done, even when he was taking chances, imo. One thing I did like was the way he was blocking a lot of Pascal's shots to the sides of the head with his gloves.

 

What's the point, really. Even if by miracle he get's his **** together and becomes a force for one more fight, what next? What's the point really. He will always have that mental bloke there, he will always be to inactive. He can't change it now. I don't want to see him fighting gate-keepers and having troubles with them. Pascal is half-shot to, I think, and he was totally dominated by him.
It would be a sad case if he continues.

 

Really frustrating. It seems 100% mental. He still has great movement and good reflexes, so he is not shot in the real sense of the word. He could make a run for a title with a few adjustments. Still has a great base to build on.
Pascal was bracing himself for that left all night, but it ever showed up, and then it was like: 'If you're not gonna throw, might as well throw a flurry of my own'.
Wasted opportunity.

 

If only most careers were written the way novels are.

Bute seems to think he should and could have done better. He would be right in thinking that he had improved over his last fight, performance-wise. So there might be a case in saying: I'll keep going until I stop improving... no?

(Not that I think he should continue...)

 

:good

 

I'd like to be wrong and have it turn out that maybe Bute was holding back as part of a gentlemen's agreement with Pascal to set up a rematch...but looking at his resistance in the last few fight as opposed to when he was facing guys like Miranda, Bika, Johnson, and Andrade (who all have at least serviceable power) years ago, there's been too much of a decline for me to think it's a good idea.

Especially not a good idea when the top guys are Stevenson and Kovalev. The prospect of Hopkins or a "loser must retire NOW" match against Dawson might make sense if he's set on continuing and the Pascal rematch doesn't happen.

 

[COLOR="Red"] Post-fight press con...hen I did it, it worked but it was too late."

 

Good post.:good

 

So there you have it. Bute says he is not retiring - he is not even thinking of it.