Mikkel Kessler vs Bute

Kessler's team offered Bute a shot at their title 3 years ago, and Bute's manager said "Lucian is not ready to fight a great champion like Kessler". Bute was 28 years old at the time. Soon, they'll say he's too old.

 

I agree that Showtime wants the fight. Sure. Still a lot of things can go wrong. Maybe Bute can get Pavlik who'll be easier and arguably give Bute greater recognition in the US? Maybe Kessler, who wants to be undisputed, goes for Stieglitz, which will also be easier, to get a belt before exercising his right to fight the WBC champion?

The dane in me will be happy and content with the second path. The hardcore boxingfan in me prefers the best match-up which is clearly the first part.



As far as Dirrell goes I think it's safe to say that he is persona-non-grata in Showtime boss Ken Hershmans eyes. That stunt Dirrell pulled will not soon be forgotten. Had he been more open about his injury it might have been another matter, but the way it played out was much to suspicious to just let go.

 

A prime Kessler KO's Bute, this version of Kessler I'd have to take Bute by close decision...

 

With Showtime presenting the Kessler-Bouadlia fight, it gives us an indication that Kessler-Bute may be already a done deal.

 

Who knows?

Maybe Showtime just feel they need to pay back Kessler a little for generously vacating the WBC belt to keep it in the s6 tournament? Or maybe they just genuinely feel that Kessler is an exiting fighter that they like to have on their show?

 

... on second thoughts I am not sure at all that the fight is a done deal as you suggest. If it was surely Kessler would have fought southpaw canadian St.Juste in his comeback instead of the Brouadla, who's only known for performing well against Golovkin (who KTFO Bute in the AM's).

 

There was nothing from Bute's last showing to make a fighter like Kessler, who has proven to take difficult fights so often, to be scared. Bute didn't show his best last time out because the opponent wasn't enough to motivate him. I personaly think he was KO'd the first time against Andrade but he did destroy him in the rematch. Bute's a class act imo and he would have gladly have taken part in the S6 IMO. I think he'd of been a better contestant than half of the guys who were given the chance too.

 

You personally think he was KOed?
If he hadn't gotten up, he would have been KOed. No one disputes that.
But he did, in under 8 seconds. Isn't that worth anything? Getting up in less than 8 seconds, even though still woozy, is the exact same thing as not getting up at all to you?
Now about the wooziness, that could have warranted a stoppage.
But the match was over. There was nothing to be stopped. He went down with 2 seconds to go. When he was up 8 seconds later, the fight had been over by 6 seconds.
So the fight went to the scorecards. Nothing wrong with that. Bute got up from being knocked down and time had expired. It would have been a travesty if it HADN'T gone to the scorecards. Can you imagine? Guy puts a clinic for 11 1/2 rounds, gets caught, and doesn't get to see the cards even though he gets up from the knockdown.