Basically, there is an ongoing 6-7 yr war between Yvon Michel (Pascal's promoter) and Stephan Larouche (Bute's trainer). The things Michel said today at the kickoff press conference basically covered how much of a hype job Bute was in Quebec for about 4 years. He pulled no punches, and trashed Interbox the best he could. It's all over the Quebec media right now. Pascal said Bute has a "strong handshake", re: Bute's hand injury.
Unfortunately for Bute his chin is made of glass. Pascal will be all over him, knowing the guy is soft.. that is, if Bute ever gets in the ring with him, of course. Bute has ducked Pascal for years and years.
Bute's glass jaw vs Pascal's sh1t stamina If Bute's ducked Pascal 1 weight division above him, has Floyd been ducking Sergio for a while now? :think
Bute didn't duck Pascal in particular. He didn't take on any elite fights during his title run, so that obviously explains why they never fought. Besides, Pascal has been at 175 for a few years now.
I don't think Bute is to blame for the fact he didn't take big fights. He did go for Froch, who had just lost a close but definite lost agains Ward, in England. Keslser team never give Bute's team a counter offer. So basicaly Kessler ducked Bute. Bute was not invited in the S6, and when people started coming out of the tournament, some team already in didn't want Bute, so the likes of Bika and Johnson got in (Bute beated them convincingly). I really believe Bute was not 100% there against Froch, and got caught early on by one shot and then lost his feet and jugement in the ring.
What Yvon Michel from GYM said is that they want to put Interboxe out of business... He really trash talked.
I think Bute will beat Pascal. He will be better than ever. Pascal does not have any stamina...........
Bute, has so much more skill than Pascal, but that terrible glass jaw could and very possibly will get him ko'd again.
No way Bute wins, he went life and death with Grachev a year ago, been out of action with "injuries" and still has no idea what to do when he gets nailed with something. All he's done is gotten older and accumulated ring rust and surely hasn't added anything to his game.
2 schools of thought here. Bute was weight drained at 168 and needed to move up to 175 where he will be sturdier of chin and able to hang in there. With better offensive skills and better all around game, Bute targets Pascal's body and wins a solid UD or possibly a late(gas assisted) stoppage. Or Bute's chin will let him down again, regardless of the weight. Pascal will be able to hurt him and finish him, due to Bute's mediocre defense. In my eyes Bute's chin in the lynchpin element to this fight. No surprise.
Fun "neighbourhood" fight--a Romanian Pikey vs a Haiti hit man with stamina problems.Both over hyped,so it's an even match up.