We won't know if Bute is a hype job, until we see him fight other quality opponents.

Completely agree. IMO, there is no way to truly test yourself and stay undefeated your entire career. He took a shot against a world class fighter and lost. He very well may beat world class opposition in the future.

The jury is out on Bute, and fans should enjoy watching fighters test themselves.

 

I think he still beats every SMW outside Froch,Ward and Kessler and a good few of the top LHWs as well.
But it'll take a big big win to get past this,and like I said,I fear Bute's toughest opponent from now on will be Lucian Bute.

 

Dirrell is faster than Froch, but doesn't carry as much pop. He would be a perfect test of Bute's punch resistance. Bute would enter the ring as the puncher who could test Dirrell's heart.

I favor Dirrell on points in a competitive fight (did even prior to Saturday).

 

I agree that a fight doesn't make a fighter.

I also think that Bute was overhyped and overrated.

But just because he isn't as good as some of us thought, it doesn't mean he isn't world class - and I don't think the jury's out on that.

(sorry... not quite sure what you're asking in this thread)

 

Ah, OK. Good example. I think some of us thought Bute was as good as B+ (top world class fighter). He didn't perform at B+ level on Saturday, that is certain. Could he perform at B+ (again) in future? You're right; the jury's out on that. We'll see. Has he ever actually performed at B+ in the past? I have an opinion, but it's not for me to say anymore. Vae victis...

("Elite" to me means A-level. I've never seen a Bute fan say he was A level).

 

If he is able to make some adjustments, Bute could become one of the best of this era. Posters tend to undervalue what it truly means to be World Class: one of the best in the entire world.

A fighter is not a failure becauses he loses a close fight or two. Still not a failure if he falls short of the Hall of Fame. He might not make a P4P list, but still be very successful.

 

His career's far from over but he needs the right fights to rebuild and regain confidence. If he rematches Froch straight away I can't see any other result, and a second loss like that will be impossible to come back from. A move up in weight could help him.

 

OI!:firenono.

 

Pavlik anyone?

 

Bute on a second watch did a lot of good vs Froch but ultimatley had a very leaky defense and got stuck on the ropes too much, he also did not use the right hand enough

Froch also fought a damn near perfect fight and seemed about as motivated and determined as ever, Bute looked nervous in there at times, i would love to see if he can win a rematch

 

There's a big leap from "can fulfill what some expected" and "is a hype job". There's some middle ground in there and that's where Bute is. He was overrated by some but that doesn't mean he can't go on to have a good career. He beat Johnson easily, he beat Bika easier than Calzaghe did, he beat Miranda and a couple of other names. He also has a 'decent' resume and if he retired tomorrow he wouldn't go down as a hype job.

Maybe he has reached his potential? If so, he'll go down as a solid world champion. Not everyone is either elite or a hype job. There is room for guys like Bute who may just be 'good' and that's it.

A lot of the reactions have been completely over the top since Saturday. Bute wasn't great before the fight and he's not **** now. He's somewhere in between and will likely pick up another belt in the future.