Bute Returns to The Ring After a Controversial Win

By Boxing News - 03/11/2009 - Comments

bute5634544By Sam Gregory: On Friday March 13th, undefeated super middleweight contender Lucian Bute 23-0 with 18 KO’s will return to the ring in his hometown of Montreal to defend his IBF title for the fourth time after winning the title in Montreal on June 15th, 2007 from Sakio Bika. All of Bute’s title defenses have been fought at the same venue in Montreal using the same referee Marlon Wright; this time he will be taking on Columbian power-puncher Fulgencio Zuniga 22-3 with 19 KO’s on a special World Championship edition of ShoBox, The New Generation from Belle Centre in Montreal, Quebec.

The 6-foot-2 inch 29 year old Romanian southpaw who currently makes his home in Montreal is coming off a very controversial 12 round unanimous decision in his last title defense at the Belle Centre last October 24th against Librado Andrade 27-2.

In his title defense against Andrade last October, Bute was fading badly when he was knocked down in the 12th round. Bute barely beat referee Marlon Wright’s ten count to survive the bout and retain his IBF super middleweight title. Many ringsiders including those watching the fight on TV questioned the win along with the referee’s officiating taking note that the time that elapsed in the ten count was closer to 20 seconds…at least. Many feel referee Wright took too much time making sure Andrade found the proper neutral corner.

The fact of the matter is that Bute’s last ten fights were at the Belle Centre in Montreal and his last five fights including his three title defenses were all refereed by Marlon Wright. When this fight was being made Zuniga’s promoter, Alfredo Marchio told the Canadian press that if Marlon Wright was selected to referee the fight he would not let his fighter go on with this fight.

Marchio believes Wright played a key role in Bute’s win over Librado Andrade last October. Marchio said his fighter will finish what Andrade started.

Marchio told the Canadian press, “I certainly wouldn’t want to see the same referee; that could be a big problem. We’re here to fight. But we need to know that it will be a fair decision. I have to look at everything and protect my fighter.” Marchio said. “I think Bute is vulnerable, he continued, I believe Librado Andrade shook him up and I think Fulgencio Zuniga will finish the job.”

Bute disagrees with the promoter. He thinks he won the fight against Andrade and it didn’t matter who the referee was or who will be refereeing the next fight. Bute told the press, “I won the fight; the referee didn’t win it for me. As far as I’m concerned, the referee can come from Columbia. I don’t care. The fight will be won by what I do in the ring. I will do my work in the ring and show everyone that I deserve to remain champion.”