Bute: Froch was so slow; I want a rematch

By Boxing News - 05/30/2012 - Comments

Image: Bute: Froch was so slow; I want a rematchBy Scott Gilfoid: Former IBF super middleweight champion Lucian Bute (30-1, 24 KO’s) is waiting for his rematch against Carl Froch (29-2, 21 KO’s) to prove that his loss to him was merely the result of bad fight tactics.

Bute doesn’t understand why he lost to a fighter as slow as Froch, because he says he could see his punches coming but he just couldn’t get out of the way of them because he was backed against the ropes.

Bute told sport.hotnews.ro, “I simply froze. I can’t understand how I could have decided to go against the ropes. I’ve lost control as everyone could see. Then, after every round, I was telling myself I could get back into the fight; I hoped I could! He caught me even though he was slow. I could see what he was doing, but still couldn’t react or do something. There’s a rematch clause in the contract, and I am awaiting that rematch.”

Well, let me explain for Bute because he obviously is still emotionally upset from losing to a fighter that he was supposed to dominate with ease the same way that the talented Andre Ward did last December. You see Bute couldn’t get out of the way of Froch’s painfully slow punches because he backed himself up against the ropes.

Bute doesn’t have the great ducking skills that Ward and Andre Dirrell have, so he was trapped like a wounded duck against the ropes with nowhere to go. Bute should have had the sense to stay off the ropes because a veteran champion like him should know these things. But it looks like he got a little cocky because he’d been going to the ropes against the mediocre opposition he’d been facing for the past six years, and they couldn’t do much against him when he was in that position. Froch could because he thrives on tagging guys when they’re trapped. It’s too bad Bute didn’t get a clue because he would have probably whipped Froch in the middle of the round. Dirrell was able to get the better of Froch against the ropes or in the center of the ring, but he was virtually un-hittable by Froch, because of his marvelous defensive skills. Bute doesn’t have that kind of talent on defense. He’s strictly a power puncher who likes to set traps for his victims.

Bute continued “I had all the time in the world to move in the ring because Carl was slow, but I cannot understand why I didn’t get out of the way of his punches. If I had wanted to I could have got on my bike all fight.”

That’s what Bute should have done. He should have got on his bike and played the old hit and run with Froch, and he’d have royally spanked him. Why Bute wanted to hang out on the ropes I’ll never know, but I imagine he’s learned a big lesson from this. Never fight against the ropes against a slow guy like Froch, because you’re giving him the only chance he really has in winning. He made it too easy for Froch and now he’s bellyaching about his loss. I hate that. Bute would have won the fight if he had fought the way he normally does by moving and punching, but he wanted to lay on the ropes. Look what it did for him.



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