By Scott Gilfoid: In comparing International Boxing Federation super middleweight champion Lucian Bute (25-0, 20 KO’s) with the younger and faster super middleweights in the division like Andre Ward and Andre Dirrell, I don’t see how or why Bute is still ranked number #1 in The Ring pound for pound rankings. I don’t see Bute as a number #1 fighter, not after looking at how badly be performed in his fight with Librado Andrade in 2008. Bute was lucky to have escaped from that fight without being knocked out in the 12th round after having been dropped by Andrade late in the round.
Bute was able to make it out of the fight, which took place in Montreal, without losing it but I saw that as a loss on his record. Like a lot of things, boxing is slow to change rankings for a fighter until long after boxing fans have come to realize that a fighter is no longer the number #1 guy. I think Bute, for a short period, was perhaps the top fighter in the super middleweight division, but since 2009, I don’t feel that way. I think Ward is a much better fighter than Bute, and I think Ward dominate and stop Bute when/if they ever fight.
I doubt that they ever will fight, though, because I suspect that Bute will be kept away from a talented fighter like Ward for the remainder of his career. I bet I’m right on this. But I also think Andre Dirrell, the talented number #2 ranked World Boxing Council ranked super middleweight would also beat Bute if given the chance. Dirrell is good at everything that Bute is good at: moving around the ring, making his opponents miss and landing with speed.
Bute wouldn’t be to hit and run against Dirrell, because when Bute would come in with his hands down by his sides trying to land, Dirrell, with his quicker hands, would land first and that would upset Bute’s timing entirely. Bute is used to being the faster fighter, and has mainly fought slower guys that he could look good against. But against Dirrell or Ward, Bute would be a lot slower and with his hit and run style, he’d be getting picked apart both coming and going.
Bute wouldn’t be able to play his game of tag with the likes of Dirrell and Ward, because both of them are faster on their feet and younger than Bute, and would go after him immediately peppering him with shots as he retreats around the ring. I see Bute as a good European fighter, who has more or less adopted an American style of fighting by copying greats like Roy Jones Jr. and Floyd Mayweather Jr.
Bute has found success, albeit against limited opposition. The best opponents that Bute has faced have been Andrade (who probably should have beaten him), Fulgencio Zuniga, Sakio Bika, Alejandro Berrio and William Joppy. That’s it. Those are the best fighters that Bute has fought during his seven year pro career. Those are guys that obviously are tailor made for Bute and were able to make him look good.
However, Dirrell and Ward a lot better than those guys in my view and I think Bute is way too hyped for the type of competition that he has been put in with. Realistically, I see Bute as maybe number #3 or possibly number #5 in the super middleweight division. I can see World Boxing Council champion Carl Froch or Arthur Abraham giving Bute all he could handle and possibly taking him out. Bute wouldn’t be able run all night long against them and get a win like he’s done in some of his other fights.
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