By Scott Brown: The business product IBF super middleweight champion Lucian Bute is rarely exported. He has only participated in a few fights outside of Montreal but Bute doesn’t have to venture out to make millions. He has established a following in Canada. A minimum of 12,000 attended the fight at the Belle Center to see the main event Bute vs. Jesse Brinkley. The business product maintained its shine and winning ways as it dispatched the overly matched Brinkley with uppercuts and athleticism.

Brinkley coming in the mandatory challenger for the IBF super middleweight title had won 9 fights in a row. Brinkley’s most notable win includes Curtis Stevens and Mike Paschall, which might be decent fighters in their own right but are relatively unknowns. The hard work and dedication put in to give Jesse Brinkley this shot ended in defeat yet he earned glowing compliments from fight fans for being game. The first couple rounds showed both fighters familiarizing themselves with each other. Brinkley retreating, jabbing, constant movement made it difficult for exchanges. After a while Bute would figure the formula for Brinkley’s defense.

Bute is taller, stronger, quicker, and has a better reach than Brinkley so it is inevitable that Brinkley can’t escape mediocrity, left uppercuts, and that contender guy stigma. Bute crouched a bit, jabbing with his right, and waiting to unload his left on Brinkley. Faints and quick lefts began to do the job on Brinkley. Brinkley was physically persuaded to the floor by a quick final uppercut to Brinkley’s skull. This being the third knock down and a quality shot earned Brinkley the ref’s compassion to halt the fight.

Though Bute seemed less engaged tonight than previous fights some may argue he fought to the level of his competition. I will give credit to Brinkley for landing his left jab as Bute held his hands down. I will even give Brinkley round 2. Perhaps this fight will intrigue other fighters to get in the ring with Bute. A fight with Pavlik in March could generate competition for Bute but Kelly Pavlik “Tin Man” Act might wear thin if Bute can move laterally.