By Eric Thomas: IBF super middleweight champion Lucian Bute (27-0, 22 KO’s) is either the best fighter in the division or the most carefully matched, because he’s been sailing through the likes of Edison Miranda, Jesse Brinkley and Fulgencio Zuniga since capturing the International Boxing Federation title in 2007. Unfortunately, Bute seems to be following the Joe Calzaghe path as a champion by taking on badly flawed fighters and guys that the boxing public isn’t all that excited about.

This goes for Bute’s next title defense against Ireland’s Brian Magee (34-3-1, 24 KO’s) on March 19th at the Bell Centre, in Montreal, Canada. Magee, 35, has an inflated record filled with fighters that few boxing fans have ever heard of unless you are a hardcore boxing fan with an encyclopedic knowledge of the sport. The IBF has Magee ranked at number #8, ahead of fighters like James DeGale and Miranda. I’ve seen Magee fight on a number of occasions and don’t agree with this ranking at all. Magee looks like a good 2nd tier fighter who is being given a golden opportunity for a payday.

This will in all likelihood be another easy fight for Bute to continue to milk his title against until the public pressure finally forces Bute to take on a higher level fighter like WBA super middleweight champion Andre Ward, Carl Froch, Mikkel Kessler, DeGale or Glen Johnson. Those are the fighters that Bute needs to go after rather than taking on guys like Brinkley and Magee fight after fight.

Bute has too much speed and power for Magee. This should be a fairly easy title defense for Bute. Expect him to come out and batter Magee with shots and come away with a quick stoppage within four or five rounds.