(Photo credit: Vincent Ethier / InterBox) By Jeff Aranow: Former IBF super middleweight champion Lucian Bute (32-3, 25 KOs) is happy to be getting another shot at a world title when he faces WBC super middleweight champion Badou Jack (20-1-1, 12 KOs) in a doubleheader on Showtime Championship Boxing on April 30 at the DC Armory in Washington, DC.
Bute, 36, needs to make it count this time because he was beaten in his last fight against IBF 168lb champion James DeGale by a 12 round decision last November in Quebec. It was a fight that Bute could have won had he thrown more punches in the first six rounds of the fight.
Bute was too passive during the first half of the fight, and he had too many rounds to make up in the last half of the fight get the decision. Bute did come on in the last six rounds and appeared to win four of them. However, he was pretty well dominated in the first six rounds of the fight and that put him in a huge hole.
“This chance at another world championship fight is a great opportunity for me,” said Bute in this week’s press conference with Badou Jack. “Taking part in two world championship bouts in a row is not easy, but it makes me quite proud. When you are given the opportunity to fight for a world title, at this level, you cannot refuse.”
If Bute loses this fight against Badou, he’s likely not going to be getting any other offers from champions unless he can work himself to a number one spot in the rankings. That’s going to be difficult for Bute to do because he’s been dealing with a slew of injuries in the last four years of his career.
For Bute to get to a high ranking, he’ll need to fight frequently, stay injury free, and beat some top contenders in the division. Those are all things that will be difficult for him to do if he can’t win this fight at the end of the month.
“My confidence level is now at 100%. I can see it in the gym and everyone can see it, including my trainers and my sparring partners! I’m hungry for another championship title,” said Bute.
Facing Badou Jack is probably Bute’s best chance of winning a world title if he can throw enough punches, and if he can handle Badou’s punching power. Badou has good power, and he likes to throw to the body and put pressure on his opponents. Bute will need to be able to fight aggressively for him to win this fight because he’s not going to be able to get a decision if he only fights hard for six rounds.
Badou has been knocked out in the past, and he can definitely be hurt if Bute is able to unload his heavy artillery. Of the world champions at 168, Badou is probably the weak link among them. This is a great opportunity for Bute to win a world title the easy way. If Bute wins the fight, then a rematch with DeGale will likely take place. DeGale is part of the doubleheader card on April 30th. He’ll be defending his IBF title against Rogelio Medina.
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