Lucian Bute gets second chance at title shot

03/14/2016 by Boxing News

bute553 By Scott Gilfoid: After arguably getting robbed of at least a draw in his last title fight against IBF 168lb champion James DeGale last November, former IBF champion Lucian Bute (32-3, 25 KOs) will be reloading for another title fight next month on April 30th against WBC super middleweight champion Badou Jack (20-1-1, 12 KOs) at a still to be determined venue.

Bute fought well enough to deserve at least a draw in his last fight against DeGale in Montreal, Canada. I had the fight scored a draw, as Bute really took charge of the out in the second half of the contest and appeared to win 4 out of the last 6 rounds.

I had Bute winning 2 of the first 6 rounds. That should have been enough for Bute to get a draw out of the fight, but with the scoring that was done in that fight, Bute ended up losing by the lopsided scores of 117-111, 117-111 and 116-112.

Badou-Bute & DeGale-Medina on April 30 on Showtime

03/11/2016 by Boxing News

By Jeff Aranow: Showtime Sports will be putting on a great card on April 30th. WBC super middleweight champion Badou Jack (20-1-1, 12 KOs) will be defending his title against replacement opponent Lucian Bute (32-3, 25 KOs) at a still to be determined venue. Also on the card will be IBF 168lb champion James DeGale (22-1, 14 KOs) making a defense of his IBF belt against #3 IBF Rogelio Medina (36-6, 30 KOs).

This is a second chance for Bute to rejuvenate his career after his recent loss to DeGale. If Bute can beat Badou, he’ll once again be a world champion and will get a little more life in his once great career.

Bute, Beterbiev and Eleider Alvarez possible for April 2 in Quebec

02/07/2016 by Boxing News

By Allan Fox: Former IBF super middleweight champion Lucian Bute (32-3, 25 KOs) is being lined up for a headlining fight on April 2 at the Videotron Centre in Quebec City, Quebec. The opponent for the 35-year-old Bute is still to be determined.

Also being talked about for the undercard is unbeaten light heavyweights Artur Beterbiev (9-0, 9 KOs) and Eleider Alvarez (19-0, 10 KOs) in separate fights. The opponents for those two fighters is still unknown.

All three fighters are managed by Al Haymon, so it’ll be a wait and see situation whether they in fact wind up on the card. Hopefully, Haymon matches them against quality opponents rather than weaker fighters.

DeGale wins close decision against Bute

11/29/201511/29/2015 by Boxing News

By Jim Dower: 35-year-old Romanian Lucian Bute (32-3, 25 KOs) showed tonight that he still has a lot left in the tank in forcing IBF super middleweight champion James DeGale (22-1, 14 KOs) to have to struggle hard to beat him by a 12 round unanimous decision in a fight that could well have been scored a draw with a different set of judges in a fight televised by Showtime Championship Boxing from the Vidéotron Centre in Quebec City.

DeGale decisions Bute; Alvarez beats Chilemba – results

11/29/201511/28/2015 by Boxing News

Allan Fox: IBF super middleweight champion James DeGale (22-1, 14 KOs) won a controversial 12 round unanimous decision over former IBF 168lb champion Lucian Bute (32-3, 25 KOs) on Saturday night at the Vidéotron Centre in Quebec City, in Quebec, Canada. The final judges’ scores were 116-112, 117-111 and 117-111. DeGale appeared to lost the last five rounds of the fight. I had the fight scored a 12 round draw.

The scoring was controversial because it was difficult to give DeGale any of the rounds after the 7th, because he was moving constantly and getting nailed by Bute.

Weights: DeGale 167.4, Bute 167.2

11/27/201511/27/2015 by Boxing News

By Scott Gilfoid: IBF super middleweight champion James “Chunky” DeGale (21-1, 14 KOs) made weight on Friday in coming in at 167.4 pounds for his first and he hopes many more title defenses of his IBF title against former IBF title holder Lucian Bute (32-2, 25 KOs) for their fight this Saturday night on Showtime Championship Boxing from the Centre Videotron, in Quebec City, Quebec, Canada. Bute weighed in at slightly less at 167.2lbs.

Bute plans on being aggressive with DeGale

11/26/2015 by Boxing News

By Scott Gilfoid: Former IBF 168lb champion Lucian Bute (32-2, 25 KOs) says he’s changed his fighting style for his match this Saturday night against British fighter James DeGale (21-1, 14 KOs) to be more aggressive, throw more combinations, and to take the fight to him. Bute, 35, obviously watched DeGale’s last fight against Andre Dirrell and noted how much success Dirrell had in that fight when he was putting pressure on DeGale.

Dirrell did really good when he was cutting off the ring and forcing DeGale to fight hard for three minutes of every round by putting him in situations where he had to expend energy and not allow him to do his usual pot shotting.

DeGale hopes to steal the show on Saturday against Bute

11/25/2015 by Boxing News

By Scott Gilfoid: This Saturday night on Sky Box Office, IBF super middleweight champion James DeGale (21-1, 14 KOs) will be defending his title against Lucian Bute (32-2, 25 KOs) as part of the Wladimir Klitschko vs. Tyson Fury night of boxing in a split site telecast.

Unfortunately for DeGale and Bute, most of the talk this week has been about the Klitschko-Fury fight, which appears to be the far more interesting fight. You can blame that on DeGale and his promoter Eddie Hearn, because if they had selected one of the talented contenders like Andre Dirrell to fight then boxing fans would be paying attention.

DeGale expects to KO Bute in 6 rounds

11/24/2015 by Boxing News

By Scott Gilfoid: IBF super middleweight champion James DeGale (21-1, 14 KOs) seems to be bothered by the fact that challenger Lucian Bute (32-2, 25 KOs) is saying that he’s never been beaten before in Quebec during his career. DeGale thinks that the 35-year-old Bute is trying to get confidence by saying he’s never been beaten in Quebec.

The way DeGale sees it, he’ll be knocking Bute out by the 6th round in their fight this Saturday night at the Centre Videotron, in Quebec City, Quebec.

DeGale: Froch is an old man and old news

11/17/2015 by Boxing News

By Scott Gilfoid: Recently, former WBA/WBC 168lb champion Carl Froch came out of the woodwork to take some verbal shots at IBF super middleweight champion James DeGale (21-1, 14 KOs), saying that he might potentially be interested in coming out of retirement to take back his IBF title by beating DeGale if he can get past 35-year-old Lucian Bute (32-2, 25 KOs) in their fight this month on November 28th at the Centre Videotron in Quebec City, Quebec.

DeGale, 29, doesn’t advise the 38-year-old Froch to come out of retirement, because he sees him as an old man now who had his time in the sport, and it now just part of history. Froch said he would give DeGale a good “pasting” if he does decide to come back. However, Froch also says that his girlfriend would likely tell him not to come back to the sport.