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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
(Photo Credit: Frank Coppi/Matchroom Boxing) By Scott Gilfoid: With Andre Ward and Carl Froch both now officially gone from the super middleweight division, IBF 168lb champion James DeGale (21-1, 14 KOs) thinks he’s now the No.1 fighter in the division. Of course, this is just the 29-year-old DeGale’s opinion, because he still has unfinished business with Andre Dirrell from their very close fight earlier this year, and DeGale still hasn’t prove that he can beat Anthony Dirrell, Badou Jack, Julio Chavez Jr., or Arthur Abraham.
On November 28th of this month, DeGale will be fighting former IBF super middleweight champion Lucian Bute 32-2, 25 KOs) at the Centre Videotron, in Quebec City, Quebec.
By Scott Gilfoid: Former IBF/WBA/WBC 168lb champion Carl Froch (33-2, 24 KOs) says he would potentially be interested in making a comeback to fight IBF super middleweight champion James DeGale (21-1, 14 KOs) if he defeats 35-year-old former IBF champ Lucian Bute (32-2, 25 KOs) this month if he beats him on November 28th at the Centre Videotron, in Quebec City, Quebec.
Froch, 38, is reportedly back in training for whatever that means. A fight with DeGale could be a possibility for him. As it is a lot of boxing fans think Froch ducked DeGale last year when he vacated his IBF title rather than facing him.
By Scott Gilfoid: IBF super middleweight champion James DeGale (21-1, 14 KOs) still hasn’t faced Lucian Bute (32-2, 25 KOs) yet, but he already has his next fight planned out in his mind if he can get past the 35-year-old Bute on November 28th at the Centre Videotron, in Quebec City, Quebec.
In a predictable move, DeGale wants to fight either Martin Murray (32-2-1, 15 KOs) or WBC super middleweight champ Badou Jack. Of course, Murray will have to do his part by defeating WBO 168lb champion Arthur Abraham (43-4, 29 KOs) in their fight on November 21st at the Tui Arena, in Hannover, Niedersachsen, Germany.