Lucian Bute: A Great Talent Or Unproven Commodity?
Written By: Armando Paz
As the second stage of the Super 6 commences the fans of boxing notice a conspicious omission from the Tournament. That is the Romanian born and transported Canadian Lucian Bute (26-0 21 ko’s). We can only speculate how would he fare against some of the fighters that did participate in the tournament. When Jermain Taylor pulled out after the Arthur Abraham fight it was wishful thinking that Bute would have been the replacement; the fighter that did come in Allan Green would eventually get a boxing lesson from Andre Ward.
The question is Bute really in the same class as Andre Ward, Arthur Abraham, or Mikkel Kessler? If you go to the boxing public the views on Bute are very polarizing. Some think he is the best Super Middleweight out there while others think he is an overrated fighter who has made his career fighting B class fighters who are over the hill. If you look at his resume there seems to be missing that great victory. His wins against guys like Edison Miranda and Librado Andrade are a bit tainted by the fact that they already had losses to guys like Pavlik, Abraham, and Kessler. Miranda was pretty much reduced to a punching bad in his bouts with Abraham and Pavlik. Andrade already was soundly defeated by Kessler, who pretty much won every round on that fight. Bute has not attempted to unify the IBF title, and his next opponent Jessee Brinkley (35-5 22 ko’s) on October 15, will not make any dent on Bute detractors that he is not tested with the best opposition a. The feeling is that Bute will remain complacent and just fight in his local Montreal and never attempt to unify the title.
We must also look at the other side of the equation on the Bute story. Bute is a tall southpaw who is definitely one of the best body punchers in the division. The fact that he fights only in Montreal will make negotiations difficult with a European or American fighter. We don’t need to look any further than the Carl Froch-Arthur Abraham venue disagreement, to see how difficult it is to seal deals when parties disagree on the location of a bout. Eventually, the pressure will mandate Bute to fight outside of Montreal if he wants to unify his title or be held high in the boxing pound for pound list.
Technically i see Bute having problems with a fighter like Andre Ward or Andre Dirrell. Bute likes to pawn often with his right and will leave himself open to a slick counterpuncher. He is also a bit wide with his strong left and that leaves him open in the middle to short uppers and straight jabs. Bute’s defense is also a bit choppy at times when he keeps his gloves down while trying to score with the left. Yet the powerful and tenancious Bute seems to find ways to win. Unfortunately, we yet to have seen that ability or skill tested with a bonafide fighter in his prime.
Bute still has an opportunity to prove he is one of the best pound for pound fighters in the sport. He can fight the winner of the Super 6 or even move up to fight Chad Dawson (29-0 17 ko’s) the WBC Light Heavyweight Champion. The match up will showcase the classic puncher vs. boxer scenario and the unsual fight between two southpaws.
The legacy of Lucian Bute will be interesting to witness. Will Bute be another Sven Ottke (34-0 6 ko’s) a fighter who fought virtually every fight in his home turf and to some got questionable decisions as his fights with Robin Reid and Byron Mitchell attest? Ottke despite having 21 defenses of his Super Middleweight title is not highly regarded as his record would suggest. Bute likely will have to take bigger challenges and come down to Las Vegas to avoid comparisons with guys like Ottke.
Before Bute’s career is over we will like questions answered as how he will do against a fighter with great speed and mobility as Andre Ward? Can Bute’s chin withstand the power of a fighter like Arthur Abraham? At this moment, Bute is a great talent yet an unproven commodity. The fact that he didn’t participate in the Super 6 only will raise questions about his greatness. As Bute’s status increases as he adds wins to his unblemish boxing record, so should the quality of his opposition. As time passes we will either see a fighter who took the challenge against the best or a complacent one title holder who preferred to play it safe and stayed at home.
He is another one of those fighters that i have heard about more than i have seen. In answer to the articles title, i would say he is both talented and untested. Some very interesting fights in the pipline for this guy.
comment by Manos_de_Piedra (U10885372)
posted 2 Days Ago
I think hes good but unproven. He isnt left with a great deal of options while the super 6 is underway so once that is over I think it will be his time to step it up a gear.
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comment by BeastfromtheSouthEast (U14332097)
posted 2 Days Ago
He wouldnt be undefeated if the ref for his first fight with Andrade knew how to count to 10. I’m not a big fan
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comment by Knowsit17 (U11186914)
posted 2 Days Ago
Has done wonderfully to blow away fringe contenders who have seen better days ala Andrade and Miranda but hard to see further than that atm. Would be interesting to see him in with a top notch boxer with a chin.
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comment by Danger Tree (U13913554)
posted 2 Days Ago
If he can bang out his opponent, he will do for me. ok
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comment by Silvamaine (U10804790)
posted 2 Days Ago
Bute looks a good boxer and a heavy-handed puncher. But you’re only as good as the opponents you face and at this present time, the quality he’s faced are mostly unknown or a few familiar names, that are now past their sell-by date. We’ll know more about Bute when he comes up against one of the super-sixers, who with the exception of Ward thus far, have been beaten, but are still in their prime and very competitive.
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comment by alma (U14244944)
posted 2 Days Ago
Good, but as with so many current champs, protects his title by fighting bums. The end
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comment by Knowledge is power (U14466461)
posted 2 Days Ago
I like this article. Simple but very unbiased and has produced thoughtful debate which is a nice change from some of the stuff on here. 5* from me. And I think it’s hard to say right now as he hasn’t been fully tested yet but I’d love to see him go in with kessler or Abraham who can bang a bit.
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comment by BALMAB21 (U13811841)
posted 2 Days Ago
He wouldnt be undefeated if the ref for his first fight with Andrade knew how to count to 10. I’m not a big fan——————————————————————————
Thats my reservation about him aswel. If it wasnt for a biased hometown ref Bute would have a KO loss to Andrade on his record which isnt an impressive stat at all considering Kessler had already schooled Andrade.
No doubt Bute is a classy fighter who can bang. I think people get carried away when they call him the best super middleweight though becuase he hasnt proven it yet. Whats worse is that I dont think he ever will either because he is a stay at home fighter like Ward. He will not leave Canada just as Ward wont leave Amaerica so we could have a Jones – Michalechewski situation all over again. Both beating their contenders but never faing each other for supremecy.
In a neutral venue Id pick Abraham to beat Bute. If he cant take Abdrades power he would be sparked by Arthur. If he is still unbeaten over the next 18 months ( which he should be fighting guys like Jesse Brinkley ) then the super 6 winner would be a natural fight for him.
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comment by MIXtheZyder (U11244581)
posted 2 Days Ago
He needs to unifie. & fight outside of Canada once in a while.
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comment by kingstonbear (U11431727)
posted 2 Days Ago
The Bute question has been debated several times on here, just worded differently.
I keep asking myself the same question every few months and come up with the same answer each time. Bute (Boo tay) is the only guy at 168 who is a complete fighter- the footwork, power and boxing skills combined with being a body punching southpaw.
He’s just waiting at the sidelines for the winner of the super6, not that it matters; He beats anyone from the super6 IMO!
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comment by Salt for the Slug (U14385822)
posted 2 Days Ago
I think Bute is quality but as suggested here still unproven.
And we wont find out until the next round of the Super 6 is over. He would probs fight who ever comes 5th and 6th
Bute v Dirrel would be very interesting indeed
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comment by SteviebeeJ (U13936139)
posted 2 Days Ago
Has lost to Andrade (without losing) who is tough but basic.
Beat Miranda in style but hasn’t beaten him. Miranda must be pretty shot by now.
Only possibly Green I see him beating in the s6.
I think he’s definately improven of late but is overated and will come unstuck when facing an elite SM.
Ward who I see winning S6 should face him and wins a wide UD for me.
There are rumours of him facing B-Hop. Even at the age of 46 and definately on the way out now, I still wouldn’t write B-HOP off.
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comment by SteviebeeJ (U13936139)
posted 2 Days Ago
Beat Miranda in style but ‘who’ hasn’t beaten him. Miranda must be pretty shot by now.
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