Bute Blasts Out Zuniga; A Look at the Super-Middleweight Picture

By Lee Payton

If there were any lingering effects from the from the 12th round of his last fight, Lucien Bute didn't let them show. He looked like his usual self in putting Fulencio Zuniga away in 4 rounds.

The Bell Centre was rocking for their super middleweight title holder as round one began. Things started out rather slowly, with Bute measuring his man and seeing what he brought to the dance.

Not too much happened over the next two rounds, but it was obvious that the home fighter was in command. Zuniga couldn't find the angle for his best punch, and was clearly the smaller man in the ring. I don't think he landed a single meaningful punch in the fight.

Round 4 was the end of things as Bute decided to come forward. He started to test a left to the body as a counter to the pawing right hands coming his way, and moments later he landed a smashing uppercut to the solar plexus of Zuniga.

The challenger was able to rise at the count of 9, partly because of his fighting heart, and partly because of a slow count issued by the referee, but he had nothing left. Bute went on the attack with flurries that overwhelmed his opponent, and the fight was called off at 2:25.

This was probably more of a televised set-up for a rematch with Andrade, who will be facing Vitali Tsypko in Montreal on April 4th. To Bute's credit, he said he would give the hard-nosed challenger a rematch down the road, so now it is up to the rock jawed Mexican to beat Tsypko.

Just a few thoughts on the super middleweight division...

I think most recognize Mikkel Kessler of Denmark as the top man in the division, and rightly so. He was second best to Calzaghe before the Welshman moved up, and he gave a good show when the two met in 2007.

That said, Bute has to be #2 until someone actually beats him.

I love 168 right now. You can hardly make a bad fight out of any of the top 10 guys around.

Let me throw out some juicy match-ups for you to think about:

Bute vs. Kessler I don't know where this would take place, but it's the Dane's straight right hand vs. the Canadian's athleticism and speed. Kessler isn't at his most comfortable against lefties, but his laser right is about the perfect weapon to deal with them.

Andrade vs. Bika Someone tell me this wouldn't be fight of the year. Andrade pressing and shaking off Bika's wide bombs for 12 rounds. Who's gonna give?

Taylor vs. Froch This one's happening on April 25th at Foxwoods. Taylor is an offensive machine with a boxer's mentality. Froch is the perfect foe to bring out the fighter in Jermain, because he doesn't give his opponents a choice. You have to fight him. I can't wait for this one.

Miranda vs. Lacy Alright so neither guy can get over the hump. Who cares? Throw them in a ring together and it's bombs away!

Green vs. Ward vs. Dirrell I'm ready to see what these guys are really made of. Who's for real?

Pascal vs. Codrington Two hard-punching fighters with athleticism and fire. The winner is back in the picture.

There is a lot of fun to be had at 168. Hopefully these guys can get in there and mix it up.

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A Look Back at Bute vs Andrade

by Lee Payton

Lucien Bute will be returning to the ring tomorrow night for the first time since his controversial win over Librado Andrade back in October. Remember that fight? Of course you do. Nobody will soon forget the massive controversy that erupted after the high drama that took place over the bout's final moments.

I'll get to that fight in a second, but first let's touch briefly on tomorrow night's match-up.

Bute's opponent will be Colombian, Fulgencio Zuniga, who you might remember knocked Kelly Pavlik down with a left hook in the first round of their middleweight bout a few years ago. Zuniga went on to lose via a 9th round TKO, and I think that's about as long as he'll last against Bute. Zuniga's tough, and he'll keep coming, but he's not close to Bute's level.

Now on to the infamous Andrade battle, which had boxing fans in a mighty uproar last year...

Both men got screwed that night. The poor judgment of a few key individuals may have cost Andrade a knockout win and his first title belt, while it left Bute with an undeserved image as something of a front-running house fighter.

Most fans thought referee Marlon Wright had given his fellow Canadian a sneaky edge when he allowed him to clutch and grab so frequently. There were times I found the grappling annoying, but it's part of the game to some extent that it's the same for everyone. Bute realized that staying on the outside meant a less hazardous work environment, so he held on whenever things felt unsafe against a dangerous opponent. The rules were bent a little, but this was no Henry Akinwande impression.

It's a legit gripe. Holding is against the rules. However, I was more disappointed in Andrade's effort while being held. This is a fighter who relies on ruggedness and uppercuts, but he doesn't know how to get room on the inside? Too often he stopped fighting when the two came together. Why? He should have been the boss in there. That would have left little room for Wright to influence the action.

In fact, the official opinions may have been moot if one guy was getting pounded every time he tried to catch his breath.

As it happened, the hometown fighter used his decided edge in quickness to secure perhaps a 10-1 lead with 1 round to go. His southpaw stance created an awkward angle that kept the incoming relatively tame, while he swatted away at a dependable target.

The 60 second rest period between the 11th and 12th would prove to be just as crucial as the previous 33 minutes of fighting. While clearly ahead, but sucking wind, Bute was inexplicably instructed by his corner to go for it. Apparently they felt it was necessary for their fighter to put it all on the line in the last round if he was interested in keeping his title.

Eddie Futch might have offered some different advice.

Interestingly, the same ref who had demonstrated such a liberal attitude toward the stalling tactics throughout, was quick to break the fighters during any stalemate in the final stanza. When Andrade was pummeling the favourite in close with his free hand, Wright handled it in the correct way.

Lost in the excitement of the improbable comeback was Andrade's headbutting that played no small part in helping it along. At least a few times Bute took skull to the face or temple while already woozy. I know Andrade was desperate, but that doesn't sit right with me.

His legs and head burning, Bute wobbled around until a running right slammed him to the canvas with only a few seconds to go. He somehow rose before 10 seconds had elapsed, but it didn't matter because Wright was busy blowing another assignment. At about 7, he turned around to warn Andrade to get all the way back in the corner. Those extra seconds wasted by Wright only served to create more controversy as they left the impression that the hometown fighter had more time to recover. After finishing the mandatory count, the bell rang and the fight was declared over, which it would have been anyway, even if Wright had not warned Andrade.

A few key points of contention...

1. The count was too long.

It was, but I don't think it matters, since Bute was on his feet before 10 seconds had passed.

2. Some say it should have been scored as a KO anyway because he used the ropes to steady himself.

Is that even illegal?

3. Was Bute in any condition to continue?

Absolutely not. But does it matter if he beats the count in that situation? Seems like no one really knows for sure.

Look, I know that it's natural in boxing to get behind the traveling underdog, especially when it looks like there might have been some tampering with the results, but this is a clear case of a referee handling a fight poorly, not of corruption. Marlon Wright did not have a good night, and his poor performance as the third man screwed things up for both sides.

Anyway, even though Librado Andrade didn't get the W, he didn't lose much much, as fans will remember his heroics and claim he was robbed by evil Canadians. That's the kind of sympathy managers love.

On the other hand, Lucien Bute has some fighting to do. While I find most of the disrespect he receives to be rather unreasonable, the fact is many boxing fans now see him as something of a sheltered softy. A paper champ that folds under pressure. Forget the impressive athletic package. Never mind the quick, accurate stabs that had him way ahead against a tough nut. He got up at the end? So what? He's just a promoter's product until further notice.

Tomorrow night, he'll have chance to start proving that sentiment wrong, and hopefully we'll see an Andrade rematch in the near future. Andrade will be fighting Vitali Tsypko in Montreal on April 4. A win by Bute tomorrow night, and Andrade a few weeks from now would set up a rematch quite nicely.

Here's hoping it happens.

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