Canada based Romanian former super-middleweight champion Lucien Bute is still the most realistic next opponent for Britain’s IBF 168 lb champion, James DeGale, with a mid-late November date likely.
It emerged last week that talks had begun for a November 14th meeting in Bute’s Quebec backyard for what will be DeGale’s maiden defence of the title he won in a history making effort in May against Andre Dirrell on Premier Boxing Champions, although an exact date has yet to be pinned down.
That night DeGale became the first British gold medal winning Olympian [Beijing 2008] in history to go on and win a professional world title, and will enter as a considerable favourite against a Bute who has arguably not been the same since he was destroyed by Carl Froch in May 2012 in the Cobra’s Nottingham hometown.
Periods of injury and inactivity have hounded the now 35 year old Bute, having only boxed three times since the Froch defeat, including a points loss to fellow Canadian, Jean Pascal in January 2014. He returned to the ring 6 weeks ago after 19 months out against overmatched Italian Andrea Di Luisa, stopping his hapless foe in 4 in a one sided fight which also took place in Quebec.
Following DeGale’s title winning effort over the Summer he stated that he hoped to make a UK defence or two before a big homecoming fight, ostensibly against bitter old rival George Groves, although that plan went out the window when the Hammersmith man was beaten by Badou Jack earlier this month, and the new Al Haymon signing looks to continue building his star in North America.
While Bute was indeed once a force at 168, does he still have what it takes to be in with a realistic shot of beating the awkward and hard hitting fellow southpaw who has his eye on the unification fights with the likes of Badou Jack and Arthur Abraham?
Only time will tell…
Twitter @Undilutedpoison
