By James Slater – The news that IBF super-middleweight champion Lucian Bute has signed a fight deal with Showtime, and that the Romanian-born southpaw will target the eventual winner of the ongoing “Super Six” tournament is great news indeed.
For a while now, fans have argued how the unbeaten Bute is the best 168-pounder in the sport, and now he will have the chance to prove it. His supporters were upset that Bute wasn’t a part of the Boxing Classic tournament, but now, in facing the eventual winner, “La Tombeur” has a chance to more than make up for it..
Most fans and experts seem to agree that unbeaten Andre Ward will come out holding the “Super Six” trophy, and that means we can realistically look forward to a Bute-Ward showdown for either 2011 or 2012. The winner of this fight (or the winner of Bute Vs. whoever it is who wins “Super Six,” and I wouldn’t count out Carl Froch) will then emerge as a true super-middleweight superstar. And this is to not even think about Bute’s plans for making the move up to light-heavyweight for further big fights after he’s proven his 168-pound dominance (if he can, that is).
In the meantime, Bute, 27-0(22) will be back in action in the first quarter of next year, against a TBA. Let’s hope the wicked body puncher who is a hero in Canada faces good men on his road to getting it on with the “Super Six” winner. As good as he is, it’s unlikely the 30-year-old will cherry pick in his upcoming bouts, and it’s also unlikely Bute will be upset in any of his future fights ahead of the big one with the “Super Six” winner.
Of further good news is the fact that the IBF boss plans to fight outside of Canada, maybe in New York. Bute has boxed as a pro in America before, three times in the early part of his career, but the new deal means U.S fans will, for the first time, be able to see him fight live at top level.
There really is a number of reasons to get excited about the super-middleweight division in general. Ward faces the tough Sakio Bika next, Froch meets Arthur Abraham in what will surely be a tremendous battle, and Bute awaits the eventual tournament winner that also includes the newly added Glen Johnson and Allan Green. “Super Six” has had its share of problems and for a while it looked like the tourney might fall flat on its face. But the final should be something special and then, by way of a huge event, the winner will rumble with the waiting Bute!
What’s not to like?!