by Ian “Normen Bates” Sims: Since its inception in 1984, the Super Middleweight division has served more the less as a pit stop for Middleweights, some in search of bigger paydays, more recognition, tougher fights, or just a safe place to have a Middleweight challenge a Light Heavyweight. While staring down the face of obscurity, unlike its 160pound counterpart the Super Middleweight division has never had a long list of talented fighters.
For the majority of the decade (2000-2010) the 168lbs division has served as the dwelling for 2nd tier talent, fighters, that more than likely wouldn’t have been as successful in another weight class.
Now fast forward a few years and what do we have, Showtime’s Super Six, not only has the red headed stepchild of the Middleweight family finally gotten some much needed attention the talent level is deeper than it’s ever been…………….ever, if only “Super” Joe Cagzaghe and Sven Ottke could have stuck around a little longer.
The Super Six tournament was a great idea, well, maybe not if you’re Lucian Bute. At 27-0 The Undefeated Romanian-Canadian (Try saying that three times fast) is undefeated but largely untested with his biggest wins coming over fighters that have lost to super six participants.
Although Lucian Bute has opted not to participate in the Super Six, rather it was his choice or the networks the list of undesirables being added to his resume is almost laughable. I had to hold back tears as I watched Bute dismantle the contender who wasn’t even good enough to win The Contender. How ironic, the number one contender that couldn’t win The Contender, he wasn’t even what they said he was.
Bute is extremely talented but he’s faced with an awkward dilemma; Montreal is quickly becoming a huge fight town for both Boxing and MMA which means theirs millions of fans and dollars to be made. He can fight lackluster opponents and still make a better living than 90% of Boxers, and then the question must be asked is he willing to challenge himself and risk losing everything he’s attained to strength his creditability or is he satisfied taking minimal risk and reaping maximum reward.
Once the Super Six is over and guys like Andre Ward, Glen Johnson, and Carl Froch free up were going to find out a lot about Lucian Bute, is he really willing to face the best, is he really looking for a test or is he being protected (See Librado Andrade fight), and can he really beat these guys he’s ranked ahead of, or is he more concerned with having this Dog and Pony show type career.
Lucian Bute’s next outing is scheduled for March 19, 2011 against Brain Magee a fighter on a nine fight winning streak but a man who was knocked out by Carl Froch in May of 2006. I’m sure Bute will have an impressive performance, but after this fight, sometime 2011 hopefully, we can see Lucian with the likes of Jean Pascal, Chad Dawson, Tavoris Cloud and maybe even that old guy, what’s his name again….oh yeah, Bernard Hopkins.