By James Slater: Lucian Bute, who defended his IBF super-middleweight crown with a tenth-round TKO over a game and tough Brian Magee this past Saturday in Canada, sure has a good number of potentially big and exciting options ahead of him. Now signed with Showtime, the 28-0 (23) star is looking for a marquee name for his next fight.
The classy southpaw, one of the best body punchers in the sport, was watched on Saturday night by Denmark’s Mikkel Kessler, who did commentary for Showtime. “The Viking Warrior” has been out of action due to the eye injury he picked up in his thrilling points win over current WBC 168-pound champ Carl Froch last April, but he is planning a return to the ring this year. Canadian media reports suggest the former three-time champion was in Canada not only to commentate on Bute-Magee; but to try and iron out a deal to face the unbeaten warrior known as “La Tombeur.”
The Montreal Gazette reports how Kessler, 43-2(32) said of Bute: “He can have his home town. I’ll kick his ass anywhere!”
While Ringtv.com has a short piece that reports how not only Kessler, but also former middleweight ruler Kelly Pavlik, is in line to face the Romanian-born Bute next. Also, looking further ahead, Bute’s people would like to match him with the eventual winner of the ongoing “Super-Six” tournament. It is clear, then, that Bute has no shortage of potentially great fights in his future. But who will he face next?
Kessler would perhaps be wise to take a tune-up before tackling as formidable a fighter as Bute; especially after having undergone serious eye surgery. As for Pavlik; he has a tune-up fight all set for May 7th, when he will return to action after a stint in rehab, against the unbeaten but untested Alfonso Lopez. That fight, which will take place on the Manny Pacquiao-Sugar Shane Mosley under-card in Las Vegas, will take place a couple of pounds above the super-middleweight limit.
“The Ghost” plans on fighting at 168 from now on, and maybe, if he looks and feels good against Lopez, he will accept a shot at Bute’s IBF crown. Bute Vs. Pavlik could be a classic in the making – if the Youngstown hero has retained the skills and mental toughness he had post-rehab. A win for Bute would be a big deal, especially if he were to become the first man to stop Pavlik, 36-2(32). While it goes without saying how a Pavlik win would rank right up there with the great boxing comebacks.
And then, if he has come through against Kessler/and/or Pavlik, Bute can start calling out the “Super Six” winner. By this time, we will know who has won The World Boxing Classic – be it Andre Ward, Carl Froch, Arthur Abraham or Glen Johnson. Bute against either guy would be massive.
There definitely are some great times ahead for fans of the 168-pound division!