Quebec, Monday, August 29th 2011 – InterBox is proud to announce that the much anticipated bout between Lucian Bute (29-0-0 24 KO) and Glen “the Road Warrior” Johnson (51-15-2, 35 KO) will take place at the Pepsi Coliseum on Saturday, November 5th 2011.
This Event will mark Lucian’s third bout in Quebec City, and second IBF World title defense bout at the Pepsi Coliseum. This will be Lucian’s 9th consecutive IBF title defense Bout since conquering the prestigious title in 2007 in devastating fashion against Alejandro Berrio. Showtime Championship Boxing will broadcast the Main Event, and the entire card will be shown live throughout Canada and several other Countries throughout the World.
“We felt Québec’s desire to host this World title bout from the very beginning and we are very happy to have concluded an agreement with the City and to begin the promotion of what promises to be the biggest challenge of Lucian’s career. The support of City Officials including of course Québec City Mayor Régis Labeaume, and The Quebec Tourism Board with its President Mr. Alain April played an integral part in our decision to promote the Event here. Because of them, we are in a position to offer Quebec City fans another great night of boxing. InterBox blue-chip prospect Pier-Olivier Cote will be a major part of this boxing card and we are already working on other interesting match-ups for our undercard” states InterBox President Mr. Jean Bedard.
“The incredible success of the boxing matches presented in Québec’s capital since 2009 bodes very well for the Lucian Bute–Glen Johnson bout,” declared Mr Labeaume. “The eyes of boxing enthusiasts all over the world will be on Québec City this November, and I’m sure that local fans will turn out in droves for the event.”
Last July 9th in Bucharest, Romania, in front of a sold-out crowd, the 31-year-old Bute handed IBF number 1 contender from France, Jean Paul Mendy, his first professional boxing defeat with a crushing knock-out that left him motionless on the canvas. 8 of Lucian’s last 10 failed to hear the final bell. Lucian’s last fight that went the limit was against Librado Andrade in 2008. Glen Johnson, 42 years old, is an 18 year veteran of the sweet science. The “Road Warrior” went toe-to-toe with some of the biggest and most gifted boxers in the game today including Hopkins, Dawson, Jones and Tarver…all on enemy turf! Glen’s first (and last) loss by KO was in 1997 against Bernard Hopkins. Glen Johnson, from Jamaica, will be disputing his 10th World title bout on November 5th.
“I am expecting a very tough fight!” declared Bute. “I know Glen well and he is a very aggressive boxer who instills relentless pressure. I laced up the gloves with him in 2009 but there is a huge difference between sparring and a real fight. I become another Lucian Bute in real combat situations and rest assured that I have a few surprises for Glen. This is a big test for me and a victory against such a good fighter will solidify my place among the very best 168 pounders in the World”.
Lucian will be boxing in the beautiful City of Quebec for the third time in his career, and is looking forward to a repeat performance of his last two showings. On November 28th 2009, in front of a sold out delirious Pepsi Coliseum crowd, the IBF champion KO’d the granite chinned Librado with a wicked uppercut to the body. It was the first time Librado was ever knocked out.
“I am very excited to return to Quebec for my upcoming fight. I always feel welcome and at home here and my last fight at the Coliseum was an unbelievable experience for me. I can’t wait to feel the electric atmosphere again of the Pepsi Coliseum come November 5th” states Bute.
Glen Johnson is really looking forward to re-enter the ring against Bute, but this time “for all the marbles”. As Glen states “I am very happy for this opportunity. On November 5th you will see the best Glen Johnson you have ever seen. I am coming to Quebec to derail the Bute Train and to bring that IBF belt back with me to Florida. Becoming World champion again and beating one of the best 168 pounders in the World live on Showtime is an opportunity of a lifetime for me. It doesn’t get any better than this.”
Glen Johnson never refuses a challenge. Not having fought at the Super Middleweight weight limit for 10 years, he did not think twice when opportunity came knocking from Showtime to replace the injured Mikkel Kessler in the Super 6 Classic Boxing series. He beat Allan Green to make it to the semi-final round before losing a Majority Decision in an all-out war to finalist Carl Froch last June.
Tickets on sale as of September 17th
Tickets will be on sale as of Saturday, September 17th for the Bute vs. Johnson InterBox Gala. Tickets will be available at the Pepsi Coliseum Ticket Office, by contacting Billetech at 418-691-7211 or toll free by dialing 1-800-900-SHOW, by visiting billetech.com, and at Club de Boxe Champion (tel. 514-376-0980). Members of Club Cage (The Cage-aux-Sports Newsletter) and the Quebec Remparts will benefit from an exclusive pre-sale starting on Saturday, September 12th.
Event Broadcast
The Bute vs. Johnson bout will be broadcast by Showtime across the United States. In Canada, this event will be available on PPV (Canal Indigo, Bell TV and SHAW), at all Cage-aux-Sports Restaurant/bars throughout Quebec and at select authorized Commercial Establishments. An International Broadcast is also being planned.