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Cloutier’s Canada Corner
Lucian Bute:
"I Am Making A Promise To My Fans:
I Will Leave The Ring With The IBF Belt In My Hands"
By Daniel Cloutier
QUÉBEC CITY, Canada - It’s a Lucian Bute smiling and
extremely confident who meet the media Wednesday afternoon
at the hotel Château Bonne-Entente, where the Montrealers
promoters Yvon Michel, from the GYM Group, and Jean Bédard,
from InterBox, held the final press conference of the main
event of the Saturday evening boxing show presented at the
new Videotron Centre, in Québec City.
This main event will be an IBF super middleweight
championship of the world. The new IBF 168 pounds champion
of the world, the British James DeGale (21-1-0), will
proceed to the first defence of his title against the former
IBF super middleweight champion of the world, the Montrealer
Romanian southpaw Lucian Bute (32-2-0). Bute held this belt
from 2007 to 2012. He lost it in May 2012 in Nottingham,
England, when the British Carl Froch (33-2-0) beat him by
TKO in the fifth round.
“I am more than enthusiastic to live this event, said Bute.
I will have finally the opportunity to regain a world title
I lost three years ago. I am making a promise to my fans: I
will leave the ring Saturday night with the IBF belt in my
hands. I am positive I will regain a world title I
controlled for five years. I know DeGale is a dangerous
fighter, but actually, I feel I am back on the track, I
became back the master of the super middleweight division. I
am serious. With Howard and Otis Grant as trainers since
last April, I became back the Lucian Bute of 2008 or 2009…
with more experience. It will a big thrill for me Saturday
evening. I always got good performances here in Québec City,
and I am positive I will get another one in few days. I just
hope that DeGale is overconfident, that he believes he will
have an easy game with me…”
DeGale was not smiling when somebody translated to him the
Bute comments made in French at the microphone. “Bute can
believe he is actually the Lucian Bute he was in 2008 and
2009, I don’t care, said DeGale. I know I am the new star of
the super middleweight division, and I am determinate to
prove it Saturday evening. I got a fantastic training camp,
I am perfectly prepared mentally, physically and
strategically, and you will understand what I mean when the
first bell will ring. I promised to my fans I would stay IBF
super middleweight champion of the world for several years,
and I won’t disappointing them in few days.”
DeGale’s trainer, Jim McDonnell, said his fighter in on fire
actually. “James has always showed me his passion for
boxing, but trust me, his passion is higher than ever now,
said the British trainer. I know how much he is proud and
hungry of success since he became the new IBF super
middleweight champion of the world. I never saw him so fast
in the ring. Sometime, I got the feeling that my fighter is
a Formula One car…”
DeGale won the vacant IBF title in May in Boston, where he
beat the American Andre Dirrell (24-2-0) by unanimous
decision in 12 rounds.
Howard Grant, Bute’s trainer, replied: “The DeGale’s team
members can think what they want, I know what Lucian can
achieve actually. Lucian got a marvelous training camp, and
he is so motivated to live this event. He is not prepared at
100%… he is at 110%! I know how much it’s important for him
to take back his IBF belt, and he will do the necessary to
achieve it Saturday evening. Lucian got a splendid
performance at his last bout, and I am expecting that he
will be even better this time. I know it’s a big challenge,
but Lucian actually, just want to be involved in significant
bouts. Then, don’t be surprised to see him so happy and
smiling actually. I love his attitude at few days of this
crucial moment."
At his last bout, in March at Bell Centre in Montréal, Bute
got his first solid performance in three years. He beat the
European super middleweight champion, the Italian Andrea
DeLuisa (17-3-0), by TKO in less than four rounds. For the
first time since his defeat with Froch, Bute was fast with
his hands and legs, and intense offensively.
Yvon Michel is expecting a fabulous atmosphere Saturday
evening. “It will be the first boxing show organized in the
new Videotron Centre, and the crowd will certainly be huge,
said Yvon Michel. The atmosphere will be incredible. I
really believe we will live a memorable moment Saturday
evening. For sure, the main event will oppose two of the
best super middleweights in the world. Lucian his not
established favourite to win, but if he caused the surprise
that his team believes he will do, the crowd will certainly
be crazy. Lucian has always been a very popular and admiring
fighter in Québec City."
Jean Bédard said: "Lucian is dreaming since three years to
regain his IBF super middleweight championship of the world,
then, can you imagine how much he will feel when he will
show up in the ring Saturday evening? I am among the people
who believe seriously that Lucian will cause a surprise
Saturday evening. Lucian showed an incredible determination
and enthusiasm in training in the last two months. We all
know that this fight will be for him one of the most
important moment in a his pro boxing career."
Bernard Barré, the scout of the GYM Group, a TV analyst who
knows all the fighters ranked in the world, believes DeGale
will keep his title in Québec City. “I am expecting an
intense fight, I know Lucian wants absolutely to take back
his IBF belt, but I got to pick DeGale as winner. I know I
will disappoint the Bute’s fans in Canada. No doubt that
DeGale is the new star of the 168 pounds division. He is
strong physically, he is fast and his ambidextrous, a
quality which can confuse the opponent. I am sure Bute will
give absolutely everything to win, but its the DeGale time
now. I am sure DeGale will impress the boxing fans of all
around the world in the years to come.”
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