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Cloutier’s Canada Corner
Lucian Bute: "I Never Felt So
Good In The Last Three Years"
By Daniel Cloutier
QUÉBEC CITY, Canada - The Montrealer Romanian Lucian Bute
knows that most of the boxing writers and boxing fans
believe he will loose against the British James DeGale
November 28th in the ring of the new Videotron Centre in
Québec City.
Bute (32-2-0), who won 10 IBF super middleweight world
championship bouts between 2007 and 2012, will try to take
back this crown in Québec City. DeGale (21-1-0) is detaining
this crown since last March, when he won a vacant title in
beating Andre Dirrell (24-2-0) by unanimous decision in
Boston. In Québec City, DeGale will proceed to the first
defence of his IBF 168 pounds world title.
“Seriously, I don’t pay attention to the people who believe
I have no chance to beat DeGale, said Bute after a public
training session in Québec City. I know my big experience in
significant fights will be a major factor in that bout. And
as you know, I found back my desire to train and fight since
April, since the moment I joined the Grants brothers (Howard
and Otis) at the Monster Gym in the West Island of Montréal.
I proved it at my last bout, and I gonna prove it again in
few days.”
At his last bout, August 15th at Bell Centre in Montréal,
Bute realized his best performance in three years. He won by
TKO in less than four rounds against the European super
middleweight champion, the Italian Andrea DeLuisa (17-3-0).
For the first time in three years, Bute was intense
offensively and fast in all his movements in the ring.
“Yes, I found back my speed and confidence in my offensive
and defensive talents, said Bute. I am positive the real
Lucian Bute is back on the track now. Howard and Otis Grant
helped substantially in the last months to be sure I would
find back my confidence and my desire to train and fight. I
really believe I am now part of a perfect team. The
communication is perfect and my training program is also
perfect. It’s certainly not a coincidence if I am actually a
lot of better than I was in last three previous years. I am
very determinate to become back world champion, and I am
positive I have now the team and the environment to achieve
it. Trust me, I never felt so good in the last three years.
I can’t wait to be in the ring Saturday evening.”
But Bute knows that this fight with DeGale won’t be a walk
in the park. “No doubt, DeGale is a very good fighter, said
Bute. He is moving constantly in the ring and he can hit hit
solidly. And he loved to switch from right-hander to
southpaw to try to confuse the opponent. However, I can move
in the ring also, and I can hit solidly also. And I repeat
that my huge experience will be crucial in this event.
DeGale started his pro boxing career in 2009… when I was
already IBF super middleweight champion of the world. DeGale
can believe the fact he is young is playing in his favour,
on my side, i know by large experience is playing in my
favor.”
Bute said he is laughing is hearing DeGale talk about his
ambitions for 2016. “If DeGale is not taking me seriously he
will have serious problems when the first bell will ring
November 28th, said Bute. I can tell you I got a great
training camp and I am perfectly concentrated on DeGale now.
It’s a very big fight and I needed to be perfectly prepared
mentally, physically and strategically. Become back world
champion is a must for me.”
Bute should be a smiling man when he will walk to the ring
November 28th. “Yes, it will be a very special moment for
me, said Bute. It will be an opportunity to take back my IBF
super middleweight crown.”
Bute won the vacant IBF super middleweight championship of
the world October 10th 2007 in the ring of the Bell Centre,
in beating the Colombian Alejandro Berrio by TKO in the 11th
round. After 10 wins in a row, he lost his title to the
British Carl Froch (33-2-0) May 26th 2012 in Nottingham,
England. Froch won the bout by TKO in the fifth round. After
that bout, Bute lived very difficult moments. He got a so
and so win by decision against the Russian Denis Grachev
(13-5-1) at fall in 2012 in Montréal, and he lost by
unanimous decision against the Montrealer Jean Pascal
(30-3-1) January 18th 2014, against at Bell Centre, in a
NABF light heavyweight North American championship. After
two frustrating years, Bute got a first solid performance
last August against DeLuisa.
No doubt, Bute has the conviction he is back on the track
now.
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