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Cloutier’s Canada Corner
DeGale Beats Bute By Unanimous
Decision
By Daniel Cloutier @Ringside
QUÉBEC CITY, Canada - Lucian Bute’s dream was to regain his
IBF super middleweight championship of the world, a title he
got from 2007 to 2012, turned to a nightmare Saturday
evening in the ring of the new Videotron Centre in Québec
City.
Bute gave splendid opposition to the new IBF 168 pounds
champion of the world, but the British James DeGale found
way to make a successful first defense of his title. DeGale
(22-1-0) won the bout by unanimous decision. The judge
Nelson Vasquez, from Puerto Rico, scored the bout 116-112,
and Benoit Roussel, from Montréal, and Phil Edwards, from
Great Britain, got identical scores of 117-111, all in favor
of DeGale.
“I did not win by KO in less than six rounds, like I
predicted, but I certainly did what was necessary to win the
fight, said DeGale. I certainly connected the most explosive
power shots in this fight. But Bute fought courageously, and
the crowd got a good show. But I am very proud that I found
the way to stay the IBF super middleweight champion of the
world, like I promised it to my fans in England.”
Bute (32-3-0) said: “I am positive the fight was closer than
the scores are showing it. I got a great preparation, then,
I have been able to fight with intensity and resist to all
the DeGale’s charges. I am disappointed by the result, but
not discouraged. I will certainly continue my pro boxing
career, and fight in significant fights. I am deserving it.
DeGale was very aggressive in the first round, he connected
Bute with several power shots, but the Montrealer replied
with two good conter-attacks.
DeGale maintained his intensity in the second and third
rounds, but Bute did not back off, and replied several times
with good body and head shots.
Bute, a natural southpaw, got a very good fourth round
offensively. He connected more times than DeGale, who became
a southpaw during two minutes.
The fifth round has been another solid one for Bute. DeGale
came back in his corner with a cut over his left eye.
The sixth, seventh and eight rounds were extremely
spectacular, each fighter connecting with very intense
attacks.
At the end of the eight round, DeGale, again, came back in
his corner in bleeding from the left eye.
The nine round also was intense, but this time, DeGale was
the best man in these three minutes of action. He connected
Bute with a lot of power shots, hooks and uppercuts.
Bute chased constantly DeGale in the 10th round, but the
British found the way to connected the most explosive
punches of the round.
The 11th round has been close and very intense. Bute and
DeGale both scored points with solid attacks.
And the last and 12th round, both tried everything to put
the rival in trouble, both attacked furiously, and both
resisted to the punches until the last belt.
Bute won 10 IBF super middleweight championship bouts in a
row from 2007 to 2012, but in May 2012, in Nottingham,
England, he lost his title to the British Carl Froch
(33-2-0), who beat him by TKO in the fifth round.
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