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Cloutier’s Canada Corner
Back In Action, Lucian Bute
Wants To
Fight The Winner Of DeGale vs. Jack
By Daniel Cloutier
MONTRÉAL - Former IBF super middleweight champion of the
world, the Montrealer Romanian Lucian Bute is back in
action. Few days ago, the WBC closed Bute’s drug file, after
that Lucian has accepted to pay a fine of $50,000 and a
suspension of six months, effective from last May.
Bute tested positive for Ostarine after his fight with the
Swedish African WBC super middleweight champion of the
world, Badou Jack (20-1-2). Bute (32-3-1) is working now on
a daily basis at the Monster Gym in Dorval, in the West
Island of Montréal, with his trainers Howard and Otis Grant.
“Now that my file with the WBC is closed, I can concentrate
totally my efforts on the training, said Bute. It was
extremely difficult to train in the last months, with this
drug's file on my back. I feel relax now, and I am so
enthusiast to work on a daily basis in the gym with Howard
and Otis Grant. I feel so relieve to know that boxing is
back my priority and my passion.”
According several trusting sources, Bute will make a
comeback in the ring February 24th at the Videotron Centre
in Québec City. He will be involved in the semi-final of
this boxing show organized by the GYM Group, headed by the
promoter Yvon Michel. Bute will fight just before the
presentation of the WBC light heavyweight championship of
the world opposing the Montrealers Adonis Stevenson (28-1-0)
and Eleider Alvarez (20-0-0). A southpaw considered as one
of the most powerful puncher pound for pound in the world,
Stevenson will proceed to the eight defence of his world
title. Alvarez is the mandatory challenger.
“I don’t know who will be my next opponent, but for sure, in
2017, I want absolutely to fight the winner of this
unification (WBC and IBF) world titles bout opposing James
DeGale (23-1-0) to Badou Jack January 14th in Brooklyn, said
Bute. I will sit at ringside January 14th, and when the bout
will be over, I will go in the ring to challenge the winner.
I lost a decision against DeGale last year and I got a draw
with Badou Jack last spring, but I am positive I would beat
both in a rematch. I know exactly what to do offensively,
defensively and strategically to dominate both of them. When
I fought DeGale and Jack, I fought energetically, but I made
technical mistakes. Trust me, when i will fight again DeGale
or Jack, I won’t commit anymore these mistakes.”
Howard Grant is persuaded that Bute has the weapons
necessaries to become back world champion in 2017. “Lucian
is 36 years old, but he is training extremely hard day after
day to be effective in the ring, said Howard. With his
natural talent and his great determination, Lucian can
become back world champion in 2017, and I really believe he
will achieve it. Lucian lost by decision against DeGale last
November in Québec City, and he got a draw against Badou
Jack last April in Washington (D.C.), but he got great
performances in both of these two world championship bouts.
Lucian proved in these two bouts he still have the weapons
necessaries to become back world champion. And it’s great to
see him back enthusiast and motivated in the gym. It was
impossible for him to be enthusiast in the gym during the
last weeks, in not knowing what would happen with his file
with the WBC and the Washington Athletic Commission. His
moral was clearly down during this troubling period.
However, you are seeing the real Lucian Bute now. And watch
him in the ring at his next fight, i am sure you will be
impressed.”
Bernard Barré, the scout of the GYM Group, said: “No doubt,
Lucian crossed very difficult months with his file with the
WBC and the Washington Athletic Commission, but he can
concentrate of his passion now, the boxing. Very soon, we
will confirm the date and the identity of his next opponent.
I am positive Lucian will play a major role on the
international boxing scene in 2017. he is a great athlete
and a great fighter. It’s certainly not by accident or luck
that he became world champion in 2007, and stayed world
champion for five years.”
After 10 successful defenses of his IBF super middleweight
champion of the world, Bute lost his title to the British
Carl Froch in May 2012 in Nottingham, England. Froch won
this match up by TKO in the fifth round. Bute, now, is
looking to become WBC and IBF world champion, a statute that
DeGale or Jack will have January 14th.
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