MONTREAL (AP) — Lucian Bute nearly collapsed in the final round and was saved by the bell as he retained his IBF super-middleweight title with a 12-round unanimous decision over Librado Andrade on Friday night.
Bute (23-0), fighting in his hometown, dominated the first 11 rounds, but was hit hard several times in the 12th and seemed to be both groggy and exhausted. After falling to the canvas, he could barely remain standing in a corner as referee Marlon Wright gave him a standing eight count. He was saved by the bell as the fight ended.
Wright gave Bute some extra time by ordering Andrade (27-2) to a neutral corner for the count.
Andrade absorbed a beating but kept moving in relentlessly at Bute, who spent most of the fight bobbing and then blasting his American opponent with right-left combinations.
The 30-year-old Andrade fights for Oscar de la Hoya's Golden Boy Promotions, but has trained in Montreal since January under Howard Grant.
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Friday, October 24, 2008
Referee Marlon B. Wright ruins sensational finish in Montreal, Bute retains on ridiculous officiating
I realize this is rambling, semi-incoherent, and probably doesn't even make a lot of sense if you didn't see the fight. For that, I apologize. But I am madder than hell about how this fight finished.
I am going to try to keep this clean because I know people read at work, I know there's a chance kids read this blog, and because I only curse during the heat of the moment of a fight. That's the pure boxing nut in me coming out. I certainly let loose at the end of tonight's main event in the round-by-round in the post below.
Let's be all Quentin Tarantino-y and start at the end.
Steve Farhood: "Do you feel you were cheated?"
Librado Andrade: "Oh, yes!"
FULL ARTICLE
I am going to try to keep this clean because I know people read at work, I know there's a chance kids read this blog, and because I only curse during the heat of the moment of a fight. That's the pure boxing nut in me coming out. I certainly let loose at the end of tonight's main event in the round-by-round in the post below.
Let's be all Quentin Tarantino-y and start at the end.
Steve Farhood: "Do you feel you were cheated?"
Librado Andrade: "Oh, yes!"
FULL ARTICLE
Lucian Bute and Ronald Hearns Featured in SHOBOX Double Header this Friday Night
This Friday on SHOBOX, at the Bell Centre, Montreal, Quebec, Canada, IBF Super-Middleweight titlist, Lucian Bute, 22-0, 18 KO’s, takes a big step towards solidifying his reputation as a super-middleweight champ when he faces the challenge of Librado Andrade, 27-1, 21 KO’s.
Bute’s most notable results come from his last three fights, winning a UD against the solid chinned Sakio Bika in June last year in an IBF Eliminator, stopping Columbian, Alejandro Berrio in 11 rounds to win the title twelve months ago, and then beating the oft-decorated former middleweight titlist William Joppy in February of this year.
Currently ranked at number 2 by boxrec, the Canadian-based Romanian southpaw has it all to prove in a division still trying to achieve equilibrium following the abdication of Joe Calzaghe. The challenge facing Bute is the big punching Librado Andrade, a thirty year old Mexican whose only loss came on points to then WBA and WBC Champ Mikkel Kessler back in March 2007. Andrade also sports a 78” reach and a great punch. Kessler went on to prove how good he is in a valiant losing effort against Calzaghe and then by reclaiming the WBA title earlier this year when the Welshman moved up to light-heavy. For his part, Andrade has rebounded with three straight stoppage wins against opposition of mixed credentials and is currently boxrec’s number 8 super middleweight. This is a potentially absorbing title fight and, despite “home” advantage, this is no foregone conclusion for the champion.
FULL ARTICLE
Bute’s most notable results come from his last three fights, winning a UD against the solid chinned Sakio Bika in June last year in an IBF Eliminator, stopping Columbian, Alejandro Berrio in 11 rounds to win the title twelve months ago, and then beating the oft-decorated former middleweight titlist William Joppy in February of this year.
Currently ranked at number 2 by boxrec, the Canadian-based Romanian southpaw has it all to prove in a division still trying to achieve equilibrium following the abdication of Joe Calzaghe. The challenge facing Bute is the big punching Librado Andrade, a thirty year old Mexican whose only loss came on points to then WBA and WBC Champ Mikkel Kessler back in March 2007. Andrade also sports a 78” reach and a great punch. Kessler went on to prove how good he is in a valiant losing effort against Calzaghe and then by reclaiming the WBA title earlier this year when the Welshman moved up to light-heavy. For his part, Andrade has rebounded with three straight stoppage wins against opposition of mixed credentials and is currently boxrec’s number 8 super middleweight. This is a potentially absorbing title fight and, despite “home” advantage, this is no foregone conclusion for the champion.
FULL ARTICLE
Showtime Boxing Weights and Quotes Lucian Bute vs Librado Andrade
La Cage Aux Sports in downtown Montreal was packed with local and Canadian national media members on Thursday as hometown favorite and IBF Super Middleweight World Champion Lucian Bute (22-0, 18 KO) weighed in at the division limit of 168 pounds. His opponent, hard-hitting, No. 1-ranked IBF contender Librado Andrade (27-1, 21 KO) of La Habra , Calif. , weighed in at 167.8 pounds.
The pair will square off on Friday, Oct. 24, in the main event of ShoBox: The New Generation, live at 11 p.m.ET/PT on SHOWTIME.
Friday’s ShoBox co-feature will pit undefeated heir-apparent Ronald Hearns (20-0, 16 KO), of Detroit , against Montreal native Paul Clavette (14-1-1, 2 KO). Hearns weighed in at 154 pounds while Clavette weighed 154.2. (NOTE: The contracted weight for this fight is 155 pounds)
Fighter Quotes From Thursday, Oct. 23, 2008
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The pair will square off on Friday, Oct. 24, in the main event of ShoBox: The New Generation, live at 11 p.m.ET/PT on SHOWTIME.
Friday’s ShoBox co-feature will pit undefeated heir-apparent Ronald Hearns (20-0, 16 KO), of Detroit , against Montreal native Paul Clavette (14-1-1, 2 KO). Hearns weighed in at 154 pounds while Clavette weighed 154.2. (NOTE: The contracted weight for this fight is 155 pounds)
Fighter Quotes From Thursday, Oct. 23, 2008
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Bute defends title against Andrade in Montreal
Lucian Bute should face the toughest test of his professional boxing career on Friday night in Montreal when he defends his IBF super middleweight title against Librado Andrade of Mexico.
Both fighters weighed in under the 168-pound limit on Thursday in Montreal.
A month ago, Bute and Andrade went on a tour of five Quebec cities to promote their title bout and became friends.
"We did five cities in two days and I found Andrade really friendly and nice," said Bute. "I respect him a lot.
"He's a good person. We're friends outside the ring, but inside the ring, we're opponents.
FULL ARTICLE
Both fighters weighed in under the 168-pound limit on Thursday in Montreal.
A month ago, Bute and Andrade went on a tour of five Quebec cities to promote their title bout and became friends.
"We did five cities in two days and I found Andrade really friendly and nice," said Bute. "I respect him a lot.
"He's a good person. We're friends outside the ring, but inside the ring, we're opponents.
FULL ARTICLE
Andrade relishes underdog role
'The pressure is on Bute,' Mexican super-middleweight says of IBF title fight with Montrealer Librado Andrade hears the cheers. He sees the homage paid to International Boxing Federation super-middleweight champ Lucian Bute.
Andrade saw it yesterday during the fighters' weigh-in. And he witnessed it a month ago, when the two completed a whirlwind two-day publicity tour through the province: Sherbrooke, Trois Rivières, Quebec, Chicoutimi and
Rimouski, by plane, in the span of 48 hours; one seated in the front of the charter, the other in the rear. Bizarre? Yes. Unusual? In the sport of boxing, sometimes, there is no logic.
FULL ARTICLE
Andrade saw it yesterday during the fighters' weigh-in. And he witnessed it a month ago, when the two completed a whirlwind two-day publicity tour through the province: Sherbrooke, Trois Rivières, Quebec, Chicoutimi and
Rimouski, by plane, in the span of 48 hours; one seated in the front of the charter, the other in the rear. Bizarre? Yes. Unusual? In the sport of boxing, sometimes, there is no logic.
FULL ARTICLE
Showtime delivers a Bute
The super middleweight division is in the process of staging a series of uncoordinated elimination bouts to find a replacement for Joe Calzaghe at the top of its hierarchy.
Calzaghe, moving up in weight to hunt bigger game nearer his age, has left a void that does not lack qualified candidates to fill the position. In November, America will nominate the winner of the Jermain Taylor – Jeff Lacy fight to represent the Good Ol' USA. Across the Atlantic, Brit Carl Froch fights Canadian Jean Pascal in December to determine the representative from the Commonwealth. Tonight, the two continents cross paths, when Canadian-based Romanian Lucian Bute takes on battle-hardened Mexican Librado Andrade on Showtime. It is a tasty clash that will provide plenty of punches and late round thrills, given the duo’s respective bodies of work.
FULL ARTICLE
Calzaghe, moving up in weight to hunt bigger game nearer his age, has left a void that does not lack qualified candidates to fill the position. In November, America will nominate the winner of the Jermain Taylor – Jeff Lacy fight to represent the Good Ol' USA. Across the Atlantic, Brit Carl Froch fights Canadian Jean Pascal in December to determine the representative from the Commonwealth. Tonight, the two continents cross paths, when Canadian-based Romanian Lucian Bute takes on battle-hardened Mexican Librado Andrade on Showtime. It is a tasty clash that will provide plenty of punches and late round thrills, given the duo’s respective bodies of work.
FULL ARTICLE
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