~~~ Lucian BUTE v. Alejandro BERRIO Analysis and Prediction Thread ~~~

[Decebal]

Bute-Berrio at Bell

By Dave Spencer ([Only registered and activated users can see links]),Fightnews Canada



Alejandro Berrio will be making his first title defense of his IBF super-middleweight crown versus mandatory challenger Lucian Bute
October 11 at the Bell Centre in Montreal

A purse-bid was avoided yesterday when the two sides came together and reached a tentative agreement. Both sides are waiting on final approval from the IBF and expect to make an official announcement later today. The Colombian born Berrio (26-4 25KO) won the vacant crown in March with a stoppage victory of the previously undefeated Robert Stieglitz in Germany. For the undefeated Bute (20-0 16KO) who will boxing on his home turf in Montreal, he won the right to meet the champion this past June with a decision victory over Sakio Bika in an IBF elimination fight. Thursday August 16, 2007


Let us analyse this one properly!

Thus:


What are the strengths and weaknesses of each fighter/how do they usually fight?
What gameplan will they more likely aim to employ against each other in order to win?
How will the fight more likely pan out?:good

[Amsterdam]

Berrio strengths:

- Power! This guy is a true 1 punch KO hitter.

- Well rounded skills for what he is

- Knows how to pace himself

- Solid stamina

Berrio weaknesses:

- Glass chin

- Can neglect defence

- Believe it or not, sometimes showboats and with his chin....

[Amsterdam]

We know all about Lucian Bute.

My prediction:

The fight is going to be at an even pace for a few rounds, Berrio may even stun Bute with a right hand and then Bute will catch up to him and find that chin and put him out.

Bute KO 4.

[Odo]

Berrio is one of the weakest champs out there.Damn! What a limited and totally one-dimensional champ he is! He entirly depends on his firepower.
He can be easily outboxed,his stamina is nothing special at all,you see his punches miles ahead,his defence is a joke,he tends to fight like a clumsy truck driver who doesnt seem to be very familiar with boxing at all.
Stieglitz beat him fairly easily in their encounter stopping him in round 11,and he dominated every second of their second encounter up to the moment when he was caught by one of Berrio's haymakers.Lucky punch!Otherwise Stieglizt would have stopped him again in a one-sided bout.
As long as Bute avoids Berrio's haymakers he should be able to win every second of his encounter with that totally limited Columbian.
Berrio has too much on his plate with Bute IMO.
I have absolutely no doubt that Stieglizt would win a rematch,too.
There are dozens of better skilled fighters at supermiddle IMO.

[achillesthegreat]

I don't know who Berrio is.

I expect Bute to be the new IBF champ outside of Berrios power becoming a factor.

Bute will then get one or two easy defences in and eventually his team will look to match him with the Calzaghe-Kessler winner.

[TomaTos]

Berrio is dangerous..., he got momentum now and he sure can bang. If Berrio cant hurt Bute early it will be either a late KO or a wide UD. Bute is not there to KO people like Diaconu is.

[Quik]

Berrio has huge power but not much beside that. If Bute fights cautious and doesn´t get cocky he should win by UD or late stoppage.
After that i would love to see a Berrio-Miranda match-up.

Bute is not the type of fighter to get cocky, not at all. I can't see how he could lose, he will easely outbox Berrio with is amazing handspeed and good power and will use is intelligence on the ring to keep Berrio from using is big punches as much as it is possible. I don't think Berrio will be able to hit him hard more then a couple of times in the fight as Bute's superior defense and speed will make the task even harder for Berrio. I think Berrio will try to hurt Lucian at the beginning of the fight but won't be able to catch him with a good punch and will be frustrated by Bute's combinations that will touch him easily. He will then try to be patient and hope Bute will make a mistake wich won't happen. In the late rounds he will attack and trow a lot of punches but Bute will touch him a lot more often and the ref will stop the fight arround the 11th.

[Decebal]

I agree that Bute is not the type of fighter to get cocky and not prepare well or not concentrate in the fight...he always does both - in fact, people have criticised him for being overcautious and taking too few risks, when he could have finished the fights with a KO, earlier...

However, I AM looking forward to see Bute's chin tested by Berrio - I know it is not thought of as being less than solid - Bika has proven that - but it would be nice to see how good it really is! Saying that, I am not expecting Berrio to KO Bute, not even with a lucky punch - unless it's something out of this world...So...yes...I AM careful what I am wishing for...but...I DO want Bute to pass another test - and Berrio WILL test his chin, if nothing else!

[Quik]

I agree that Bute is not the type of fighter to get cocky and not prepare well or not concentrate in the fight...he always does both - in fact, people have criticised him for being overcautious and taking too few risks, when he could have finished the fights with a KO, earlier...

However, I AM looking forward to see Bute's chin tested by Berrio - I know it is not thought of as being less than solid - Bika has proven that - but it would be nice to see how good it really is! Saying that, I am not expecting Berrio to KO Bute, not even with a lucky punch - unless it's something out of this world...So...yes...I AM careful what I am wishing for...but...I DO want Bute to pass another test - and Berrio WILL test his chin, if nothing else!

Yea Berrio is the best to test his chin. I think Bute have a good chin, if not great and that fight with Berrio will just make him Better.

[Decebal]

[Only registered and activated users can see links]

Stephan Larouche, Bute's trainer, said the fight has the ingredients to be a classic.

"People say that style makes a fight, and in this case you've got two completely different boxers stepping into the ring. You have a boxer (Bute) versus a puncher (Berrio), a brawler versus a dancer. Berrio has heavy hands and he'll throw a punch from anywhere. He'll even switch hands, from right to left, but he takes risks. Lucian is a brainy fighter. His plan is to be patient and take Berrio into the later rounds. Berrio has never gone the distance before, so it will be to Lucian's advantage the longer it goes."

Larouche likes his fighter's chances.

"Speed usually wins over power in boxing; Lucian can throw 100 punches in a round and come back fresh the next round. But power is a shortcut to victory, so Lucian will have to be smart."

Larouche said the hometown crowd should help Bute.

"Every time Lucian throws a punch, the crowd will go wild. He'll get energized by that."
Bute said he is counting on local fans to be in his corner:

"I am excited to fight in Montreal and I am counting on the additional support of the crowd to become a champion."

Larouche, who is also the director of operations for InterBox, said bringing a mandatory world-title fight to Montreal took some doing.
"It took some late-night negotiating," he said.
He did not divulge the size of the purse, but said it will be the biggest payday for both boxers.

[Only registered and activated users can see links] ([Only registered and activated users can see links])

"I'm happy to fight in front of my fans," the Romanian-born Bute said. "I've already started my preparations and I'm confident I will win and become world champion."

"He [Berrio] has 25 knockouts, so he hits hard," added Bute, who has permanent resident status in Canada and is awaiting citizenship. "He's aggressive and he has a good record.
"But I'm not afraid of that."

Trainer and manager Stephan Larouche said Bute has faced good punchers in his recent bouts and should win with his smooth skills and deceptive movement in the ring. "We'll have a strategy, but you still have to go with what you do best," Larouche said. "His weapons are his sense of distance, balance, accuracy. With those tools, it's hard to lose."

[Only registered and activated users can see links] ([Only registered and activated users can see links])

[Only registered and activated users can see links]

[Fat Tony]

bute will knock him out stigliets in the 2 first round was dominating no way berrio can do 12 rounds with abute i say bute ko5

Before the third round I expected Stieglitz to knock Berrio out in this round. :D

Bute by t/ko in the first six rounds.

[Decebal]

Anyone think that if he passed this test, Bute has little to prove against a guy like Froch?:think

[Decebal]

"Il est champion du monde pour l'instant, précise Bute. Après le 11 octobre, il va perdre sa ceinture. La bourse n'est pas importante. Ce qui est important, c'est que mon combat va être ici. Je veux gagner la ceinture de champion du monde, je veux devenir champion du monde, c'est très important pour moi."

This isn't overconfidence! It is an expression of Lucian Bute's true will. He is lucky he went with a great team like InterBox, who are interested in performance, not primarily business, like Sauerland, for example.
GO BUTE!:happy

[Odo]

[Only registered and activated users can see links]

Stephan Larouche, Bute's trainer, said the fight has the ingredients to be a classic.

"People say that style makes a fight, and in this case you've got two completely different boxers stepping into the ring. You have a boxer (Bute) versus a puncher (Berrio), a brawler versus a dancer. Berrio has heavy hands and he'll throw a punch from anywhere. He'll even switch hands, from right to left, but he takes risks. Lucian is a brainy fighter. His plan is to be patient and take Berrio into the later rounds. Berrio has never gone the distance before, so it will be to Lucian's advantage the longer it goes."

Larouche likes his fighter's chances.

"Speed usually wins over power in boxing; Lucian can throw 100 punches in a round and come back fresh the next round. But power is a shortcut to victory, so Lucian will have to be smart."

Larouche said the hometown crowd should help Bute.

"Every time Lucian throws a punch, the crowd will go wild. He'll get energized by that."
Bute said he is counting on local fans to be in his corner:

"I am excited to fight in Montreal and I am counting on the additional support of the crowd to become a champion."

Larouche, who is also the director of operations for InterBox, said bringing a mandatory world-title fight to Montreal took some doing.
"It took some late-night negotiating," he said.
He did not divulge the size of the purse, but said it will be the biggest payday for both boxers.

[Only registered and activated users can see links] ([Only registered and activated users can see links])

"I'm happy to fight in front of my fans," the Romanian-born Bute said. "I've already started my preparations and I'm confident I will win and become world champion."

"He [Berrio] has 25 knockouts, so he hits hard," added Bute, who has permanent resident status in Canada and is awaiting citizenship. "He's aggressive and he has a good record.
"But I'm not afraid of that."

Trainer and manager Stephan Larouche said Bute has faced good punchers in his recent bouts and should win with his smooth skills and deceptive movement in the ring. "We'll have a strategy, but you still have to go with what you do best," Larouche said. "His weapons are his sense of distance, balance, accuracy. With those tools, it's hard to lose."

[Only registered and activated users can see links] ([Only registered and activated users can see links])

[Only registered and activated users can see links]




Larouche's statement that the fight has the ingredients to be a classic is exaggerated,decebal.
Berrio is a very limited puncher who for sure has a puncher's chance against any opponent but who can be easily outboxed even by fighters who can be found among the lower echelon of his weight division.
If Bute isnt able to beat such a slow and predictable opponent then he for sure doesnt belong among his division's best fighters.
I am still amazed that Stiegliz somehow managed to lose his title shot against such a one-dimensional fighter! I guess that 9 out of 10 times he would have won a fight against Berrio,but ............that night...... .

[Decebal]

Larouche's statement that the fight has the ingredients to be a classic is exaggerated,decebal.
Berrio is a very limited puncher who for sure has a puncher's chance against any opponent but who can be easily outboxed even by fighters who can be found among the lower echelon of his weight division.
If Bute isnt able to beat such a slow and predictable opponent then he for sure doesnt belong among his division's best fighters.
I am still amazed that Stiegliz somehow managed to lose his title shot against such a one-dimensional fighter! I guess that 9 out of 10 times he would have won a fight against Berrio,but ............that night...... .

Yeah, I'm with you on this - in fact, let us hope, for Bute's sake, it doen't become a classic;) ...but if it does, Bute will still win it, even if he is floored along the way a couple of times:| ...I guess in that case, we will see another side of Bute...and we will appreciate him even more,:p in some ways - here's me trying to put a good spin on it, already...:lol:

[Amsterdam]

Yeah, I'm with you on this - in fact, let us hope, for Bute's sake, it doen't become a classic;) ...but if it does, Bute will still win it, even if he is floored along the way a couple of times:| ...I guess in that case, we will see another side of Bute...and we will appreciate him even more,:p in some ways - here's me trying to put a good spin on it, already...:lol:

A war ending in a magnificent KO gets Bute more fans, so long as he's the winner. I doubt that it will be a classic though, Bute will box for a few rounds and then put the glass jawed, albeit underrated(good win for Bute:D ) Berrio away in rounds 4-8 or so.

Should be a good scrap.

[darkness]

Bute by Ko in 7

[Quik]

A war ending in a magnificent KO gets Bute more fans, so long as he's the winner. I doubt that it will be a classic though, Bute will box for a few rounds and then put the glass jawed, albeit underrated(good win for Bute:D ) Berrio away in rounds 4-8 or so.

Should be a good scrap.

I don't think it'll be a war. It will be a kind of Gatti-Mayweather in even worst for Berrio, Bute has more power then PBF p4p. Berrio will earn every penny of his purse the hard way :D.

[Amsterdam]

I don't think it'll be a war. It will be a kind of Gatti-Mayweather in even worst for Berrio, Bute has more power then PBF p4p. Berrio will earn every penny of his purse the hard way :D.

Sunt de acord - Bute il va distruge pe Berrio!:D

[Decebal]

Berrio will earn every penny of his purse the hard way :D.

A good thing then that it is a carreer best purse...

[Decebal]

Sunt de acord - Bute il va distruge pe Berrio!:D


:happy

[THN]

Butr an easy winn!

[Decebal]

Bute vs Berrio rescheduled!

The scheduled IBF super middleweight championship bout featuring champion Alejandro Berrio vs Lucian Bute will now take place on October 19th. The Gillet Entertainment Group contacted InterBox this morning to inform them that the Friday date was available for the Bell Centre. InterBox immediately seized this opportunity and rescheduled the event. "This is great news for all the parties, especially for the numerous fans of Lucian Bute all across the Province who will benefit from the date change. It will be easier for them to attend this Gala which will mark the first world title bout in Montreal over the last 5 years" states Stephan Larouche, Director of Boxing Operations at InterBox. Tickets go on sale on Thursday .

(Thanks, Maxime!)

[Decebal]

Any more news?

[CASH_718]

Well if Bute can't take a shot and has been hiding a shakey chin if Berrio connects he will show it.

But I'll say Bute TKO 9

[Maxime]

There was an article in the news paper yesterday about Carl Handy who fought both Bute and Berrio.

Handy has been working with Interbox ever since he fought Bute. He lives in Montreal now and he's does hundreds of rounds of sparring with Bute and the other Interbox's fighters every years.

[CASH_718]

There was an article in the news paper yesterday about Carl Handy who fought both Bute and Berrio.

Handy has been working with Interbox ever since he fought Bute. He lives in Montreal now and he's does hundreds of rounds of sparring with Bute and the other Interbox's fighters every years.Well thanks for that useless information there Fogell.:fuckoff

[Decebal]

There was an article in the news paper yesterday about Carl Handy who fought both Bute and Berrio.

Handy has been working with Interbox ever since he fought Bute. He lives in Montreal now and he's does hundreds of rounds of sparring with Bute and the other Interbox's fighters every years.

:lol: ...and...? What was the biased Handy sayin'?

[Maxime]

:lol: ...and...? What was the biased Handy sayin'?

How's your french? :D

«Bute est plus rapide, plus rusé et plus mobile que Berrio»
Daniel Cloutier
Le Journal de Montréal
22/08/2007 10h38

Le seul adversaire commun que Lucian Bute et Alejandro Berrio ont eu jusqu'à ce jour, soit l'Américain Carl Handy, se préparait soigneusement pour une séance d'entraînement, hier midi, au gymnase du groupe InterBox, au Centre Claude-Robillard.

Handy est l'un des partenaires d'entraînement assidus de Bute depuis deux ans.


«Je suis convaincu que Lucian détrônera Berrio, le 19 octobre, au Centre Bell, confiait Handy hier. Il est plus rapide, plus mobile et plus rusé que Berrio, en plus d'être supérieur en défense. Seulement, Lucian devra se méfier de l'affrontement, de la première à la dernière seconde. Berrio cogne très dur, et il dérange fréquemment la concentration de ses rivaux, en attaquant tantôt comme gaucher, tantôt comme droitier.»


Handy avait affronté Bute le 19 février 2005, à Québec, et avait fait face à Berrio, huit mois plus tard, à Miami. Il avait perdu les deux combats par K.-O. technique, le premier au quatrième round, l'autre au terme du huitième.


«J'avais accepté d'affronter Berrio à seulement 10 jours d'avis, avoue le boxeur de la Nouvelle-Orléans. Je n'avais presque plus d'énergie au terme du quatrième round, et pourtant, Berrio avait eu besoin de huit rounds d'efforts pour me pousser à l'abandon.


«Avec Bute, j'étais bien préparé, mais je n'étais pas capable de bloquer ses coups vifs et précis. Voilà pourquoi je me suis retrouvé deux fois au tapis, face à Bute, et une seule fois face à Berrio.


«Ce n'est vraiment pas une petite affaire que de contrer les attaques de Bute. Il est extrêmement rapide et lance de 80 à 100 coups par round. Berrio n'a aucune chance de battre Lucian aux points. Alors, il va y aller pour le K.-O., ça, c'est sûr et certain».

[Decebal]

How's your french? :D



Good enough for that article! Thanks, Maxime!:good

(What is it with the avatar BTW? I thought you'd never let go of LB...):verysad

[CASH_718]

Good enough for that article! Thanks, Maxime!:good

(What is it with the avatar BTW? I thought you'd never let go of LB...):verysad He is McLovin the 25 year old organ donor from Hawaii.

[Decebal]

He is McLovin the 26 year old organ donor from Hawaii.

Well, I'm Geronimo of the Bedonkohe Apaches; I'm invulnerable to bullets so I don't carry a donor card.

[Decebal]

Any news on Berrio's /Bute's preparation? Any other news?

[WhataRock]

I really see this going similiar to to the Bika fight for a while. Bute starts slow and does what he had to, takes no risks. Maybe having a little trouble with Berrio tyring to go after him.

Then he gets dominant and stops Berrio between rounds 8-10.

Im a little more interested to see who Berrio fights after this as Im sure Bute will probably take an easier defence.
Berrio vs Bika, Lacy, Miranda, Green, Oganov or Froch would be so cool, he is fun to watch.

[Axe]

How's your french? :D

«Bute est plus rapide, plus rusé et plus mobile que Berrio»
Daniel Cloutier
Le Journal de Montréal
22/08/2007 10h38

Le seul adversaire commun que Lucian Bute et Alejandro Berrio ont eu jusqu'à ce jour, soit l'Américain Carl Handy, se préparait soigneusement pour une séance d'entraînement, hier midi, au gymnase du groupe InterBox, au Centre Claude-Robillard.

Handy est l'un des partenaires d'entraînement assidus de Bute depuis deux ans.


«Je suis convaincu que Lucian détrônera Berrio, le 19 octobre, au Centre Bell, confiait Handy hier. Il est plus rapide, plus mobile et plus rusé que Berrio, en plus d'être supérieur en défense. Seulement, Lucian devra se méfier de l'affrontement, de la première à la dernière seconde. Berrio cogne très dur, et il dérange fréquemment la concentration de ses rivaux, en attaquant tantôt comme gaucher, tantôt comme droitier.»


Handy avait affronté Bute le 19 février 2005, à Québec, et avait fait face à Berrio, huit mois plus tard, à Miami. Il avait perdu les deux combats par K.-O. technique, le premier au quatrième round, l'autre au terme du huitième.


«J'avais accepté d'affronter Berrio à seulement 10 jours d'avis, avoue le boxeur de la Nouvelle-Orléans. Je n'avais presque plus d'énergie au terme du quatrième round, et pourtant, Berrio avait eu besoin de huit rounds d'efforts pour me pousser à l'abandon.


«Avec Bute, j'étais bien préparé, mais je n'étais pas capable de bloquer ses coups vifs et précis. Voilà pourquoi je me suis retrouvé deux fois au tapis, face à Bute, et une seule fois face à Berrio.


«Ce n'est vraiment pas une petite affaire que de contrer les attaques de Bute. Il est extrêmement rapide et lance de 80 à 100 coups par round. Berrio n'a aucune chance de battre Lucian aux points. Alors, il va y aller pour le K.-O., ça, c'est sûr et certain».

Didn't know Cloutier retired from the NHL. :D

As a Canucks fan I can only say good riddance. :hey

[Jambon]

The fight will be interesting because Berrio's power gives hope of a turn around anytime. But Berrio will never be able to hit Bute with perfect flush right hands like he did Stieglish.

Bute KO 7th round.

[Decebal]

Didn't know Cloutier retired from the NHL. :D

As a Canucks fan I can only say good riddance. :hey

:lol:

[Maxime]

Bute-Berrio: succès assuré
DANIEL CLOUTIER
Le Journal de Montréal
29/08/2007 10h10

Des collaborateurs d'expérience


Bute, Adrian Diaconu et Jean-François Bergeron se préparent à disputer les combats les plus significatifs et les plus lucratifs de leur carrière; alors, leur programme d'entraînement sera fignolé avec soin.


Bute (20-0-0) s'entraînera autant avec des gauchers que des droitiers parce que le champion mondial des super-moyens de l'IBF, auquel il fera face le 19 octobre au Centre Bell, le Colombien Alejandro Berrio (26-4-0), est un boxeur ambidextre.


L'identité de ses partenaires d'entraînement sera connue la semaine prochaine.


Diaconu (24-0-0) se prépare à affronter le champion du monde des poids mi-lourds du WBC, le gaucher Chad Dawson (24-0-0), tandis que Bergeron (27-0-0), un gaucher naturel, se mesurera au boxeur le plus corpulent du monde, le Russe Nikolay Valuev (46-1-0).


«Pour soigner la préparation de Bergeron, nous essayons d'attirer à Montréal Moultrie Witherspoon, un bonhomme de 6 pieds 6 pouces qui présente un dossier de 11-0-0, a mentionné, hier, Ian Edery, du groupe InterBox. Nous avons besoin d'un gars doté d'un gabarit imposant pour travailler avec Jean-François au gymnase, compte tenu de la taille exceptionnelle de Valuev (7 pieds, 330 livres).


«Pour Diaconu, nous désirons des gauchers habiles et expérimentés. Nous négocions actuellement avec l'Américain Michael Simms et le Congolais Jeffa Ballogou.»


Le combat Bergeron-Valuev sera disputé le 29 septembre à Oldenburg, en Allemagne, et tout indique que le même soir, au Connecticut ou en Californie, Diaconu aura rendez-vous avec Dawson.


Le réseau de télé Showtime, qui diffuse tous les combats de Dawson, a déjà inscrit l'affrontement Diaconu-Dawson à sa programmation pour le 29 septembre.


Un vif intérêt


Bute a boxé devant des foules de 7 000 à 10000 spectateurs depuis deux ans au Centre Bell, mais il établira assurément un record personnel à cet égard, le 19 octobre.


«Nous avons eu la confirmation que 8133 sièges ont maintenant été réservés au Centre Bell, a révélé, hier matin, le chef de presse au sein du groupe InterBox, David Messier. Nous savions que la participation de Bute à un combat de championnat du monde majeur allait susciter un vif intérêt au Québec, mais cela dépasse nettement nos attentes.»


Concentration


Stéphane Larouche, l'entraîneur en chef du groupe InterBox, exigera que Bute travaille quotidiennement au gymnase avec une concentration sans faille.


«La concentration sera un atout majeur le soir de l'affrontement avec Berrio, a souligné Larouche.


«Berrio est un boxeur sournois qui aime surprendre ses rivaux avec de puissants uppercuts et directs de droite ou de gauche. Il est aussi habile de la droite que de la gauche, ce qui rendra la tâche doublement difficile à Lucian.»

[DanePugilist]

No translation? - I only had one year of french 20 years ago. Traduisez si'l vous plait. Ou donnez-moi les perspicacités

[Decebal]

No translation? - I only had one year of french 20 years ago. Traduisez si'l vous plait. Ou donnez-moi les perspicacités

Bute and Diaconu threads have officially become bilingual :happy - hell' I'd post some stuff in Romanian if I thought anyone would understand...:D

[Decebal]

Bute travaille quotidiennement au gymnase avec une concentration sans faille. «La concentration sera un atout majeur le soir de l'affrontement avec Berrio, a souligné Larouche.




:happy :happy :happy

Thanks, Maxime!:good

Would be interesting to see who Bute's sparring partners will be...more importantly, what do you think of Diaconu's prospective sparring partners?:think

[DanePugilist]

Bute and Diaconu threads have officially become bilingual :happy - hell' I'd post some stuff in Romanian if I thought anyone would understand...:DAs if others than frogeaters and Canadians understand french:lol: . Danes are so curteous, translating to a universal understood language - No more I say, no more:lol: :lol:

[DanePugilist]

Kessler станет чемпионом мира осенью

[Decebal]

Kessler станет чемпионом мира осенью

если он будет бить JC, то он будет бить Pavlik, Bute, каждого!

[Maxime]

No translation? - I only had one year of french 20 years ago. Traduisez si'l vous plait. Ou donnez-moi les perspicacités

Basicaly it says that Bute will start sparring soon against orthodox and southpaw fighters because Berrio likes to switch stance. They also mention that Bute's very focus in his training camp as usual.

[Maxime]

:happy :happy :happy

Thanks, Maxime!:good

Would be interesting to see who Bute's sparring partners will be...more importantly, what do you think of Diaconu's prospective sparring partners?:think

I don't why they don't make him spar with Bute who has style that is similar to Dawson. :huh

[DanePugilist]

если он будет бить JC, то он будет бить Pavlik, Bute, каждого!
Типы делают драки, но да, haha

[Decebal]

I don't why they don't make him spar with Bute who has style that is similar to Dawson. :huh

Maxime...I'm sure they do! Bute can replicate Dawson's skill reasonably well and Diaconu can replicate Berrio's one-punch aggressiveness reasonably well too...it's a win-win! But there's no point in publicising that - it's understood! Also, they are looking for other, different partners too - it makes sense to add some variety...:good

[DanePugilist]

Basicaly it says that Bute will start sparring soon against orthodox and southpaw fighters because Berrio likes to switch stance. They also mention that Bute's very focus in his training camp as usual.Thanks, mate - btw love your new avatar, Maxime - just my kind of girl.

[Decebal]

Типы делают драки, но да, haha

Hmmm... Стиль из Joe более опасен для Mikkel чем к Lucian:yep

[DanePugilist]

Hmmm... Стиль из Joe более опасен для Mikkel чем к Lucian:yep
Haha что неправильно - JC будет всей обидой - и bute улучшить то.

[Carlos Primera]

bute ko 5-7 in a one sided affair, but if he gets careless with a dangerous puncher....

[Decebal]

Haha что неправильно - JC будет всей обидой - и bute улучшить то.

Мы будем видеть! К сожалению, JC-LB никогда не будет иметь место...

[DanePugilist]

Мы будем видеть! К сожалению, JC-LB никогда не будет иметь место...
Наилучшим образом, JC хотело бы иметь пояс после того как kessler будет сделан с им

[Maxime]

Thanks, mate - btw love your new avatar, Maxime - just my kind of girl.
Her name is Ellen Page. She's a Canadian actress.

I got the picture here:
[Only registered and activated users can see links]

[DanePugilist]

Her name is Ellen Page. She's a Canadian actress.

I got the picture here:
[Only registered and activated users can see links] you - Think I am in love already, haha.

[Decebal]

Наилучшим образом, JC хотело бы иметь пояс после того как kessler будет сделан с им

Я был бы более счастливым, если Calzaghe возьмет пояс Bute чем никогда не бороться с Bute.:yep

[DanePugilist]

Yeah, но когда то время придет, bute улучшит и JC будет побито

[Decebal]

Her name is Ellen Page. She's a Canadian actress.

I got the picture here:
[Only registered and activated users can see links]

What is it with you and anorexic chicks?

Here's a real womanwho looks quite nice...and she's French!;) :

[Only registered and activated users can see links]
[Only registered and activated users can see links]

[Only registered and activated users can see links]

[Only registered and activated users can see links]

[Only registered and activated users can see links]

[Decebal]

Yeah, но когда то время придет, bute улучшит и JC будет побито

позвольте нам надеяться, что, когда Bute бьет Calzaghe, Calzaghe все еще будет силой и не только название:good

[Decebal]

right...so...if Bute beats Berrio, whom should he fight next?:think

[Maxime]

What is it with you and anorexic chicks?

Here's a real womanwho looks quite nice...and she's French!;) :

[Only registered and activated users can see links]
[Only registered and activated users can see links]

[Only registered and activated users can see links]

[Only registered and activated users can see links]

[Only registered and activated users can see links]

I like petite women. To each his own. :D

[Maxime]

right...so...if Bute beats Berrio, whom should he fight next?:think

What about Zuniga. It would make a good fight. :)

[Decebal]

I like petite women. To each his own. :D

Thank god! I love it when blokes call anorexic girls "petite" and obese girls "with a bit of meat on" - it leaves more stunning girls for me to compete for!:D

[DanePugilist]

What is it with you and anorexic chicks?

Here's a real womanwho looks quite nice...and she's French!;) :

[Only registered and activated users can see links]
[Only registered and activated users can see links]

[Only registered and activated users can see links]

[Only registered and activated users can see links]

[Only registered and activated users can see links] Page is very cute and lovable.

Having said that, I have always had a soft spot for Sophie Marceau. Most importantly Brunettes>Blondes.

[DanePugilist]

Thank god! I love it when blokes call anorexic girls "petite" and obese girls "with a bit of meat on" - it leaves more stunning girls for me to compete for!:DShe is petite, not anorexic. She is young. Again, I like girls with meat on, but - Page is very cute; she wouldn't need to circle my bed to have a chance.

[DanePugilist]

What about Zuniga. It would make a good fight. :)That would be a step down. How about a mandatory?

[Decebal]

What about Zuniga. It would make a good fight. :)

What is your top ten for SMW at the very moment, based on actual ability? And isn't Zuniga outside of your top 10? I don't think Bute should fight ANY fighters outside the top 10 anymore...:verysad

[Decebal]

She is petite, not anorexic. She is young. Again, I like girls with meat on, but - Page is very cute; she wouldn't need to circle my bed to have a chance.

:lol:

[DanePugilist]

What is your top ten for SMW at the very moment, based on actual ability? And isn't Zuniga outside of your top 10? I don't think Bute should fight ANY fighters outside the top 10 anymore...:verysadAgreed - the only way is up. No need to fuck about, when WC - unless you wanna be ridiculed.

[DanePugilist]

:lol:Not to mention she would hit the wall in doing so:lol:

[Maxime]

Relax guys I just thought the agressive style and the high volume of punches that Zuniga brings to the table would make for an exciting fight. :lol:

[Maxime]

Thank god! I love it when blokes call anorexic girls "petite" and obese girls "with a bit of meat on" - it leaves more stunning girls for me to compete for!:D
There's a difference between petite/skinny and anorexic. Just like there is a difference between thick and fat/obese.

I sware this is like people and boxers. You're either an all time great or a bum.

:lol:

[Decebal]

Relax guys I just thought the agressive style and the high volume of punches that Zuniga brings to the table would make for an exciting fight. :lol:

Maxime, I hope you are planning to become an accountant or work in insurance or something similar - you are clearly big on risk management!:yep ...if it were up to you...Bute's most dangerous opponent throughout his career should still be Bika...:p

[Decebal]

There's a difference between petite/skinny and anorexic. Just like there is a difference between thick and fat/obese.

I sware this is like people and boxers. You're either an all time great or a bum.

:lol:

Oh...so I am thick now, am I?:bart

[Amsterdam]

Kessler станет чемпионом мира осенью

Kessler - ey govno, prishlo premya podokhut':yep

[Decebal]

Kessler - ey govno, prishlo premya podokhut':yep

Spanner in the works - my online translator only likes cyrillic...:verysad

[Maxime]

Maxime, I hope you are planning to become an accountant or work in insurance or something similar - you are clearly big on risk management!:yep ...if it were up to you...Bute's most dangerous opponent throughout his career should still be Bika...:p

I'd like to see Bute fight guys like Miranda, Andrade or Lacy in his next 2-3 fights. I think it would be good to put his name on the map in the USA.

[Decebal]

I'd like to see Bute fight guys like Miranda, Andrade or Lacy in his next 2-3 fights. I think it would be good to put his name on the map in the USA.

:party finally!!! Yeah, dammit! Let's have Lacy or Andrade next...screw Miranda, though...:good

[DanePugilist]

Spanner in the works - my online translator only likes cyrillic...:verysadMine too:oops: Amsterdam now has a hidden language.:lol:

[Decebal]

Mine too:oops: Amsterdam now has a hidden language.:lol:

He told me what it means; in loose translation: Kessler - "time for you to die, motherfucker!":lol:

[Decebal]

Damn, what if Berrio gets that lucky punch in and KOs the Brute?:shock:

[Amsterdam]

Mine too:oops: Amsterdam now has a hidden language.:lol:

Russki, es war.:)

[semichin]

I'd like to see Bute fight guys like Miranda, Andrade or Lacy in his next 2-3 fights. I think it would be good to put his name on the map in the USA. If he wins those three, he's earned himself a name:good

[Amsterdam]

I would like to see Lucian Bute take on Jeff Lacy after Alejandro Berrio.

You're asking for trouble for Bute.

[Decebal]

You're asking for trouble for Bute.

No, he's right! Bute is overrated and overhyped and it would do his ego some good to be thrown in at the deep end soon. Otherwise, his handlers might be tempted to cocoon him in cotton wool forever, once he gets his hands on that insignificant and irrelvant title. Just ask achillesthegreat.;)

[Maxime]

You're asking for trouble for Bute.
First Lacy needs to make his comback first. He's not going to fight the IBF champion after 1 year off because of an injury that could have ended his career.

I too would like to see Bute fight Lacy but this probably wont happen until summer 2008.

[Decebal]

First Lacy needs to make his comback first. He's not going to fight the IBF champion after 1 year off because of an injury that could have ended his career.

I too would like to see Bute fight Lacy but this probably wont happen until summer 2008.

That is a possibility. Winner of Braehmer Veit and then Lacy?

Boring...better Inkin and then Lacy. But no way will Inkin say "yes". He is waiting for JC to vacate.

[Maxime]

No, he's right! Bute is overrated and overhyped and it would do his ego some good to be thrown in at the deep end soon. Otherwise, his handlers might be tempted to cocoon him in cotton wool forever, once he gets his hands on that insignificant and irrelvant title. Just ask achillesthegreat.;)
Personnally, I think getting the IBF title is just part of Bute's pregression and learning process. I don't think he's ready to fight Kessler or Calzaghe and I don't think his team think he's ready either. Winning the title and making a few title defenses against top10 ranked fighters (real top10) possibly on american tv will give him the most valuable experience that he needs to compete on the elite level.

Bute only has 20 fights under his belt. You can't go from fighting guys like Mock, Tatevosyan and Bika to fighting elite fighters like Kessler and Calzaghe.

Kessler became the elite fighter that we know today because his team took their time to develope him. Now I'm not saying Interbox should wait for Bute to have 39 fights before they step it up. I'm just saying 2-3 more fights on the world class level could make all the difference between success and failure when he get's his shot.

[Decebal]

Personnally, I think getting the IBF title is just part of Bute's pregression and learning process. I don't think he's ready to fight Kessler or Calzaghe and I don't think his team think he's ready either. Winning the title and making a few title defenses against top10 ranked fighters (real top10) possibly on american tv will give him the most valuable experience that he needs to compete on the elite level.

Bute only has 20 fights under his belt. You can't go from fighting guys like Mock, Tatevosyan and Bika to fighting elite fighters like Kessler and Calzaghe.

Kessler became the elite fighter that we know today because his team took their time to develope him. Now I'm not saying Interbox should wait for Bute to have 39 fights before they step it up. I'm just saying 2-3 more fights on the world class level could make all the difference between success and failure when he get's his shot.

Wise as usual, Maxime!:good

[Maxime]

That is a possibility. Winner of Braehmer Veit and then Lacy?

Boring...better Inkin and then Lacy. But no way will Inkin say "yes". He is waiting for JC to vacate.
I think the most likely fights are:

Markus Beyer
Winner of Andrade/Mack
Edison Miranda
Allan Green
Jeff Lacy

I doubt the european undefeated prospects will want to come over to america to get a shot at Bute when they can just wait and get a shot at a vacant title.

[Decebal]

I think the most likely fights are:

Markus Beyer
Winner of Andrade/Mack
Edison Miranda
Allan Green

I doubt the european undefeated prospects will want to come over to america to get a shot at Bute when they can just wait and get a shot at a vacant title.

Miranda and Green would definitely be steps backwards...if he is not ready for Lacy after three more fight including Berrio, there's a problem...after all, Lacy is not Kessler or Calzaghe.

[Maxime]

Oh I think Bute would be ready for Lacy right now.

But I don't think Lacy will be ready for a fight this big for another 6 months.

[Decebal]

Oh I think Bute would be ready for Lacy right now.

But I don't think Lacy will be ready for a fight this big for another 6 months.

So are you a Lacy supporter now?:p

[Azriel]

Why make Bute vs Pascal Knock out?

Bute is fighting the IBF champ. Why would he want to fight Pascal? Aside from the fact that Pascal is not ready for Bute and would get KTFOed?

Yvon Michel knows Pascal is not ready and Interbox would never allow their local competitor have a fight with their champion unless it was a mandatory.

You can keep dreaming but it ain't gona happen.:rasta

[Maxime]

I think Bute-Pascal will only happen if:

1- One of them loses a fight first.

2- The two of them are champions.

[Decebal]

Good luck, Lucian! May you stay healthy and fit, your heart - true and your will - strong! Dare to be great and continue to make us proud!

:party

[Decebal]

any news at all? Who are they sparring?

[Decebal]

Anything new?

[Maxime]

Bute is sparring Jeffa Ballagou, Otis Griffin and Carl Handy at the moment.

Two other sparring partners should join the team in the next few days.

[Decebal]

Bute is sparring Jeffa Ballagou, Otis Griffin and Carl Handy at the moment.

Two other sparring partners should join the team in the next few days.

Thanks, Maxime! Any articles / sources, in French?

[Decebal]

Bute is sparring Jeffa Ballagou, Otis Griffin and Carl Handy at the moment.

Two other sparring partners should join the team in the next few days.

[Only registered and activated users can see links]

39/45 KO!!! Nice LHW!

[Only registered and activated users can see links]

Why him?:think

[Only registered and activated users can see links]

Cruiserweight...I guess because he punches hard...

[Azriel]

The last one is because he fought Berrio.

[Decebal]

The last one is because he fought Berrio.

Yeah...but he lost to him...can he offer more than a couple of hints?

[Azriel]

Well, I would agree with you on that. Though he still saw him fight for 8 rounds, which is more then what Bute did.:rasta

[nonorobot]

Carl Handy is a regular sparring partner for Interbox boxers. Since losing to Bute 2 ½ years ago, Carl has been training and sparring at Interbox's gym.

[Quik]

Yea and i read an article in the newspaper with Carl Handy saying that he accepted the fight with Berrio 3 days before the fight and it still took 8 rounds to Berrio to finish him while it took Bute only 4 rounds with Handy having a proper training.

[Maxime]

Thanks, Maxime! Any articles / sources, in French?
[Only registered and activated users can see links]

En attendant son combat, Bute rassure sa mère
Daniel Cloutier
Le Journal de Montréal
12/09/2007 11h14

Lucian Bute, qui a pris part à un entraînement en public hier soir à Bromont, a téléphoné à sa mère à Galati, en Roumanie, question de lui faire un rapport précis sur sa préparation pour le combat le plus important de sa carrière qui l'attend le 19 octobre au Centre Bell.

Ce soir-là, le boxeur gaucher montréalais d'origine roumaine tentera de détrôner le Colombien Alejandro Berrio (26-4-0) à titre de champion mondial des poids super-moyens (168 livres) de l'IBF.

Bute (20-0-0) est l'aspirant obligatoire (no 1) à la ceinture.

«Je téléphone régulièrement à ma mère, mais encore plus souvent à l'approche d'un combat important, avoue Bute. Que voulezvous? Je dois la rassurer, lui promettre que tout va pour le mieux. En ce moment, ma mère est beaucoup plus stressée que moi...»

Maman Bute ne regarde jamais les combats de son fils, qui sont fréquemment diffusés par la télévision roumaine.

«Ma mère déteste me regarder boxer, admet-il. Elle ne veut pas me voir saigner ou encaisser des coups. Mais mon père, lui, ne rate aucun de mes combats.

«J'aimerais bien lui permettre de faire un voyage à Montréal, l'an prochain, pour qu'il puisse me voir boxer en personne», ajoute-t-il.

Comme un enragé

Bute, qui a participé à un entraînement en public au Château Bromont, dans le cadre du tournoi de golf de la chaîne de restaurants La Cage aux Sports, affirme qu'il trime dur au gymnase.


«Vous me connaissez, je m'entraîne toujours comme un enragé, mais je trouve le moyen d'en faire encore un peu plus cette fois-ci, affirme-t-il. Je ne peux pas me permettre la moindre négligence à l'entraînement, à l'approche d'un combat aussi significatif, aussi important pour mon avenir dans la boxe professionnelle.

«J'y mets vraiment le paquet lorsque je frappe le sac de sable, et je boxe avec une concentration parfaite avec mes partenaires d'entraînement», souligne-t-il.

Bute sait qu'il devra demeurer extrêmement concentré face à Berrio, un cogneur, et un vrai de vrai.

Lors de sa conquête du titre mondial de l'IBF, le 3 mars en Allemagne, Berrio tirait de l'arrière aux points au cours du troisième round lorsqu'il avait réglé le cas de l'Allemand Robert Stieglitz pour le compte de 10.

Il veut réaliser un rêve

«Oui, je devrai protéger parfaitement ma mâchoire de la première à la dernière seconde du combat, soutient-il. Berrio a enregistré 25 K.-O. dans ses 26 victoires, alors je sais ce qu'il a en tête.

«Il est expérimenté, il cogne dur avec les deux mains, il est ambidextre, mais j'ai la certitude que je suis un boxeur plus rapide, plus habile et plus complet que lui.

«Il n'est absolument pas question que ce gars-là gâche ma soirée le 19 octobre et qu'il m'empêche de réaliser mon rêve de jeunesse, celui de conquérir un titre mondial majeur de boxeprofessionnelle.»

Aujourd'hui ou demain, on devrait franchir le cap des 10 000 billets vendus pour cet affrontement. Bute sait qu'il boxera devant 16 000, 17 000 ou 18 000 spectateurs en octobre. La tension sera à couper au couteau...

«Plus il y aura de monde dans le Centre Bell pour scander mon nom, plus mon taux d'adrénaline sera élevé, affirme Bute. Ceux qui croient qu'une foule aussi imposante pourrait me déconcentrer ou me faire paniquer se trompent royalement. J'adore l'ambiance électrisante qui règne au Centre Bell les soirs de boxe.

«Je crois que ce sera la 10e fois de suite que je serai impliqué dans le combat principal d'un gala organisé par le groupe InterBox. M'avez-vous déjà vu paniquer une seule fois? Non, jamais.»

Motivation

Bute admet qu'il a un plaisir fou à se rendre au gymnase tous les jours.

«L'ambiance y est extraordinaire, souligne-t-il. Avec Adrian (Diaconu) qui se prépare à affronter le champion du monde des poids mi-lourds (175 livres) du WBC (Chad Dawson), et Jean-François (Bergeron) qui va faire face au boxeur le plus corpulent du monde (Nikolay Valuev), ça brasse au gymnase! C'est motivant sans bon sens.»

[Brickhaus]

Bute by late KO or UD. I don't get where people keep saying that Bute has such tremendous power. Here's someone who haven't been able to KO anyone, including chinny second-tier fighters, in years. He's very similar to Jermain Taylor in that he looks much stronger than he actually is. Berrio might go down due to accumulation and the fact that his chin is quite shaky, but it's not going to be on one punch, I'll say that much.

[Decebal]

[Only registered and activated users can see links]



Great article, Maxime; thank you!:good

[Decebal]

any news? Hope Lucian doesn't get injured!:!:

[PrideOfWales]

How've you been Decebal?

[Decebal]

How've you been Decebal?

Hey, mate!

Had me a little road trip to Scotland: Greenock and Largs and Edinburgh for Scotland v. Romania.

Unfortunately, I only stayed for a couple of hours in Greenock, so had no chance to congratulate John Simpson, but just seeing the place was enough to make me realise why it's a boxers' cradle.

[Only registered and activated users can see links]

[Only registered and activated users can see links] ([Only registered and activated users can see links])



I stayed in an excellent B&B in Largs:

[Only registered and activated users can see links]

[Only registered and activated users can see links]

[Only registered and activated users can see links]

Had a lovely time, of course! The people were so friendly and polite, it was all so clean and peaceful.

Edinburgh I always love returning to. Shame about the embarrassing display of the Romanians. Scotland on the other hand I was pleased with. Sean Lamont was stunning!:good

[Only registered and activated users can see links]

[PrideOfWales]

Hey, mate!

Had me a little road trip to Scotland: Greenock and Largs and Edinburgh for Scotland v. Romania.

Unfortunately, I only stayed for a couple of hours in Greenock, so had no chance to congratulate John Simpson, but just seeing the place was enough to make me realise why it's a boxers' cradle.

[Only registered and activated users can see links]

[Only registered and activated users can see links] ([Only registered and activated users can see links])



I stayed in an excellent B&B in Largs:

[Only registered and activated users can see links]

[Only registered and activated users can see links]

[Only registered and activated users can see links]

Had a lovely time, of course! The people were so friendly and polite, it was all so clean and peaceful.

Edinburgh I always love returning to. Shame about the embarrassing display of the Romanians. Scotland on the other hand I was pleased with. Sean Lamont was stunning!:good

[Only registered and activated users can see links]

I didn't know you were that way inclined but I'm glad you had a good time. Romania were unlucky not to beat Italy! I was cheering Romania on in the pub, close game!

I once went to Largs... great ice cream!

[Decebal]

I didn't know you were that way inclined but I'm glad you had a good time. Romania were unlucky not to beat Italy! I was cheering Romania on in the pub, close game!

I once went to Largs... great ice cream!

It's not that I AM that way inclined...but I had never visited the West Coast of Scotland...:oops:

Romania are losers! They could have beaten Italy on the day but for their indiscipline, lack of desire, self-belief and will to win.

Against Scotland, few players tried. However, most didn't. I remember two players missing a tackle on Lamont in Scotland's own 22 - by the time Lamont was in the Romanian 22, gunning for the line, they were barely walking towards the centre of the park; they just couldn't be bothered...in the World Cup!:-( I will never go to support this current team, as things stand.

[PrideOfWales]

It's not that I AM that way inclined...but I had never visited the West Coast of Scotland...:oops:

Romania are losers! They could have beaten Italy on the day but for their indiscipline, lack of desire, self-belief and will to win.

Against Scotland, few players tried. However, most didn't. I remember two players missing a tackle on Lamont in Scotland's own 22 - by the time Lamont was in the Romanian 22, gunning for the line, they were barely walking towards the centre of the park; they just couldn't be bothered...in the World Cup!:-( I will never go to support this current team, as things stand.

That's a shame Dece, this Romanian team has a lot to be proud of. Especially in the Italy game. Don't forget, Italy s a fully professional team of players with full time jobs in rugby, representation in the Heineken Cup and a place each year in the 6 Nations. The Italians are exposed to the highest level of rugby all of the time where the Romanians are mostly amateur and play rugby part-time. Given all of these facts, the very fact that Romania got so close to Italy is a good thing. If they had won, it would have been one of the biggest shocks the world cup has seen.

It's up to the (so called) big teams to open up the competitions so that the smaller rugby playing nations (for now) can play against the better teams in order to improve. Romania coming close to Italy just proves that they can be competetive so it's time to include them in an expended tournament every year.

[Decebal]

That's a shame Dece, this Romanian team has a lot to be proud of. Especially in the Italy game. Don't forget, Italy s a fully professional team of players with full time jobs in rugby, representation in the Heineken Cup and a place each year in the 6 Nations. The Italians are exposed to the highest level of rugby all of the time where the Romanians are mostly amateur and play rugby part-time. Given all of these facts, the very fact that Romania got so close to Italy is a good thing. If they had won, it would have been one of the biggest shocks the world cup has seen.

It's up to the (so called) big teams to open up the competitions so that the smaller rugby playing nations (for now) can play against the better teams in order to improve. Romania coming close to Italy just proves that they can be competetive so it's time to include them in an expended tournament every year.

If only it were true that Romania are amateur! Romania has at least 100 fully professional players. 18 out of the WC lot play in France, professionally. I was chatting with a member of the Romanian Rugby team and he was saying the problem was the players only try hard for their French teams who pay them a lot of money. They were payed to pay in the WC, of course, but most of the money is pay-per-result. The players however said: "No...first you have to pay us well, and then we'll play well!" This is ridiculous and shameful!

An example of an amateur team who play well and deserve a lot of help from the IRB are Georgia! Incidentally, they beat Romania a couple of months ago. Another is Portugal. They were so plucky in their games so far. I hope they beat Romania!

[PrideOfWales]

If only it were true that Romania are amateur! Romania has at least 100 fully professional players. 18 out of the WC lot play in France, professionally. I was chatting with a member of the Romanian Rugby team and he was saying the problem was the players only try hard for their French teams who pay them a lot of money. They were payed to pay in the WC, of course, but most of the money is pay-per-result. The players however said: "No...first you have to pay us well, and then we'll play well!" This is ridiculous and shameful!

An example of an amateur team who play well and deserve a lot of help from the IRB are Georgia! Incidentally, they beat Romania a couple of months ago. Another is Portugal. They were so plucky in their games so far. I hope they beat Romania!

100 pros?!?!!? That's ridiculous! Wales, Scotland or Ireland don't even have 100 pros!! One thing is for sure, the World Cup needs to be more competetive and the only way to address that imbalance is to get the weaker teams playing the better teams more often.

[Decebal]

100 pros?!?!!? That's ridiculous! Wales, Scotland or Ireland don't even have 100 pros!! One thing is for sure, the World Cup needs to be more competetive and the only way to address that imbalance is to get the weaker teams playing the better teams more often.

100 pros...i.e. 100 guys who get payed a relatively high wage, in some cases over £100k per year - very high by Romanian stadards - to dedicate themselves full time to training and to playing rugby in professional conditions, with the help of professional coaches, physios, etc.

The Kiwis say that they couldn't keep more than 16 teams at the next WC...still, Romania will probably make it.

The IRB is thinking of having two tournaments - one for the first 16 teams and one for the next 16.

I agree with you that the only way teams like Romania and Georgia will improve is if they play against top class competition. Canada and the USA are already in the Churchill Cup. Romania and Georgia played in the Nations Cup, organised for the first time this year, in Romania.

[Only registered and activated users can see links]

[Only registered and activated users can see links]

Romania were beaten 61-8 by the Emerging Springbok!!! Georgia did better - lost 24-12 to the Emerging Springbok, but only beat Italy A 22-20 (Romania beat them 19-8)...and remember the 48-6 drumming of Romania at Murrayfield in November?

Romania cannot/ doesn't want to/ compete against teams like Scotland, and are blown out of the water by the third teams of the Southern Hemisphere nations...I would play them against the likes of Argentina A, Ireland A, Scotland A, Wales A, France A and England A, and SA B, Australia B and NZ C until they beat these teams half of the time, before putting them up against the big boys...for at the moment, they cannot compete and are only avoiding hard tackles and injuries...

[PrideOfWales]

Decebal, I remember when I was a young boy and Romania played Newbridge RFC and lost (something like 24-20). This was late 80's/early 90's. In a gym just behind the rugby stand, Joe Calzaghe was probably training!

[Decebal]

Decebal, I remember when I was a young boy and Romania played Newbridge RFC and lost (something like 24-20). This was late 80's/early 90's. In a gym just behind the rugby stand, Joe Calzaghe was probably training!

:lol:

In the 80's, Romania beat Wales ([Only registered and activated users can see links]) (twice - 1983: 24 - 6 in Romania, 1988: 15-9 in Wales), Scotland ([Only registered and activated users can see links]) (the 1984 Grand Slam side 28 - 22 in Romania), France ([Only registered and activated users can see links]) (twice 1980: 15 - 0 in Romania, 1982: 13 - 9 in Romania) and drew with Ireland (13-13, in 1980, at Dublin). In 1981, they lost to the All Blacks ([Only registered and activated users can see links]) 14-6 but had two tries disallowed.

[Only registered and activated users can see links]


Now, with the passing of the amateur game, they are blown away by Scotland ...by 42 points, every time!

[Only registered and activated users can see links]

[Decebal]

Come on, Lucian! :happy :happy :happy

(any news...in any language!...?)

[Decebal]

news?

[DanePugilist]

He is probably working on his D like mad. Maybe trying out his punch resistance by placing an X on his chin for the sparringpartners.

[Decebal]

He is probably working on his D like mad. Maybe trying out his punch resistance by placing an X on his chin for the sparringpartners.

:D

[Decebal]

:bump

[live4box]

Bute's road to the Title on OCT 19TH vs BERRIO!

[Only registered and activated users can see links]

[bodhidarma]

Berrio is in town ! :admin

He arrived this morning in mtl !


News in french:
[Only registered and activated users can see links]

Clip in french:
[Only registered and activated users can see links]

[PrideOfWales]

My head says Bute. But there are too many doubts. Berrio will be very confident after winning the title, boxers who win belts unexpectantly always have that bit of extra confidence about them. Bute's chin is untested and Berrio can punch!

Official PrideOfWales prediction (with the aid of SuzieQ49): An even first round, Bute controls from rounds 2-6 and is ahead on all scorecards but Berrio starches him in the 7th or 8th forcing a TKO.

[bodhidarma]

My head says Bute. But there are too many doubts. Berrio will be very confident after winning the title, boxers who win belts unexpectantly always have that bit of extra confidence about them. Bute's chin is untested and Berrio can punch!

Official PrideOfWales prediction (with the aid of SuzieQ49): An even first round, Bute controls from rounds 2-6 and is ahead on all scorecards but Berrio starches him in the 7th or 8th forcing a TKO.

Very interesting ! Everybody here think that bute is going to win easily. That is why INTERBOX was willing to pay a lot of money to bring berrio here :admin.

11 000 tickets have already been sold. :bbb

[PrideOfWales]

Very interesting ! Everybody here think that bute is going to win easily. That is why INTERBOX was willing to pay a lot of money to bring berrio here :admin.

11 000 tickets have already been sold. :bbb

Everything says that Bute should win comfortably. But I have a funny feeling about this one.

[GABBY]

Everything says that Bute should win comfortably. But I have a funny feeling about this one.


me also , BUTE ko round 8

[Maxime]

I say Bute TKO in the later rounds in a tough fight.

Bute might go to the canvas a few times.

[Decebal]

:bump

[MrStayman]

Time for a lesson kiddies:

Bute outboxes Berrio for 12 rounds, getting in some tussles. He outclasses him safely, stepping to the side when Berrio tries to make it a slugfest.

When was the last time Bute fought off his bicycle? Ever since Bute stepped up in competition, he's become a safe fighter in the ring. Clearly outclasses his opponents, but fights safe.

[MrStayman]

I really see this going similiar to to the Bika fight for a while. Bute starts slow and does what he had to, takes no risks. Maybe having a little trouble with Berrio tyring to go after him.

Then he gets dominant and stops Berrio between rounds 8-10.

Im a little more interested to see who Berrio fights after this as Im sure Bute will probably take an easier defence.
Berrio vs Bika, Lacy, Miranda, Green, Oganov or Froch would be so cool, he is fun to watch.This is also a possibility. Bute could stop Berrio, but it will happen in the later rounds after he has employed the bicycle to great use. Still, I see it going 12: the difference here is that Berrio doesn't tire.

[Decebal]

To the people who voted Bute by UD - do you think that Bute will cautiously fight Berrio from the outside, to minimise all possible risk?

To the people who voted Berrio by KO - will Bute be overconfident, will he make a mistake or will Berrio just draw him in?

[Decebal]

Time for a lesson kiddies:

Bute outboxes Berrio for 12 rounds, getting in some tussles. He outclasses him safely, stepping to the side when Berrio tries to make it a slugfest.

When was the last time Bute fought off his bicycle? Ever since Bute stepped up in competition, he's become a safe fighter in the ring. Clearly outclasses his opponents, but fights safe.

Yes, Bute fought safe against Tatevosyan - he should have probably gone for it though...against Bika, it makes no sense not to fight safe - only a crazy person wouldn't, because try as much as you want, Bika will make it unsafe for you...

Against Berrio, he MUST fight safe again because Berrio is THE puncher in the division...

You say Berrio will not tire...I don't think Bute will tire either - he stood up to athletic, strong Bika pretty well; he is even fitter this time around.

[MrStayman]

Yes, Bute fought safe against Tatevosyan - he should have probably gone for it though...against Bika, it makes no sense not to fight safe - only a crazy person wouldn't, because try as much as you want, Bika will make it unsafe for you...

Against Berrio, he MUST fight safe again because Berrio is THE puncher in the division...

You say Berrio will not tire...I don't think Bute will tire either - he stood up to athletic, strong Bika pretty well; he is even fitter this time around.I agree. Neither fighter will tire. The most likely scenario is a 12 round UD for Bute via bicycle. I wouldn't be surprised if Bute tests the waters though to see if he can go into the kill, so a KO isn't out of the question. Either fighter might crack a shot on the others chin too (Berrios is shaky and Bute is against a power puncher).

I just don't see Bute running in and winning a slug fest in 4 rounds like some people seem to think.

[Decebal]

I agree. Neither fighter will tire. The most likely scenario is a 12 round UD for Bute via bicycle. I wouldn't be surprised if Bute tests the waters though to see if he can go into the kill, so a KO isn't out of the question. Either fighter might crack a shot on the others chin too (Berrios is shaky and Bute is against a power puncher).

I just don't see Bute running in and winning a slug fest in 4 rounds like some people seem to think.

The people who think Bute will take Berrio out in the first couple of rounds don't think BUTE would do it by going for an all-out Bika-style slugfest - that would be suicidal and the chances of him getting KOed in the process would rise considerably - an unnecessary, stupid strategy...they think it would happen because BERRIO goes for it, leaving his defence open in the process and gettng TKO'ed by a Bute defensive counter...(Berrio doesn't have the best of chins!)

[MrStayman]

The people who think Bute will take Berrio out in the first couple of rounds don't think BUTE would do it by going for an all-out Bika-style slugfest - that would be suicidal and the chances of him getting KOed in the process would rise considerably - an unnecessary, stupid strategy...they think it would happen because BERRIO goes for it, leaving his defence open in the process and gettng TKO'ed by a Bute defensive counter...(Berrio doesn't have the best of chins!)Could happen... I guess. Just a lot more unlikely than people think. He isn't fighting a tomato can.

[Decebal]

Could happen... I guess. Just a lot more unlikely than people think. He isn't fighting a tomato can.

Berrio is underrated by many people, but he is not better than 10th in the division. Of course, if he KO's Bute and then KO's another rated opponent, his price will go up, and he would soon be talked up more than the likes of Froch, Inkin or even Mundine...we will see. I hope Lucian keeps a cool head in there - he will need it with this guy!:yep

I love your avatar btw!:lol: Do you have a video or a link to that fight?

[Decebal]

To the people who voted Bute by UD - do you think that Bute will cautiously fight Berrio from the outside, to minimise all possible risk?

To the people who voted Berrio by KO - will Bute be overconfident, will he make a mistake or will Berrio just draw him in?

:think

[Paulie]

I think Bute will win this fight by KO in round 4 or 5.

[Decebal]

I think Bute will win this fight by KO in round 4 or 5.

My money is on TKO in the 5th!:yep

[Paulie]

I hope you win some money Decebal !!

[Decebal]

I hope you win some money Decebal !!

No amount could be compared with the pride and joy, if Lucian won!:yep

[Decebal]

:bump

[Decebal]

To the people who voted Bute by UD - do you think that Bute will cautiously fight Berrio from the outside, to minimise all possible risk?

To the people who voted Berrio by KO - will Bute be overconfident, will he make a mistake or will Berrio just draw him in?

:think

[Decebal]

Congratulations to the following for picking Bute by stoppage!

Azriel ([Only registered and activated users can see links]), Boro chris ([Only registered and activated users can see links]), boxfan99 ([Only registered and activated users can see links]), Bubba ([Only registered and activated users can see links]), bumdujour ([Only registered and activated users can see links]), ButaboutBute ([Only registered and activated users can see links]), Decebal ([Only registered and activated users can see links]), dhralf ([Only registered and activated users can see links]), eltabarnacos ([Only registered and activated users can see links]), Fightfan of Mtl ([Only registered and activated users can see links]), freethinker ([Only registered and activated users can see links]), GABBY ([Only registered and activated users can see links]), goofy ([Only registered and activated users can see links]), huki ([Only registered and activated users can see links]), itliangladiator ([Only registered and activated users can see links]), Jambon ([Only registered and activated users can see links]), javad ([Only registered and activated users can see links]), LeedsLad ([Only registered and activated users can see links]), live4box ([Only registered and activated users can see links]), Maniman ([Only registered and activated users can see links]), Maxime ([Only registered and activated users can see links]), motorboater13 ([Only registered and activated users can see links]), Nemo ([Only registered and activated users can see links]), Paulie ([Only registered and activated users can see links]), pipe wrenched ([Only registered and activated users can see links]), québecwarrior ([Only registered and activated users can see links]), Quik ([Only registered and activated users can see links]), watcher ([Only registered and activated users can see links]), Ziggy Montana ([Only registered and activated users can see links])




Well done for knowing the difference!

.trunzx ([Only registered and activated users can see links]), ChuckYoungblood ([Only registered and activated users can see links]), ct ([Only registered and activated users can see links]), d00k ([Only registered and activated users can see links]), joreal ([Only registered and activated users can see links]), Lostmykeys ([Only registered and activated users can see links]), MrStayman ([Only registered and activated users can see links]), Omalos ([Only registered and activated users can see links])



Oh dear!:-(


EL MATADOR13 ([Only registered and activated users can see links]), JPoulsen ([Only registered and activated users can see links]), PrideOfWales ([Only registered and activated users can see links]), shooter Mcgavin ([Only registered and activated users can see links]), Tuavale ([Only registered and activated users can see links])




Here is your avatar for the next 7 days, PrideOfWales!

Yeah...I know...you don't deserve it...:bart




[Only registered and activated users can see links]

[MrStayman]

I thought my prediction of a UD would come true, but then Berrios head got knocked off in the 11th. Oh well, I still won vcash for over 9.5!

[Decebal]

LUCIAN BUTE v. ALEJANDRO BERRIO IBF CHAMPIONSHIP FIGHT - VIDEOS

[Only registered and activated users can see links] ([Only registered and activated users can see links])

[Only registered and activated users can see links] ([Only registered and activated users can see links])

[Only registered and activated users can see links] ([Only registered and activated users can see links])