Lucian Bute Will Repeat His Dominance Over Librado Andrade Sans The Drama

This is an easy one to predict. Lucian Bute (24-0, 19 KOs) is arguably the best super middleweight in the world. I say arguably because Arthur Abraham and suddenly Andre Ward, fresh off of his dismantling of Mikkel Kessler, can also make legitimate claims. Be that as it may, I do not expect Bute to have any problem dispatching of the very limited Librado Andrade (28-2, 21 KOs).

Let’s be honest. The only reason this fight is taking place is because Andrade nearly stopped the careless and tiring Bute in the final round of their fight a year ago. It was a fight in which he was being thoroughly out-boxed and out-classed. I’m sure Andrade and his handlers feel they can build on the momentum of that near-knockout victory.

Bute, on the other hand, simply needs to not get knocked out. If he sticks to the game plan of boxing, lateral movement and crisp counter-punching, he should cruise to victory. If he gets hyped up by his hometown crowd in Quebec, Canada and elects to trade bombs with Andrade, he gives his opponent his only chance at victory.

Bute is smarter than that. He will pitch a near-shutout and win by unanimous decision in a fight that really does not need to take place. No matter who emerges as the winner of the super middleweight tournament, Lucian Bute’s name must enter the fray in any conversation about who’s the best 168-pounder in the world. Let’s hope this question gets answered soon in the ring.