Who does Lucian Bute fight next?

[Rantcatrat]

Robert Stieglitz backed out of a fight with him in July. Stieglitz reportedly turns down fight with Bute, Cunningham signs with Sauerland - Bad Left Hook

I'm using "backed out" loosely because it looked like Stieglitz simply punked out. It was a good effort, however, by Bute to unify the belts while he was a titleholder.

There isn't much in the way of quality remaining opposition. I know a lot of people hate on Bute. So, my question to the haters is who could Bute fight to improve his standing in your eyes? My personal opinion is that since his next fight is in Romania, a fight with "The Shark" Diaconu for Romanian boxing supremacy makes sense.

I don't want to see him dominate Bika again even though Bika has a belt and the Brinkley fight fell through. Hopkins wouldn't be a bad choice either. I doubt Pavlik would take on Bute in his first step up in weight considering what happened his last venture at that weight against Hopkins.

[Nameless]

HBO wanted bad a Bute-PAvlik fight but now that Pavlik lost against Martinez, it looks like it might be dead in the Egg. Stiglitz was a good idea otherwise I am not sure who's in line before the forced fight with the #1 contender.

[paddy448]

Calzaghe if I had it my way

[jdonaher1]

It'll either be Hopkins at 170lbs or the winner of Dawson-Pascal. Bute will probably fight Brinkley this summer in Romania first. Hopefully at some point he'll get the winner of the Super 6 but that'll be 2011.

[shza]

It'll either be Hopkins at 170lbs or the winner of Dawson-Pascal. Bute will probably fight Brinkley this summer in Romania first. Hopefully at some point he'll get the winner of the Super 6 but that'll be 2011.

I bet he fights Pascal despite Pascal losing to Dawson. It's a big-gate fight in Montreal and Bute is not ready for Dawson. He can also start fighting losers of Super 6 as soon as the round robin stage ends. I doubt Hopkins will take that fight -- it's clearly not a PPV.

[ElTerribleMorales]

It'll either be Hopkins at 170lbs or the winner of Dawson-Pascal. Bute will probably fight Brinkley this summer in Romania first. Hopefully at some point he'll get the winner of the Super 6 but that'll be 2011.

I bet he fights Pascal despite Pascal losing to Dawson. It's a big-gate fight in Montreal and Bute is not ready for Dawson. He can also start fighting losers of Super 6 as soon as the round robin stage ends. I doubt Hopkins will take that fight -- it's clearly not a PPV.

given how horribly his Jones rematch did on PPV, and that his fight against Ornelas was on VS. network, i doubt very much that Hopkins will complain about a HBO fight against Bute

[Mar]

I'm not sure, but i for one look forward to seeing him again. I was on the fence about the guy, but i'm starting to like him. He might be a little too much for b hop, but everytime i say that, hopkins weasels out a win somehow.

[eagle]

Beibut Shumenov. Haha