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Can They Right Marlon’s Wrong?
Thirteen months ago, Librado Andrade, 28-2 (21), made his second career bid at becoming a World Title holder when he faced off against IBF Super Middleweight Champion Lucian “Le Tombeur” Bute, 24-0 (19), in a 12 round action packed affair that had all those in attendance at the nearly sold out Bell Centre in Montreal standing on their feet.
The bout was truly a classic boxer versus puncher affair as the southpaw champion put his technical prowess to use, utilizing every inch of ring space to his advantage. Bute landed right hand jabs and sent hometown spectators into a frenzy when he unleashed combinations, building up points on the judge’s scorecards.
In return, Andrade demonstrated why his reputation as a “True Grit” warrior was anything but exaggerated. Andrade pressured the Champion, causing him to stand his ground when he wanted to retreat.
When Bute would score flashy combinations, Andrade would punish him with hooks and overhand rights, letting the Champion know there was a price to pay for every punch unleashed even if the payback was one for every two absorbed.
In the latter rounds, it became clear Bute was not used to an opponent who was relentless, one who failed to crumble under pressure. When round 12 began, Bute ahead on all three scorecards, looked as if he could not hear the final bell soon enough, drained of all his physical energy and emotionally exhausted, the Champion’s heart was tested while the Challenger was never more ready to push his limits even further.
It became an almost “Rocky” type ending as the Challenger had Champion literally leaning on the ropes, stumbling across the ring as haymakers unleashed continuously to the temples and jaw of Bute. Straight rights would buckle his knees, the ropes saving him as he attempted a retreat to safety. Finally, as observers thought the excitement could not reach another level, Bute crumbled in the corner.
Andrade made a crucial mistake, however. With only 15 seconds or so left and the champion sitting in a heap on the canvas, Andrade failed to go into a neutral corner. Instead of Referee Marlon Wright immediately directing Andrade into a neutral corner, he seemed to temporarily lose control of the situation, looking almost confused.
Then, to make things worse, once Wright did start the count, he suddenly stopped turning back toward Andrade, who was now in a neutral corner, to admonish him. This time when he did turn back to resume his count, he seemed even more befuddled with what was going on, so much that the bell sounded to end the fight, perhaps costing Andrade a Championship win.
After the bout, fans in attendance booed and writers called for Wright’s removal from officiating due to his crucial error during the fights’ most critical point. The unprofessional behavior almost detracted from another important issue, “We just witnessed an incredible bout of skill and will between two of boxing’s elite Super Middleweights”.
On November 28, we will see Lucian Bute and Librado Andrade step into the ring one more time. With both men excluded from Showtime’s Super Six Super Middleweight Tournament, they will be fighting for an even more coveted prize, perhaps even more important than the IBF Super Middleweight Title. They will fight to prove who the better man really is.
Lucian Bute and Librado Andrade refuse to let things stand as is. Neither man is the type to sit and wonder, “What If?” Bute is not the type of Champion satisfied “escaping” with his belt due to an error. Andrade is not the type of fighter who is satisfied with “What might had been, if only?”
While neither man is outspoken or known to play into the media, both are true warriors of the ring that believe a victory is earned and a loss is hard fought. Any other way is unacceptable.
Hopefully, this time regardless of the winner, the ending is one decided by both men’s hands and not the referee’s error in judgement.
