Quebec Reaches Boiling Point As Bute, Johnson Weigh-In

ByBoxing Press

In front of hundreds of spirited onlookers at Laurier Quebec Place, IBF super middleweight champion Lucian Bute weighed in at 167.5 pounds while title challenger and ageless wonder Glen “The Road Warrior” Johnson tipped the scales at 166.5 pounds, just one day before their Showtime Championship Boxing showdown from Pepsi Coliseum in Quebec City on Saturday, Nov. 5, live on Showtime at 9 p.m. ET/PT, delayed on the West Coast.

Both fighters in the 12-round co-feature also made weight. Rising Canadian star Pier-Olivier Côté (17-0, 11 KOs), of Quebec City , weighed in at the junior welterweight limit of 140 pounds. His opponent Jorge Luis Teron (25-2-1, 17 KOs), of the Bronx, New York , weighed in at 139.25 pounds.

One of the largest box office draws in boxing, the undefeated, Romanian-born Bute will enter the ring with an unblemished record of 29-0 with 24 KOs . Bute has registered knockouts in seven of his eight title defenses and has only gone the distance five times in his professional career.

Johnson (51-15-2, 35 KOs), a legend for his bouts against Roy Jones Jr., Bernard Hopkins and Antonio Tarver, will make his 10th appearance in a world title fight. The 42-year-old Jamaican-born Johnson has fought out of Miami for almost two decades.

The former world champ, who earned the nickname “The Road Warrior” for never shying away from challenging an opponent on his home turf, will once again travel to enemy territory for a shot at a championship.

Lucian Bute:
“I’m very happy to be here in Quebec. Like everyone knows, I have great memories here. In 2009, I experienced the best moment of my career which was my big victory in the second (Librado) Andrade fight in front of a sold out crowd at the Pepsi Coliseum. I’m certain that Saturday will yield the same result. The Coliseum will be rocking again and excitement will be in the air.

“I was in training camp for three months. I know Glen Johnson is prepared. He is a very good boxer with lots and lots of experience. I did not take him lightly because I know that a victory over Glen will catapult me to the next level.

“Thank you very much to the city and to all InterBox sponsors for making me feel at home and opening the door again to box at the Pepsi Coliseum. Thank you to the media for being present. Thank you for the City of Quebec for all the support. I would like to thank Showtime for showing my fight. Thanks to Glen Johnson and his team.”

Glen Johnson:
“It’s going to be a good fight Saturday night. It’s going to be a war, an exciting war. And Showtime and the people will have a great show.

“Thanks to Showtime for continuing to show my fights and move my career in the right direction and for giving me the opportunity to achieve my goals.

“Lucian Bute, thanks to him and his team for the opportunity.

“Thanks to my team, trainer, promoters and manager for being with me during the ups and downs in my career. I know I can be difficult sometimes and I appreciate it.”

The winner of Bute-Johnson could likely meet the winner of the Super Six World Boxing Classic, which concludes on Saturday, Dec. 17, on Showtime. World champions Andre Ward (World Boxing Association) and Carl Froch (World Boxing Council) will clash in the Final of the Super Six in a showdown that will determine the world’s best 168-pound fighter.

Steve Albert will call the action with Al Bernstein and Antonio Tarver providing color commentary and Jim Gray serving as ringside reporter. David Dinkins Jr. is the executive producer of Showtime Sports with Ray Smaltz producing and Bob Dunphy directing.