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IBF super middleweight champion Lucian Bute made his third successful title defense with a devastating fourth round TKO victory over Fulgencio Zuniga Friday night on Showtime’s ShoBox: The New Generation from the Bell Centre in Montreal.
The adopted hometown hero dominated from start to brutal finish, landing a powerful left hook to the body that sent the Colombian Zuniga, 22-4-1 (19), to the canvas early in the fourth.
Zuniga barely got up to beat the referee’s count and once he did he was met with an onslaught of punches from the naturally bigger Bute, 24-0 (19).
Against the ropes and defenseless to Bute ’s repeated combinations, the referee ended the championship bout at 2:25 of the fourth round.
The Montreal resident, by way of Romania, was cheered wildly by the 12,153 largely Bute supporters as fireworks exploded in the Bell Centre, home of the NHL’s Montreal Canadians. Friday’s fight was promoted by Interbox.
“I felt from the first round that I was better than him,” Bute said. “I controlled the distance and landed the right shots to hurt him. I felt that my punch went right through him. I didn’t even think he would be able to get up. Hat’s off to him for trying, but he just couldn’t go on.”
Bute was hoping for a dominating victory to wipe away any doubts that still lingered from his struggles during the 12th round in his victory over Librado Andrade, Oct. 24 on ShoBox.
During the fight, the undefeated Bute was knocked to the canvas for the first time in his career. Visibly shaken and hurt, Bute barely made it to his feet, but he beat the referee’s count to retain his belt on a lopsided decision.
“If he took a half step back with the win over Andrade, then he took two steps forward tonight,” said Steve Farhood, ShoBox’s color commentator. “If nothing else, this fight largely erased what happened in the 12th round with Andrade. Bute again looked like a fighter who could become the No. 1 super middleweight in the world.”
Farhood’s counterpart, Nick Charles agreed: “It was exactly what he needed, a complete domination with a fabulous power finish. He had his way from beginning to end.”
Now, the IBF 168-pound champ has his sights set on the toughest fighters in the division, and a little redemption.
“I want to fight Andrade again,” Bute said. “Let’s hope he wins his next fight. It’s not guaranteed. But the 168-pound division is full of great fighters and I want to fight the best. I’d go to the U.S. anytime to fight a guy like Kelly Pavlik or Jermain Taylor. I’m ready to fight anyone.”
While Zuniga was able to get up after the initial body shot that sent him to the canvas, there was no chance of recovering for the Colombian, who’s only losses have come against world champions.
“Unfortunately, he hit me in the stomach and took all the air out of me,” Zuniga said. “I just couldn’t breathe.”
Bute ’s preparation was the key in making that “controversial” 12th round against Andrade ancient history. “I was ready for a 12 round fight and I respected my game plan,” Bute said. “I wanted to give him a lesson in boxing and I did.”
Nick Charles called the action from ringside with boxing historian Steve Farhood serving as expert analyst. The executive producer of “ShoBox” is Gordon Hall with Richard Gaughan producing and Rick Phillips directing.
