Boxing In Canada: Lucian Bute KO’s Librado Andrade In Rematch

IBF super middleweight champion Lucian Bute produced the performance of his career at the exact right time last night at Pepsi Colisee in Quebec City, Canada, knocking out his most difficult opponent to date, Librado Andrade, in the fourth during a rematch.

The pair originally met 13 months ago with Bute lucky to emerge with his title intact following a controversial end to the bout but this time, there was no question of the outcome.

Perhaps better understanding the challenge posed by the durable Andrade, Bute fought last night from the first round like a man at the absolute zenith of his abilities, accurately controlling the distance with a southpaw jab and denying his American adversary opportunities.

Bute controlled the pace of the bout with his stellar footwork, never quite being there for Andrade to get a bead on and punishing the willful challenger with both hands for each step forward.

The champion seemed to be much more settled in this rematch and sat down on his punches better than in the original bout, jarring Andrade.

Andrade started to wilt under the punishment by the fourth and suffered a rare knockdown when caught by a lightning quick left hand to the head.

The Californian beat the count but was finished off when Bute landed a spearing left to the body that Andrade didn’t expect and could nit rise from at 2:57 of the fourth frame.

Bute retains the IBF belt for the fourth time, improving to 25-0 (20) while Andrade suffers the first stoppage of his career, falling to 28-3 (21).

The undercard was headed up by a controversial majority draw in a bout between South Africa’s Ali Funeka and Joan Guzman of the Domincan Republic for the vacant IBF lightweight title.

Guzman’s magnificent handspeed and boxing skills carried the early rounds but intense pressure from the towering Funeka forced the former WBO super bantam and super feather champion to expend a great deal of energy.

Funeka’s huge height and reach advantage began to take their toll as Guzman slowed down and the bout was waged at a pace more to the South African’s liking.

Guzman fired back and the pair traded heavy leather in the fourth frame but when Guzman was cut above the eye from an accidental head clash, Funeka took control of the bout the rest of the way.

The smaller man did well to minimize the punishment he received from Funeka but with reduced vision and broken focus, Guzman could not keep up for the second half of the bout.

When the scorecards were read, instead of an expected Funeka victory, a majority draw was announced by scores of 116-112 for Funeka and two cards even at 114-114.

The IBF title remained vacant while Funeka goes to 30-2-3 (25) and Guzman 29-0-1 (17).

Other support bouts on the bill saw super feather Pier Olivier Cote, 9-0 (6), outpoint Jason Hayward, 6-8 (2), over ten to annex the vacant Canadian title and middleweight Craig McEwan, 17-0 (9), posted a unanimous eight round verdict over James Parison, 12-1 (3).