BUTE-BIKA SET FOR JUNE 15

**Maxime1** · 03-30-2007 06:58 AM

InterBox and Mr. Angelo Hyder, manager of Sakio Bika, have reached an agreement for the IBF Super Middleweight Elimination bout between Lucian Bute (19-0, 16 KO - #2 WBO, WBC, IBF and WBA #4) vs. Sakio “The Scorpion” Bika (22-2-2,14 KO) to take place in Montreal on June 15th.

With just over a week left in the negotiation period fixed by the IBF (April 6th 2007), InterBox Management are content to avoid the purse bid procedure. “We are pleased with the way negotiations were conducted. Our goal was to avoid the purse bid as we were 100% committed to staging this fight in Montreal in front of our fans. We pooled our financial resources to convince Sakio Bika to come to Montreal” states Stephan Larouche, InterBox Director of Boxing Operations.

A fight that is sparking International interest
The boxing world is taking notice of Lucian Bute and of the significance of this IBF Elimination bout. Right from the early stages of negotiation, InterBox has been fielded requests to attend the June 15th gala by way of phone calls, emails and faxes from media all throughout the world including from Australia, Europe (mostly England), the United States and the rest of Canada.

Presently celebrating Easter in Romania with family, Lucian Bute was very pleased upon hearing the news from Stephan Larouche that he will be disputing this important bout in front of his supporters. “This is excellent news, and I look forward to counting on the support of all my fans at the Bell Centre. I hope they will all come see me on June 15th because I am going to put on a great show. This is the last step before my dream can come true, and I will not waste this opportunity” states Lucian Bute.

If Lucian Bute wins the June 15th bout against Bika, he will fight in his first World Title bout against current IBF Super Middleweight champion Alejandro Berrio (26-4-0, 25 KO). According to IBF rules that fight would likely take place in September 2007.

Sakio Bika is back in Australia after spending the last few weeks in Denmark sparring with Unified WBC and WBA world champion Mikkel Kessler, who defended his titles in very convincing fashion against Librado Andrade last weekend. The boxer originally from Cameroon was not gun shy when presented with the opportunity to fight Bute. "All top boxers were contacted by the IBF and offered the Elimination fight against Bute, and one by one they all turned it down. It turns out that Sakio Bika was the only fighter with enough heart to pull out of a scheduled bout and say yes to a fight against Lucian Bute" states Stephan Larouche.

New Bell Centre Configuration

InterBox has decided to change the configuration of the Bell Centre for the Lucian Bute vs. Sakio Bika bout/Gala to accommodate more fans for the scheduled IBF showdown. InterBox will announce the date for ticket sales next week.

**CutMeMick** · 03-30-2007 07:10 AM

Maxime1 heres CC#4 on me thanks for the news...

Nice step up for Bute.....

Was wondering though, wonder where I could buy a belt like the one Bika has?

**Taeth** · 03-30-2007 07:32 AM

It will be a good gauge of Bute present skill. I never thought he was as good as Jean Pascal, but he has done more.

**Swashbuckling Gordy** · 03-30-2007 08:20 AM

I love his style Southpaw counter puncher,really good eyes he kinda sits off you paws at you with the Jab and then uses his feet to good effect moves away and counters but all done very quickly in a flash very clever standup European style .

He has the power and the skills to be a real top fighter cant wait for him to step up .