Since Pavlik isn't fighting Bute - what do you guys think of Quillin or Pirog?

[Kev]

Pirog looked really sub-par in his last fight, nothing on his shots getting caught a lot. I honestly think Jacobs could take him easily in a rematch. Plus he's gotta a small frame for being over 6' I think he would have a hard time being effective at 168. Quillin needs to fight someone else of note before getting a shot a Bute IMO. I think Quillin should fight Andrade or someone durable and steady like that, someone that can take Quillin to deeper waters.

I honestly think Bute is fine taking some lame opponent, because the only meaningful fight left for him at Super Middle is the winner of the S6 and that's not until October.

Sheep, I know you're one person who isn't high on Pirog or is very high on Jacobs. I'm probably in the middle, you can't take away that Pirog knocked Jacobs out hard. On the other hand, Pirog looked flat in his last performance. In any event, Jacobs is out indefinitely due to illness (if I recall, he had a lump removed from his spine).

I agree with you about Quillin. He needs an Andradeesque fight before he steps up.

Bilbo - I don't it would be a good business decision for Groves right now to take a Bute fight because he's flying high on his win over Degale. It seems like the risk wouldn't be worth it at this point. He might as well milk his domestic popularity for at least a little while.

I think the winner or loser of the S6 would be a good fight to be honest, meaning Carl Froch or Andre Ward.

Maybe but he wouldn't have to win to boost his career. A solid effort would raise his profile, a loss to a solid world champion before you get into your prime doesn't harm a career.

Michale Watson went straight into a world title fight against Mike McCallum after taking Nigel Benn's commonwealth title as did Steve Dollins after only 20 fights or so.

True they both lost but it didn't harm their careers, they want on to have their biggest fights afterwards.

It won't happen but I'd rather see Groves fight Bute than Johnson just to see someone different. People always go on about how Johnson is always unlucky on the scorecards but even Rocky Juarez hasn't had as many different chances to win belts as him.

He's had 5 failed title shots in a row now, 6 if you count Tarver's IBO crown. Can't we just force him to win at least one significant fight before he gets another crack?

I hear you on that, but Johnson has been relatively competitive in a lot of those matches. Take the Froch fight, it's not like he was destroyed out there. He was beat but he brought pressure and it was a fun fight to watch.

Yeah I know, it's just a shame there is nobody better out there. I appreciate his willingness to keep on battling it's just we know the outcome already, it will be a competitive fight for 12 rounds but Bute will hold on to his belt.

Whenever I hear Glen Johnson or Rocky Juarez have a title shot my eyes just glaze over.

To be honest I feel the same with Katsidis. I know people find him exciting but he's another predictable fade down the stretch. Knowing the outcome before just takes away the appeal for me. I son't just mean that they will lose, I mean the manner of it.

Bute vs Johnson W12 you can put your house on it.

[Rantcatrat]

Yes, that is true although it would be impressive if Bute stopped him. Who else is there? I mean I was really disappointed that Kessler went another route. That was a decent duck-job. I wonder if Kessler will go back to Denmark and finish out his boxing days fighting bums?

[captainanddew]

Pirog is at 160 and as another poster pointed out, he isn't the biggest guy. He is over 30 years old and is still able to make 160. Bute is at 168 but began his career fighting as high as 173. He would have a distinct size advantage against Pirog in my opinion.

I love Quillen but I think Quillen needs to face someone in the lower top 10/right outside the top 10 before jumping right in with one of the big dogs.

[shza]

Bute's people are apparently in serious discussions to fight one of the Dirrell brothers. http://ringtv.craveonline.com/blog/1...ing-considered

With Kessler, Pavlik, Froch, and Ward all out as opponents, Andre Dirrell (who I think beat Froch by 2-3 rounds) is definitely the best opponent out there, though he'll need a tune-up first. If that happens, then it would seem that they couldn't make the fight until a time that the Super Six winner would be available anyway.

I guess he could fight Anthony Dirrell sooner (no need for a tune-up) but I'm way less interested in seeing that.

[Rantcatrat]

Bute's people are apparently in serious discussions to fight one of the Dirrell brothers. Bute versus one of the Dirrell brothers being considered | RingTV

With Kessler, Pavlik, Froch, and Ward all out as opponents, Andre Dirrell (who I think beat Froch by 2-3 rounds) is definitely the best opponent out there, though he'll need a tune-up first. If that happens, then it would seem that they couldn't make the fight until a time that the Super Six winner would be available anyway.

I guess he could fight Anthony Dirrell sooner (no need for a tune-up) but I'm way less interested in seeing that.

Yea, I mean I just don't know the other options that are available. After the four you mentioned, Quillen opted to stay at 160, Pirog is MIA, basically there is Glen Johnson, Anthony Dirrell, and that's it. I can't really think of anyone else. Bilbo likes Groves, but I doubt Groves' people put him in there with Bute now.

[captainanddew]

Bute's people are apparently in serious discussions to fight one of the Dirrell brothers. Bute versus one of the Dirrell brothers being considered | RingTV

With Kessler, Pavlik, Froch, and Ward all out as opponents, Andre Dirrell (who I think beat Froch by 2-3 rounds) is definitely the best opponent out there, though he'll need a tune-up first. If that happens, then it would seem that they couldn't make the fight until a time that the Super Six winner would be available anyway.

I guess he could fight Anthony Dirrell sooner (no need for a tune-up) but I'm way less interested in seeing that.

Yea, I mean I just don't know the other options that are available. After the four you mentioned, Quillen opted to stay at 160, Pirog is MIA, basically there is Glen Johnson, Anthony Dirrell, and that's it. I can't really think of anyone else. Bilbo likes Groves, but I doubt Groves' people put him in there with Bute now.

Bute should go up to 175 for a big fight.

He turned pro in 2003, and during 2003, 2004, and his first fight during 2005, he weighed between 170 and 175. It appeared to me when I noticed it on boxrec a while ago that he was a LH who likely moved down when his team figured out he would be bigger than most of the good fighters at 168.

I think that he should have gone up to 175 for a fight instead of treading water as he fought B/C level competition over the last few years (while just waiting for the super 6 winner).

[Rantcatrat]

Bute's people are apparently in serious discussions to fight one of the Dirrell brothers. Bute versus one of the Dirrell brothers being considered | RingTV

With Kessler, Pavlik, Froch, and Ward all out as opponents, Andre Dirrell (who I think beat Froch by 2-3 rounds) is definitely the best opponent out there, though he'll need a tune-up first. If that happens, then it would seem that they couldn't make the fight until a time that the Super Six winner would be available anyway.

I guess he could fight Anthony Dirrell sooner (no need for a tune-up) but I'm way less interested in seeing that.

Yea, I mean I just don't know the other options that are available. After the four you mentioned, Quillen opted to stay at 160, Pirog is MIA, basically there is Glen Johnson, Anthony Dirrell, and that's it. I can't really think of anyone else. Bilbo likes Groves, but I doubt Groves' people put him in there with Bute now.

Bute should go up to 175 for a big fight.

He turned pro in 2003, and during 2003, 2004, and his first fight during 2005, he weighed between 170 and 175. It appeared to me when I noticed it on boxrec a while ago that he was a LH who likely moved down when his team figured out he would be bigger than most of the good fighters at 168.

I think that he should have gone up to 175 for a fight instead of treading water as he fought B/C level competition over the last few years (while just waiting for the super 6 winner).

You nver know what will happen, but here they are saying Tavoris Cloud.