Will Lucian Bute be the 2nd guy to knock Johnson out?

[Tam Seddon]

Compare and contrast the quality of carls and lucians competition. Carl wins hands down in terms of facing quality of opposition and if lucian had fought who carl had fought he would have gone the distance with all of them too.

Its a tough question to say who has the better power, I've got an idea...why don't they both face each other? Or isn't Bute ready to face a fighter with true quality yet? Johnson on paper IMO is his biggest fight to date and Johnson has Been beaten a lot recently. Bute needs to man up and face better quality of opposition instead of facing people he knows he will beat.

I know Bute is a good fighter and I am not doubting that what so ever, he just really needs to fighter better fighters. Now the super 6 is over there is no excuse, he's spent too much time in Canada facing easy fighters he needs to get to the US and fight a real name before he gets any recognition. Carl hasn't ducked anyone and has earnt his shot at the super 6 final and that proves he's better than Bute until they get in the ring and fight each other.

I don't know what the point of your post was. It's like everyone from Nottingham or a fan of Froch is offended by anything positive said about Bute. They aren't even slated to fight yet!

Hands down Froch has fought better competition. No one in their right mind would argue otherwise. In fact, Carl Froch has fought better opposition than Andre Ward. It's not that Bute has fought only tomato cans either; I don't consider Zuniga, Bika or Andrade to be chumps.

All this about Bute not fighting good opposition is hogwash. He didn't fight good opposition because all the big players were in the S6. Name one fighter he has ducked. Consider that when the S6 ended who Bute immediately make offers to: Kessler, Pavlik, and Johnson. If you consider that Johnson really finished in third place in the S6 with all the injuries, Bute is fighting the best he could fight now.

Currently, at 168, the rankings should be in order: Ward, Froch, Bute, Johnson, Kessler (although I think his career at the top is over with injuries), Stieglitz, and Bika.

Froch has a good punch and Bute has an equally good punch. It may be that Bute has a bit more speed behind his punches so they are more powerful than Froch's. It may be that Froch is naturally stronger. There is no way to know unless you asked their common opponents. We'll see what Johnson says.

The way I see things playing out is that Ward beats Froch on the cards in a tough, grueling fight where Froch isn't outclassed but is beat by a few rounds. Then Ward and Bute (assuming Bute can get by Johnson) can't agree to terms and Bute will face Froch who has less leverage because he just lost. So, my bet is we'll see who wins between Bute and Froch in early-mid next year.

Admittedly, this all kind of reminds me of when Erics44 went on and on about David Haye when Haye hadn't fought anyone at all at heavyweight and those fights were boring as all hell. Erics was going completely on potential. In order to not fall into the category of irrationally believing in a guy who ultimately disappoints, I should probably wait to see what happens this weekend against Johnson. Johnson brings out the truth with everyone.

Agreed that he does need to get through the Johnson test there is never an easy nights work with Johnson. I do think Bute handles him though by a hard fought UD, probably quite similar to the Froch fight.

I do admit that with the super 6 on it was harder for Bute to get a shot at the elite of 168. But to his credit bar the andrade Hickup which he did avenge, he has looked quality in his fights and will no doubt be the hardest test around for Ward and Froch after the final. My feelings towards Bute is that he has missed out In taking part of a great tournament that would have been even better for the fans had he taken part. It is a shame, but as you said before he now has the potential to be matched against strong fighters and I hope he does. He's 31 now and needs to push on with the best. Let's hope there is no bullshit promotion politics and we can see the best continuing to fight the best. The 168 weight class has had some great fights and I hope Bute gets in the mix.