Bute-Berrio battle at Bell!

October 18, 2007

Report/Photo by Dave Spencer / Fightnews Canada
http://www.fightnews.com/spencer78.htm

It will be the heavy hands of champion Alejandro Berrio versus the speed, accuracy agility of challenger Lucian Bute as the two hook up Friday night at the Bell Centre in Montreal. Berrio’s IBF super-middleweight will be on the line as the Columbian makes the first defense of the belt he won in Germany this past March with a knockout of Robert Stieglitz, avenging an earlier loss versus the Russian born fighter.

“The strengths of Alejandro Berrio, are the weaknesses of Lucian Bute,” said Bute’s trainer Stephane Larouche in front of a packed press gathering in high anticipation of the first world championship fight in Montreal in over five years. “The strengths of Lucian Bute, are the weaknesses of Alejandro Berrio. The fighter who is able to fight his fight will be the one who will prevail in the end.”

The 31 year-old Berrio has been the consummate road warrior, winning via knockout versus Yusaf Mack in Florida for his crack at the title and then winning the IBF belt on the road in hostile Germany. Things don’t promise to be any more welcoming Friday as upwards of 13,000 people are expected to come and cheer the Romanian born Bute who has made Montreal his adopted home. “I didn’t come to Montreal to leave my title here,” said Berrio.

While his manager Francesco Hernandez did voice concerns about the referee and one of the three judges being Canadian, Berrio has always taken the decision away from the judges in the past. Twenty-nine of thirty fights on his 26-4 record including all four losses have ended early. Asked if he expected this one to go less than twelve, Berrio simply responded, “I’ll leave that to God.”

Meanwhile Bute who has put in 145 rounds of sparring with six different sparring partners is banking on his speed to carry the day. “I’m prepared for twelve rounds, so I’m not going to predict an exact round, but I’m prepared to win each round,” said the undefeated fighter. “He hits hard, but my speed and my mobility will be the difference Friday night. I feel I have the punch to hurt him, but the main thing will be winning.”

Tickets are still available for the fight that will be shown throughout Canada on the TVA network. The co-feature for the evening is a NABA light welterweight title bout between undefeated Jo Jo Dan (18-0 9KO) and Paul Delgado (19-7-1 4KO) of Georgia. Other undercard matchups include light-heavyweight Carl Handy versus Eduardo Rojas, Canadian welterweight champ Victor Lupo returning in what promises to be a mismatch versus Stephane Savage, super bantamweight Danielle Bouchard battling Lillana Balles, and Baha Laham looking to stay perfect versus Juan Carlos Pastrana.