Froch and Bute agree in principle to a Unification Fight

[CGM]

I didn't read the thread, but this one gets my vote as the most inconsequential title unification fight of all time.

dollars to donuts says the people who put together ppv won't touch this one.

Why is that? The winner fights Kessler for a full unification in a pretty deep division.

It was an off the cuff remark I made after coming home from the bar, I didn't consider the Kessler angle, but sober I wouldn't change much here. It's just that in my opinion these two guys have a low stature. They are very ordinary as champs go. PPV buys would be very low. Now if you can think of any title unification bouts of the past between two fighters of lesser stature than these guys, I'm all ears.

[CFH]

I didn't read the thread, but this one gets my vote as the most inconsequential title unification fight of all time.

dollars to donuts says the people who put together ppv won't touch this one.

Why is that? The winner fights Kessler for a full unification in a pretty deep division.

It was an off the cuff remark I made after coming home from the bar, I didn't consider the Kessler angle, but sober I wouldn't change much here. It's just that in my opinion these two guys have a low stature. They are very ordinary as champs go. PPV buys would be very low. Now if you can think of any title unification bouts of the past between two fighters of lesser stature than these guys, I'm all ears.

This may be a slightly controversial thing to say, but I think the fact that both fighters:

a) Lack marketability outside of their home countries (or in Bute's case, Province).

and/or

b) Have had very little exposure to the mainstream boxing public (if there even is such a thing these days).

Means that CGM is correct in stating that this fight will draw little in terms of PPV numbers, or even regular HBO numbers. While I fight this to be a compelling match and an important one, I don't think it will drum up much interest.

Look at the disappointing viewership numbers from a previous SMW unification bout in which two relatively well-known, but non-American, fighters in Calzaghe and Kessler. Both fighters were exponentially more recognisable than Bute and Froch, both internationally and domestically, and they still drew poor numbers on regular HBO.

[Rantcatrat]

I didn't read the thread, but this one gets my vote as the most inconsequential title unification fight of all time.

dollars to donuts says the people who put together ppv won't touch this one.

Why is that? The winner fights Kessler for a full unification in a pretty deep division.

It was an off the cuff remark I made after coming home from the bar, I didn't consider the Kessler angle, but sober I wouldn't change much here. It's just that in my opinion these two guys have a low stature. They are very ordinary as champs go. PPV buys would be very low. Now if you can think of any title unification bouts of the past between two fighters of lesser stature than these guys, I'm all ears.

I guess if by inconsequential you mean the fight won't make money, then sure. But, from a boxing perspective, it would pit the #1 and #2 super middles against eachother and that can't be inconsequential, can it?

[JazMerkin]

As much as I dislike Froch, I have to give him a lot of credit for taking this fight, although I think people underrate Bute's power, the guy can hit. I think Bute takes Froch out around Round 10, I think he's just too good a boxer & those shots will accumulate. If Froch won this though he would be at least Pound For Pound Top 20 for me off the back of his opposition.

[Nameless]

I think that the real test of the division will be Bute-Kessler once Kessler will be back, healthy and rustless. Froch, I give him tons of credit, he truly has the heart of a champion and doesn't duck nobody, that deserves tons and tons of credit as there is not many fighters who are classy and rational like that, going to prove that they are a champion instead of a money printing machine, no matter how reall he is talented, he deserves a lot of credit and Boxing needs more boxers with that attitude.

[CGM]

Why is that? The winner fights Kessler for a full unification in a pretty deep division.

It was an off the cuff remark I made after coming home from the bar, I didn't consider the Kessler angle, but sober I wouldn't change much here. It's just that in my opinion these two guys have a low stature. They are very ordinary as champs go. PPV buys would be very low. Now if you can think of any title unification bouts of the past between two fighters of lesser stature than these guys, I'm all ears.

I guess if by inconsequential you mean the fight won't make money, then sure. But, from a boxing perspective, it would pit the #1 and #2 super middles against eachother and that can't be inconsequential, can it?

So you are saying that all unification bouts are consequential then from a boxing perspective? or all weight divisions have consequential fighters at the top? I don't. SMW is at the bottom end of the list in terms of quality divisions. And these guys are low profile, this fight will be pretty much ignored except in Britain. But hey, that's just my opinion, you don't have to share it.

[Tam Seddon]

Hes not fought once this year, not showing great signs of hunger like Froch and Bute. At the end of the day he is beatable and its been proven, I wouldnt be him as a favourite by any means against either man to be honest. Hes just another highly ranked 168 fighter who needs to prove himself, like all of them do. I did about about a year ago showing the importance of this weight class, and slowly but surely it's showing that it will be the most exciting. If he stays with that promotion team he honestly won't be fighting any top ranked fighter for a while.

It is arguable that Kessler, Bute, and Froch to a lesser extent have already proven themselves. Kessler has wins for Mundine, Beyer, and Andrade. Bika has wins over Andrade, Bika, and Zuniga. Froch has wins over Taylor and Pascal.

The only proven 168 fighter is JC, he did it all and got out of there after that win over Kessler. At that time Kessler was number 2, but with him losing that fight hes again got to prove himself. He might have had wins under his belt, but by no means was his wins comparable to JC's. I dont believe that; Froch, Kessler, Bute, Andrade or Ward have proven themselves YET. But with fights like Froch-Bute, thats clearying up the weight class, thats proving whos the real man of the weight class like JC did. Until that point I see them as outstanding fighters, all needing to prove who is the best again. JC's reign is over, its there for the taking and I honestly think Carl Froch is going to fill this void, he has the hunger and desire a true champion needs and I think he will be too much for Bute.

[Rantcatrat]

It was an off the cuff remark I made after coming home from the bar, I didn't consider the Kessler angle, but sober I wouldn't change much here. It's just that in my opinion these two guys have a low stature. They are very ordinary as champs go. PPV buys would be very low. Now if you can think of any title unification bouts of the past between two fighters of lesser stature than these guys, I'm all ears.

I guess if by inconsequential you mean the fight won't make money, then sure. But, from a boxing perspective, it would pit the #1 and #2 super middles against eachother and that can't be inconsequential, can it?

So you are saying that all unification bouts are consequential then from a boxing perspective? or all weight divisions have consequential fighters at the top? I don't. SMW is at the bottom end of the list in terms of quality divisions. And these guys are low profile, this fight will be pretty much ignored except in Britain. But hey, that's just my opinion, you don't have to share it.

I have to disagree there. SMW is not at the bottom of the list in terms of quality opposition. But, that is a good thread idea. Maybe I'll start one

[ono]

Props to Carl for taking this. Props to Bute aswell.