Lucian Bute next opponent will be Jesse Brinkley...

[CFH]

Better than a Hopkins fight and I doubt Pavlik wants anything to do with Bute right now.

Brinkley's going to get killed, but he earned this shot in a pretty legitimate way and he's a better fighter than most people give him credit for.

[ElTerribleMorales]

Better than a Hopkins fight and I doubt Pavlik wants anything to do with Bute right now.

Brinkley's going to get killed, but he earned this shot in a pretty legitimate way and he's a better fighter than most people give him credit for.

my thoughts exactly, Brinkley earned it even though i doubt it'll amount to anything

[Kev]

Nice to see the Ring's Champion is taking risks and not just staying in Canada fighting bums.

His recognition as being above and beyond Andre Ward is well deserved.

[Nameless]

Nice to see the Ring's Champion is taking risks and not just staying in Canada fighting bums.

His recognition as being above and beyond Andre Ward is well deserved.

It's its official and mandated opponent. They want to fight him now to have 12 months free afterward to fight the likes of Hopkins, Froch or Abraham or Pavlik. they did mention it on corrussport not that long ago, they wanted another opponent for this summer, a better one but no one was available under decent conditions.

[amat]

If Curtis Stevens beat Brinkley, people wouldn't have minded this much if Stevens got the shot. Under the rules of the sanctioning organization he kind of earned this shot, but yea Bute might just win in the first round, Brinkley doesn't pose any sort of a threat.

Bute is a good fighter but by the time this tournament is done he will be way behind and I struggle to see him still in the top 3 of the division.

[No Contest]

Bute actually is brilliant to have missed the super six, because this way he can fight the winner and get all the fame etc, without having to go through all those tough fights. Imagine if Bute just sparks the super six winner, would be hilarious IMO.

[Pugilistic]

This is a guy who some have argued being the best at 168 and he is fighting the likes of Brinkley...........

[BoxingGorilla]

If Curtis Stevens beat Brinkley, people wouldn't have minded this much if Stevens got the shot.

You just owned me, Amat.


I am bitter about Stevens losing to Brinkley. I didn't want to mention it, but your words were a gut shot and I couldn't pretend otherwise.

I get up, make a sandwhich, set back down, and before I can swallow my second bite I get called out.

[DaxxKahn]

Nice to see the Ring's Champion is taking risks and not just staying in Canada fighting bums.

His recognition as being above and beyond Andre Ward is well deserved.

It's its official and mandated opponent. They want to fight him now to have 12 months free afterward to fight the likes of Hopkins, Froch or Abraham or Pavlik. they did mention it on corrussport not that long ago, they wanted another opponent for this summer, a better one but no one was available under decent conditions.

Exactly but I guess it is more important in the minds of some Bute just lose the title outside the ring while waiting for a real opp to step up....

The whole Hopkins thing is just stupid...Hopkins is not worth the trouble...at this point he is not rerally much of a risk for any of the SS (Except Green) or top SMW out there right now...Bute is waiting for the SS winner his team actually still favors Kessler believe it or not (The believe it or not was his camps words lol)...Once the SS is over there will be plenty of opp to face...Right now he has to face his mandatory to satisfy the governing body...It will help keep him from getting rusty...will help keep him in top shape because he will have to have training camp.....


Somethimes people have to look at the big picture

[Kev]

Nice to see the Ring's Champion is taking risks and not just staying in Canada fighting bums.

His recognition as being above and beyond Andre Ward is well deserved.

It's its official and mandated opponent. They want to fight him now to have 12 months free afterward to fight the likes of Hopkins, Froch or Abraham or Pavlik. they did mention it on corrussport not that long ago, they wanted another opponent for this summer, a better one but no one was available under decent conditions.

Exactly but I guess it is more important in the minds of some Bute just lose the title outside the ring while waiting for a real opp to step up....

The whole Hopkins thing is just stupid...Hopkins is not worth the trouble...at this point he is not rerally much of a risk for any of the SS (Except Green) or top SMW out there right now...Bute is waiting for the SS winner his team actually still favors Kessler believe it or not (The believe it or not was his camps words lol)...Once the SS is over there will be plenty of opp to face...Right now he has to face his mandatory to satisfy the governing body...It will help keep him from getting rusty...will help keep him in top shape because he will have to have training camp.....


Somethimes people have to look at the big picture

I don't really agree with this. If you think B Hop isn't much of a risk for Bute at this stage then how could he not be worth the trouble?

Beating B Hop would be by far Bute's biggest win and would announce his elite level status regardless of how old Hopkins is.

If I was promoting Bute, and that fight could be made and I thought he'd win as easy as you seem to feel he would I'd make sure that fight was made.

[DaxxKahn]

Nice to see the Ring's Champion is taking risks and not just staying in Canada fighting bums.

His recognition as being above and beyond Andre Ward is well deserved.

It's its official and mandated opponent. They want to fight him now to have 12 months free afterward to fight the likes of Hopkins, Froch or Abraham or Pavlik. they did mention it on corrussport not that long ago, they wanted another opponent for this summer, a better one but no one was available under decent conditions.

Exactly but I guess it is more important in the minds of some Bute just lose the title outside the ring while waiting for a real opp to step up....

The whole Hopkins thing is just stupid...Hopkins is not worth the trouble...at this point he is not rerally much of a risk for any of the SS (Except Green) or top SMW out there right now...Bute is waiting for the SS winner his team actually still favors Kessler believe it or not (The believe it or not was his camps words lol)...Once the SS is over there will be plenty of opp to face...Right now he has to face his mandatory to satisfy the governing body...It will help keep him from getting rusty...will help keep him in top shape because he will have to have training camp.....


Somethimes people have to look at the big picture

I don't really agree with this. If you think B Hop isn't much of a risk for Bute at this stage then how could he not be worth the trouble?

Beating B Hop would be by far Bute's biggest win and would announce his elite level status regardless of how old Hopkins is.

If I was promoting Bute, and that fight could be made and I thought he'd win as easy as you seem to feel he would I'd make sure that fight was made.

Becaue even if he beats Hopkins (That is my opp if the fight goes off then we will all find out) Bernard is so freaking dirty, his fights are so ugly...that be it Bute or any of the other guys at SMW vieing for the top...The fight makes you look bad and there is the risk of a cut or other injury because ofd the way Hopkins fights...ESPECIALLY NOW....I was once a hughe Hopkins fan but he is unbearable to watch now....I think the guy actually sets out just to see if he can injure an opp in such ways....Then he cries the blues if anyopne hits him 3 inches above the waist....And right now beating him sets you up for what?...He holds zero leverage especially at SMW...It won't lead to bigger fights...It won't get you near a title uni bout or evenb a title shot if you were not champion so why risk it?...He is not worth it....I don't even think Hopkins cares if he wins anymore he made that obvious in his bouts with Calzaghe and Jones...He speant more time fouling and acting then fighting ...If Jones wasn't so shot nhe would have beaten him....Pavlik was his Swan song.....Now he nees to just swim away

[Rantcatrat]

Strategically, taking care of the mandatory makes the most sense for Bute right now.

As is stands, Bute has limited options, but that may change by the fall. I understand it's a long shot, but if Green knocks out Kessler, he probably moves into the next round, but if he beats Kessler by decision, he doesn't. Let's say Green beats Kessler by decision (again I understand long shot), Green wins the belt and is out of the tourney, and would be available for a unification fight with Bute. Kessler would be a good opponent too if he was knocked out and sent home because he has a big name. If Froch is knocked out by Abraham, he may not make it to the next round and would be another good, available opponent for Bute. Hopkins at 170 would still be a great fight in six months if he wanted it then and he would have aged another six months making him a safer opponent with the same name value.

In sum, if Green knocks out Kessler, fight Kessler, then Hopkins; if Green wins by decision, fight Green, then Hopkins; if Kessler wins, fight an older Hopkins. That is why I understand the Brinkley fight now.

Plus, I really doubt Pavlik would step in the ring with Bute after losing his last high profile fight. Let's be realistic: Stieglitz won't fight Bute or anyone worth talking about. And currently everyone else Bute's either faced or is tied up in the Super Six.

Lastly, no doubt Brinkley earned this shot and I respect him. Good guy and hard worker. Bute will outclass him, but Brinkley will get a big pay day on HBO. And he earned it.