Anyone else watching the Bute/Brinkley fight here?

[JazMerkin]

Lol jeez people all wound up, I thought what Bilbo said was pretty funny. I mean it's fair criticism, Bute looked decent against a guy he was clearly better then and carried the guy, lost 3 rounds by my count

Who do people think Bute beats in this division? I'm sorry but the thing I can not stand the most about a fighter with all that talent is one who just gives away rounds. It's pretty inexcusable. Give me a fighter who works to win every round.

Pascal-Bute is the fight to make right now imo. Bute would be a huge underdog against Ward in my eyes and I couldn't see him coming out of that. I know Bute is infinitely more skilled and less crude then Froch but *gulp*, Froch would have made a real close fight out of the Bute that was in the ring tonight. I'm reading write ups now calling Bute 'impressive' and no way he was impressive! I mean if you can land that cleanly on a guy seemingly at will then you shouldn't be fighting lackadaisically like Bute was. Lame.

This. Bilbo wasn't really wrong with what he was saying. Brinkley is a horrible opponent for a guy of Bute's standard. He'd be maybe acceptable if Bute was moving up trying a new division. I give him respect for the Berrio, Andrade & Miranda fights, but he looks like he wants no part of Pascal claiming 175 is too big for him (even if he appears to be naturally bigger than Pascal).

Bute is claimed to be the top guy at 168. In what other divisions could the top man in the weightclass get away with fighting a man who is a top-end club fighter. Bute deserves the same crap that David Haye gets because it's a similar level of opposition in my eyes. Maybe dare I say it worse.

[Nameless]

Lol jeez people all wound up, I thought what Bilbo said was pretty funny. I mean it's fair criticism, Bute looked decent against a guy he was clearly better then and carried the guy, lost 3 rounds by my count

Who do people think Bute beats in this division? I'm sorry but the thing I can not stand the most about a fighter with all that talent is one who just gives away rounds. It's pretty inexcusable. Give me a fighter who works to win every round.

Pascal-Bute is the fight to make right now imo. Bute would be a huge underdog against Ward in my eyes and I couldn't see him coming out of that. I know Bute is infinitely more skilled and less crude then Froch but *gulp*, Froch would have made a real close fight out of the Bute that was in the ring tonight. I'm reading write ups now calling Bute 'impressive' and no way he was impressive! I mean if you can land that cleanly on a guy seemingly at will then you shouldn't be fighting lackadaisically like Bute was. Lame.

This. Bilbo wasn't really wrong with what he was saying. Brinkley is a horrible opponent for a guy of Bute's standard. He'd be maybe acceptable if Bute was moving up trying a new division. I give him respect for the Berrio, Andrade & Miranda fights, but he looks like he wants no part of Pascal claiming 175 is too big for him (even if he appears to be naturally bigger than Pascal).

Bute is claimed to be the top guy at 168. In what other divisions could the top man in the weightclass get away with fighting a man who is a top-end club fighter. Bute deserves the same crap that David Haye gets because it's a similar level of opposition in my eyes. Maybe dare I say it worse.

Bute never said Jean PAscal was too big for him, everybody in Quebec wants that fight to happen including JEan Pascal and Bute. The thing is that the day he moves up, there is no way he's getting down, that'S what Stephane Larouche and Jean Bedard said a few weeks ago. They want to make him a few fights at 168 and then move up and the way it looks, Pavilk is next on the map and then there will be a few guys from the tournament free, probably Froch if he doesn't knock out Abraham, Kessler should be back healthy and probably Dirrell too, these are all very possible options the tournament is doing.
Also, they didn't want to fight Brinkley but he was the mandatory (stupid alphabet ranking) and Bute had to fight him, now he's mandatory free for 12 months, which gives him enough time to have at least 2 interesting fights in the meantime.

[0james0]

I think Bute gives anyone near his weight a decent fight.

[Rantcatrat]

Who should Bute fight out of the people that are available? Pascal isn't available at least until the end of 2011. Kessler isn't available. Froch, Ward, and Abraham aren't available. The only fight that is available is Pavlik and that would have already happened if Pavlik hadn't lost to Sergio Martinez. As of now, it should happen in 2011 assuming Pavlik wins in his next fight.

At least Bute knocks out the people he is supposed to knock out as he waits for a good fight. You don't have to watch him go twelve rounds with Edison Miranda like Andre Ward because he takes him out with a body shot in the 5th. I like that he ends these stay busy fights with vicious body shots. That's three fights in a row - Andrade, Miranda, and now Brinkley, where he ended the fight with a body shot.

[Rantcatrat]

Lol jeez people all wound up, I thought what Bilbo said was pretty funny. I mean it's fair criticism, Bute looked decent against a guy he was clearly better then and carried the guy, lost 3 rounds by my count

Who do people think Bute beats in this division? I'm sorry but the thing I can not stand the most about a fighter with all that talent is one who just gives away rounds. It's pretty inexcusable. Give me a fighter who works to win every round.

Pascal-Bute is the fight to make right now imo. Bute would be a huge underdog against Ward in my eyes and I couldn't see him coming out of that. I know Bute is infinitely more skilled and less crude then Froch but *gulp*, Froch would have made a real close fight out of the Bute that was in the ring tonight. I'm reading write ups now calling Bute 'impressive' and no way he was impressive! I mean if you can land that cleanly on a guy seemingly at will then you shouldn't be fighting lackadaisically like Bute was. Lame.

This. Bilbo wasn't really wrong with what he was saying. Brinkley is a horrible opponent for a guy of Bute's standard. He'd be maybe acceptable if Bute was moving up trying a new division. I give him respect for the Berrio, Andrade & Miranda fights, but he looks like he wants no part of Pascal claiming 175 is too big for him (even if he appears to be naturally bigger than Pascal).

Bute is claimed to be the top guy at 168. In what other divisions could the top man in the weightclass get away with fighting a man who is a top-end club fighter. Bute deserves the same crap that David Haye gets because it's a similar level of opposition in my eyes. Maybe dare I say it worse.

Bute never said Jean PAscal was too big for him, everybody in Quebec wants that fight to happen including JEan Pascal and Bute. The thing is that the day he moves up, there is no way he's getting down, that'S what Stephane Larouche and Jean Bedard said a few weeks ago. They want to make him a few fights at 168 and then move up and the way it looks, Pavilk is next on the map and then there will be a few guys from the tournament free, probably Froch if he doesn't knock out Abraham, Kessler should be back healthy and probably Dirrell too, these are all very possible options the tournament is doing.
Also, they didn't want to fight Brinkley but he was the mandatory (stupid alphabet ranking) and Bute had to fight him, now he's mandatory free for 12 months, which gives him enough time to have at least 2 interesting fights in the meantime.

You make a good point about satisfying his mandatory. Now he should take advantage of the free time and step up the competition. Unlike these Brits, I'm a big fan of Bute, but he has shown us time and time again that he wipes the floor with the B-level competition (Bika, Andrade, Miranda, Berrio, Brinkley). Let's see him beat someone on the A- level at least.

Pavlik will be his next fight unless Pavlik wants to remain at 160 and take on the winner of the Martinez/Williams fight. And if I were Pavlik, I'd prefer that match-up than one with Bute.

You continue to say Froch is an option. However, that is wrong. Because Dirrell is out and the Ward/Bika fight is not part of the tournament, Froch, Abraham, and Ward are continuing on with the tournament regardless of what happens in the Johnson/Green fight.

http://sports.espn.go.com/sports/box...ory?id=5688853

The problem I see is what does Bute do if Pavlik wants to remain at 160. Stieglitz won't fight Bute. I highly doubt Calzaghe opts out of retirement to fight Bute. The guys in the Super Six are locked up. Kessler is at the very least out until the end of 2011 or 2012. On a side note, I think Kessler is done from boxing and will retire. Dirrell is out indefinitely and until we know more, he isn't an option.

Let's have a chat about this. Haters and fans. Who should Bute fight?

[skel1983]

Lol jeez people all wound up, I thought what Bilbo said was pretty funny. I mean it's fair criticism, Bute looked decent against a guy he was clearly better then and carried the guy, lost 3 rounds by my count

Who do people think Bute beats in this division? I'm sorry but the thing I can not stand the most about a fighter with all that talent is one who just gives away rounds. It's pretty inexcusable. Give me a fighter who works to win every round.

Pascal-Bute is the fight to make right now imo. Bute would be a huge underdog against Ward in my eyes and I couldn't see him coming out of that. I know Bute is infinitely more skilled and less crude then Froch but *gulp*, Froch would have made a real close fight out of the Bute that was in the ring tonight. I'm reading write ups now calling Bute 'impressive' and no way he was impressive! I mean if you can land that cleanly on a guy seemingly at will then you shouldn't be fighting lackadaisically like Bute was. Lame.

This. Bilbo wasn't really wrong with what he was saying. Brinkley is a horrible opponent for a guy of Bute's standard. He'd be maybe acceptable if Bute was moving up trying a new division. I give him respect for the Berrio, Andrade & Miranda fights, but he looks like he wants no part of Pascal claiming 175 is too big for him (even if he appears to be naturally bigger than Pascal).

Bute is claimed to be the top guy at 168. In what other divisions could the top man in the weightclass get away with fighting a man who is a top-end club fighter. Bute deserves the same crap that David Haye gets because it's a similar level of opposition in my eyes. Maybe dare I say it worse.

Bute never said Jean PAscal was too big for him, everybody in Quebec wants that fight to happen including JEan Pascal and Bute. The thing is that the day he moves up, there is no way he's getting down, that'S what Stephane Larouche and Jean Bedard said a few weeks ago. They want to make him a few fights at 168 and then move up and the way it looks, Pavilk is next on the map and then there will be a few guys from the tournament free, probably Froch if he doesn't knock out Abraham, Kessler should be back healthy and probably Dirrell too, these are all very possible options the tournament is doing.
Also, they didn't want to fight Brinkley but he was the mandatory (stupid alphabet ranking) and Bute had to fight him, now he's mandatory free for 12 months, which gives him enough time to have at least 2 interesting fights in the meantime.

You make a good point about satisfying his mandatory. Now he should take advantage of the free time and step up the competition. Unlike these Brits, I'm a big fan of Bute, but he has shown us time and time again that he wipes the floor with the B-level competition (Bika, Andrade, Miranda, Berrio, Brinkley). Let's see him beat someone on the A- level at least.

Pavlik will be his next fight unless Pavlik wants to remain at 160 and take on the winner of the Martinez/Williams fight. And if I were Pavlik, I'd prefer that match-up than one with Bute.

You continue to say Froch is an option. However, that is wrong. Because Dirrell is out and the Ward/Bika fight is not part of the tournament, Froch, Abraham, and Ward are continuing on with the tournament regardless of what happens in the Johnson/Green fight.

The problem I see is what does Bute do if Pavlik wants to remain at 160. Stieglitz won't fight Bute. I highly doubt Calzaghe opts out of retirement to fight Bute. The guys in the Super Six are locked up. Kessler is at the very least out until the end of 2011 or 2012. On a side note, I think Kessler is done from boxing and will retire. Dirrell is out indefinitely and until we know more, he isn't an option.

Let's have a chat about this. Haters and fans. Who should Bute fight?

I don't disagree with most of youre points but don't say the " Brits " very unfair that, also calling Brinkley B rate . I would put him more closer to D/E rate.

[Rantcatrat]

Lol jeez people all wound up, I thought what Bilbo said was pretty funny. I mean it's fair criticism, Bute looked decent against a guy he was clearly better then and carried the guy, lost 3 rounds by my count

Who do people think Bute beats in this division? I'm sorry but the thing I can not stand the most about a fighter with all that talent is one who just gives away rounds. It's pretty inexcusable. Give me a fighter who works to win every round.

Pascal-Bute is the fight to make right now imo. Bute would be a huge underdog against Ward in my eyes and I couldn't see him coming out of that. I know Bute is infinitely more skilled and less crude then Froch but *gulp*, Froch would have made a real close fight out of the Bute that was in the ring tonight. I'm reading write ups now calling Bute 'impressive' and no way he was impressive! I mean if you can land that cleanly on a guy seemingly at will then you shouldn't be fighting lackadaisically like Bute was. Lame.

This. Bilbo wasn't really wrong with what he was saying. Brinkley is a horrible opponent for a guy of Bute's standard. He'd be maybe acceptable if Bute was moving up trying a new division. I give him respect for the Berrio, Andrade & Miranda fights, but he looks like he wants no part of Pascal claiming 175 is too big for him (even if he appears to be naturally bigger than Pascal).

Bute is claimed to be the top guy at 168. In what other divisions could the top man in the weightclass get away with fighting a man who is a top-end club fighter. Bute deserves the same crap that David Haye gets because it's a similar level of opposition in my eyes. Maybe dare I say it worse.

Bute never said Jean PAscal was too big for him, everybody in Quebec wants that fight to happen including JEan Pascal and Bute. The thing is that the day he moves up, there is no way he's getting down, that'S what Stephane Larouche and Jean Bedard said a few weeks ago. They want to make him a few fights at 168 and then move up and the way it looks, Pavilk is next on the map and then there will be a few guys from the tournament free, probably Froch if he doesn't knock out Abraham, Kessler should be back healthy and probably Dirrell too, these are all very possible options the tournament is doing.
Also, they didn't want to fight Brinkley but he was the mandatory (stupid alphabet ranking) and Bute had to fight him, now he's mandatory free for 12 months, which gives him enough time to have at least 2 interesting fights in the meantime.

You make a good point about satisfying his mandatory. Now he should take advantage of the free time and step up the competition. Unlike these Brits, I'm a big fan of Bute, but he has shown us time and time again that he wipes the floor with the B-level competition (Bika, Andrade, Miranda, Berrio, Brinkley). Let's see him beat someone on the A- level at least.

Pavlik will be his next fight unless Pavlik wants to remain at 160 and take on the winner of the Martinez/Williams fight. And if I were Pavlik, I'd prefer that match-up than one with Bute.

You continue to say Froch is an option. However, that is wrong. Because Dirrell is out and the Ward/Bika fight is not part of the tournament, Froch, Abraham, and Ward are continuing on with the tournament regardless of what happens in the Johnson/Green fight.

The problem I see is what does Bute do if Pavlik wants to remain at 160. Stieglitz won't fight Bute. I highly doubt Calzaghe opts out of retirement to fight Bute. The guys in the Super Six are locked up. Kessler is at the very least out until the end of 2011 or 2012. On a side note, I think Kessler is done from boxing and will retire. Dirrell is out indefinitely and until we know more, he isn't an option.

Let's have a chat about this. Haters and fans. Who should Bute fight?

I don't disagree with most of youre points but don't say the " Brits " very unfair that, also calling Brinkley B rate . I would put him more closer to D/E rate.

Skel, prove me wrong. Is there one British fan of Bute on this board? It seems to me that Brits are very sensitive about the super middleweight division.

Brinkley beat Curtis Stevens to get the Bute fight and Curtis Stevens was arugably Dirrell's best win going into the Super Six. I'll agree though that he is more of a C level fighter.

But, Skel, help me out. As a Bute hater, who would you rather see him fight? It's one thing to lament his lack of opponents, but if literally there isn't anyone else out there, you can't really put Bute down for fighting who he is fighting. At least he is winning in dominant fashion. Maybe you would feel better about it if he wasn't ranked so high?

[Jimanuel Boogustus]

Lol jeez people all wound up, I thought what Bilbo said was pretty funny. I mean it's fair criticism, Bute looked decent against a guy he was clearly better then and carried the guy, lost 3 rounds by my count

Who do people think Bute beats in this division? I'm sorry but the thing I can not stand the most about a fighter with all that talent is one who just gives away rounds. It's pretty inexcusable. Give me a fighter who works to win every round.

Pascal-Bute is the fight to make right now imo. Bute would be a huge underdog against Ward in my eyes and I couldn't see him coming out of that. I know Bute is infinitely more skilled and less crude then Froch but *gulp*, Froch would have made a real close fight out of the Bute that was in the ring tonight. I'm reading write ups now calling Bute 'impressive' and no way he was impressive! I mean if you can land that cleanly on a guy seemingly at will then you shouldn't be fighting lackadaisically like Bute was. Lame.

This. Bilbo wasn't really wrong with what he was saying. Brinkley is a horrible opponent for a guy of Bute's standard. He'd be maybe acceptable if Bute was moving up trying a new division. I give him respect for the Berrio, Andrade & Miranda fights, but he looks like he wants no part of Pascal claiming 175 is too big for him (even if he appears to be naturally bigger than Pascal).

Bute is claimed to be the top guy at 168. In what other divisions could the top man in the weightclass get away with fighting a man who is a top-end club fighter. Bute deserves the same crap that David Haye gets because it's a similar level of opposition in my eyes. Maybe dare I say it worse.

Bute never said Jean PAscal was too big for him, everybody in Quebec wants that fight to happen including JEan Pascal and Bute. The thing is that the day he moves up, there is no way he's getting down, that'S what Stephane Larouche and Jean Bedard said a few weeks ago. They want to make him a few fights at 168 and then move up and the way it looks, Pavilk is next on the map and then there will be a few guys from the tournament free, probably Froch if he doesn't knock out Abraham, Kessler should be back healthy and probably Dirrell too, these are all very possible options the tournament is doing.
Also, they didn't want to fight Brinkley but he was the mandatory (stupid alphabet ranking) and Bute had to fight him, now he's mandatory free for 12 months, which gives him enough time to have at least 2 interesting fights in the meantime.

You make a good point about satisfying his mandatory. Now he should take advantage of the free time and step up the competition. Unlike these Brits, I'm a big fan of Bute, but he has shown us time and time again that he wipes the floor with the B-level competition (Bika, Andrade, Miranda, Berrio, Brinkley). Let's see him beat someone on the A- level at least.

Pavlik will be his next fight unless Pavlik wants to remain at 160 and take on the winner of the Martinez/Williams fight. And if I were Pavlik, I'd prefer that match-up than one with Bute.

You continue to say Froch is an option. However, that is wrong. Because Dirrell is out and the Ward/Bika fight is not part of the tournament, Froch, Abraham, and Ward are continuing on with the tournament regardless of what happens in the Johnson/Green fight.

The problem I see is what does Bute do if Pavlik wants to remain at 160. Stieglitz won't fight Bute. I highly doubt Calzaghe opts out of retirement to fight Bute. The guys in the Super Six are locked up. Kessler is at the very least out until the end of 2011 or 2012. On a side note, I think Kessler is done from boxing and will retire. Dirrell is out indefinitely and until we know more, he isn't an option.

Let's have a chat about this. Haters and fans. Who should Bute fight?

I don't disagree with most of youre points but don't say the " Brits " very unfair that, also calling Brinkley B rate . I would put him more closer to D/E rate.

Skel, prove me wrong. Is there one British fan of Bute on this board? It seems to me that Brits are very sensitive about the super middleweight division.

Brinkley beat Curtis Stevens to get the Bute fight and Curtis Stevens was arugably Dirrell's best win going into the Super Six. I'll agree though that he is more of a C level fighter.

But, Skel, help me out. As a Bute hater, who would you rather see him fight? It's one thing to lament his lack of opponents, but if literally there isn't anyone else out there, you can't really put Bute down for fighting who he is fighting. At least he is winning in dominant fashion. Maybe you would feel better about it if he wasn't ranked so high?

I don't mind him... Does that count

[skel1983]

Lol jeez people all wound up, I thought what Bilbo said was pretty funny. I mean it's fair criticism, Bute looked decent against a guy he was clearly better then and carried the guy, lost 3 rounds by my count

Who do people think Bute beats in this division? I'm sorry but the thing I can not stand the most about a fighter with all that talent is one who just gives away rounds. It's pretty inexcusable. Give me a fighter who works to win every round.

Pascal-Bute is the fight to make right now imo. Bute would be a huge underdog against Ward in my eyes and I couldn't see him coming out of that. I know Bute is infinitely more skilled and less crude then Froch but *gulp*, Froch would have made a real close fight out of the Bute that was in the ring tonight. I'm reading write ups now calling Bute 'impressive' and no way he was impressive! I mean if you can land that cleanly on a guy seemingly at will then you shouldn't be fighting lackadaisically like Bute was. Lame.

This. Bilbo wasn't really wrong with what he was saying. Brinkley is a horrible opponent for a guy of Bute's standard. He'd be maybe acceptable if Bute was moving up trying a new division. I give him respect for the Berrio, Andrade & Miranda fights, but he looks like he wants no part of Pascal claiming 175 is too big for him (even if he appears to be naturally bigger than Pascal).

Bute is claimed to be the top guy at 168. In what other divisions could the top man in the weightclass get away with fighting a man who is a top-end club fighter. Bute deserves the same crap that David Haye gets because it's a similar level of opposition in my eyes. Maybe dare I say it worse.

Bute never said Jean PAscal was too big for him, everybody in Quebec wants that fight to happen including JEan Pascal and Bute. The thing is that the day he moves up, there is no way he's getting down, that'S what Stephane Larouche and Jean Bedard said a few weeks ago. They want to make him a few fights at 168 and then move up and the way it looks, Pavilk is next on the map and then there will be a few guys from the tournament free, probably Froch if he doesn't knock out Abraham, Kessler should be back healthy and probably Dirrell too, these are all very possible options the tournament is doing.
Also, they didn't want to fight Brinkley but he was the mandatory (stupid alphabet ranking) and Bute had to fight him, now he's mandatory free for 12 months, which gives him enough time to have at least 2 interesting fights in the meantime.

You make a good point about satisfying his mandatory. Now he should take advantage of the free time and step up the competition. Unlike these Brits, I'm a big fan of Bute, but he has shown us time and time again that he wipes the floor with the B-level competition (Bika, Andrade, Miranda, Berrio, Brinkley). Let's see him beat someone on the A- level at least.

Pavlik will be his next fight unless Pavlik wants to remain at 160 and take on the winner of the Martinez/Williams fight. And if I were Pavlik, I'd prefer that match-up than one with Bute.

You continue to say Froch is an option. However, that is wrong. Because Dirrell is out and the Ward/Bika fight is not part of the tournament, Froch, Abraham, and Ward are continuing on with the tournament regardless of what happens in the Johnson/Green fight.

The problem I see is what does Bute do if Pavlik wants to remain at 160. Stieglitz won't fight Bute. I highly doubt Calzaghe opts out of retirement to fight Bute. The guys in the Super Six are locked up. Kessler is at the very least out until the end of 2011 or 2012. On a side note, I think Kessler is done from boxing and will retire. Dirrell is out indefinitely and until we know more, he isn't an option.

Let's have a chat about this. Haters and fans. Who should Bute fight?

I don't disagree with most of youre points but don't say the " Brits " very unfair that, also calling Brinkley B rate . I would put him more closer to D/E rate.

Skel, prove me wrong. Is there one British fan of Bute on this board? It seems to me that Brits are very sensitive about the super middleweight division.

Brinkley beat Curtis Stevens to get the Bute fight and Curtis Stevens was arugably Dirrell's best win going into the Super Six. I'll agree though that he is more of a C level fighter.

But, Skel, help me out. As a Bute hater, who would you rather see him fight? It's one thing to lament his lack of opponents, but if literally there isn't anyone else out there, you can't really put Bute down for fighting who he is fighting. At least he is winning in dominant fashion. Maybe you would feel better about it if he wasn't ranked so high?

wtf?

Mate you seriously need to knock that on the head the problem is you seem to get your knickers in a twist anytime anyone disagress with Bute. As I have stated in other recent threads Bue is in a situation where he has not got any legit comp at the moment, but my problem is how the hell anyone can have this guy at number 1 in the division is beyond me, that is my only problem. He is a good fighter the super six going on is a valid excuse to not having a world class opponent available but we also have had about a dozen excuses why he hasn't fought fighter a b and c for the couple oy years before the Super Six.

If and when he steps up I will be happy to see it I rate his skills but beating the likes of Brinkley who got beat by 37 year old Robin Reid who had been out of the ring for the best part of two years is not going to get the pulses rating.

[Rantcatrat]

Lol jeez people all wound up, I thought what Bilbo said was pretty funny. I mean it's fair criticism, Bute looked decent against a guy he was clearly better then and carried the guy, lost 3 rounds by my count

Who do people think Bute beats in this division? I'm sorry but the thing I can not stand the most about a fighter with all that talent is one who just gives away rounds. It's pretty inexcusable. Give me a fighter who works to win every round.

Pascal-Bute is the fight to make right now imo. Bute would be a huge underdog against Ward in my eyes and I couldn't see him coming out of that. I know Bute is infinitely more skilled and less crude then Froch but *gulp*, Froch would have made a real close fight out of the Bute that was in the ring tonight. I'm reading write ups now calling Bute 'impressive' and no way he was impressive! I mean if you can land that cleanly on a guy seemingly at will then you shouldn't be fighting lackadaisically like Bute was. Lame.

This. Bilbo wasn't really wrong with what he was saying. Brinkley is a horrible opponent for a guy of Bute's standard. He'd be maybe acceptable if Bute was moving up trying a new division. I give him respect for the Berrio, Andrade & Miranda fights, but he looks like he wants no part of Pascal claiming 175 is too big for him (even if he appears to be naturally bigger than Pascal).

Bute is claimed to be the top guy at 168. In what other divisions could the top man in the weightclass get away with fighting a man who is a top-end club fighter. Bute deserves the same crap that David Haye gets because it's a similar level of opposition in my eyes. Maybe dare I say it worse.

Bute never said Jean PAscal was too big for him, everybody in Quebec wants that fight to happen including JEan Pascal and Bute. The thing is that the day he moves up, there is no way he's getting down, that'S what Stephane Larouche and Jean Bedard said a few weeks ago. They want to make him a few fights at 168 and then move up and the way it looks, Pavilk is next on the map and then there will be a few guys from the tournament free, probably Froch if he doesn't knock out Abraham, Kessler should be back healthy and probably Dirrell too, these are all very possible options the tournament is doing.
Also, they didn't want to fight Brinkley but he was the mandatory (stupid alphabet ranking) and Bute had to fight him, now he's mandatory free for 12 months, which gives him enough time to have at least 2 interesting fights in the meantime.

You make a good point about satisfying his mandatory. Now he should take advantage of the free time and step up the competition. Unlike these Brits, I'm a big fan of Bute, but he has shown us time and time again that he wipes the floor with the B-level competition (Bika, Andrade, Miranda, Berrio, Brinkley). Let's see him beat someone on the A- level at least.

Pavlik will be his next fight unless Pavlik wants to remain at 160 and take on the winner of the Martinez/Williams fight. And if I were Pavlik, I'd prefer that match-up than one with Bute.

You continue to say Froch is an option. However, that is wrong. Because Dirrell is out and the Ward/Bika fight is not part of the tournament, Froch, Abraham, and Ward are continuing on with the tournament regardless of what happens in the Johnson/Green fight.

The problem I see is what does Bute do if Pavlik wants to remain at 160. Stieglitz won't fight Bute. I highly doubt Calzaghe opts out of retirement to fight Bute. The guys in the Super Six are locked up. Kessler is at the very least out until the end of 2011 or 2012. On a side note, I think Kessler is done from boxing and will retire. Dirrell is out indefinitely and until we know more, he isn't an option.

Let's have a chat about this. Haters and fans. Who should Bute fight?

I don't disagree with most of youre points but don't say the " Brits " very unfair that, also calling Brinkley B rate . I would put him more closer to D/E rate.

Skel, prove me wrong. Is there one British fan of Bute on this board? It seems to me that Brits are very sensitive about the super middleweight division.

Brinkley beat Curtis Stevens to get the Bute fight and Curtis Stevens was arugably Dirrell's best win going into the Super Six. I'll agree though that he is more of a C level fighter.

But, Skel, help me out. As a Bute hater, who would you rather see him fight? It's one thing to lament his lack of opponents, but if literally there isn't anyone else out there, you can't really put Bute down for fighting who he is fighting. At least he is winning in dominant fashion. Maybe you would feel better about it if he wasn't ranked so high?

wtf?

Mate you seriously need to knock that on the head the problem is you seem to get your knickers in a twist anytime anyone disagress with Bute. As I have stated in other recent threads Bue is in a situation where he has not got any legit comp at the moment, but my problem is how the hell anyone can have this guy at number 1 in the division is beyond me, that is my only problem. He is a good fighter the super six going on is a valid excuse to not having a world class opponent available but we also have had about a dozen excuses why he hasn't fought fighter a b and c for the couple oy years before the Super Six.

If and when he steps up I will be happy to see it I rate his skills but beating the likes of Brinkley who got beat by 37 year old Robin Reid who had been out of the ring for the best part of two years is not going to get the pulses rating.

Fair enough. Sorry if I called you a Bute hater when you're not.

I agree, I mean he needs to start fighting good competition soon or lose his high ranking even if it isn't his fault that he is fighting bad competition.

[killersheep]

How is Pavlik considered better than B-level competition at super middle?

[Rantcatrat]

How is Pavlik considered better than B-level competition at super middle?

Killer, that's not a bad point. Pavilk has won one fight at super middleweight when he beat Jermain Taylor, but I guess that doesn't make him A-level competition. I would say he's a step up though and at least a step in the right direction.

But, maybe Pavlik stays at 160. Who does Bute fight?

[amat]

Pavlik is probably be written off a little to fast against Bute. I mean if Pavlik can get his 1,2 goin again without bein so damn hesitant and gunshy then he might have a decent shot. Unfortunately for Pavlik, he's been in some wars and he's had his struggles (allegedly) outside the ring that have probably taken there toll. As fairly crude as he might be, when he's at his best then Pavlik has the best offensive attack Bute would have ever faced. The Brinkley fight left a bad taste in my mouth for Bute I guess, but Brinkley wasn't afraid to throw punches and Bute seemed annoyed by this to me. Supremely talented but he's got to step up the competition before he gets stale.

[Rantcatrat]

Pavlik is probably be written off a little to fast against Bute. I mean if Pavlik can get his 1,2 goin again without bein so damn hesitant and gunshy then he might have a decent shot. Unfortunately for Pavlik, he's been in some wars and he's had his struggles (allegedly) outside the ring that have probably taken there toll. As fairly crude as he might be, when he's at his best then Pavlik has the best offensive attack Bute would have ever faced. The Brinkley fight left a bad taste in my mouth for Bute I guess, but Brinkley wasn't afraid to throw punches and Bute seemed annoyed by this to me. Supremely talented but he's got to step up the competition before he gets stale.

Amat I agree. But, it's easier said than done. Who should Bute fight?

Bilbo gets all worked up about Bute in the way he does about Donaire, but the situations aren't the same. Donaire has had quite a few options over the last couple of years, but Bute hasn't. Bilbo can't even suggest a good available opponent for Bute now.

[amat]

Well honestly if he was focused on earning the ranking he has now then he would have worked to get in the Super 6. I'm sure there is some legal stuff blocking that but yeah that would be ideal. At this point there is no one he can fight that will make everyone happy but that doesn't mean I can't be bitter.