Brian Magee v Lucian Bute - March 19th

[Rantcatrat]

He's a woefully deficient opponent, let's not get it twisted, and the sarcasm is deserved, but I challenge anyone to come up with a reasonable opponent at 168.

Bilbo?

Well as one who is not opposed to catchweights I would have just moved up to say 171-72 and fought a half decent opponent around there. Diaconu, Cloud, Erdei etc.

Both Bute and Erdei have weighed in voluntarily at 173 in fights the past couple years that would have made for an interesting fight.

Not sure what the story is on Dimitri Sartisan, I know he hasn't fought in a few months. Is he available or injured or what?

Were I Bute, and were I super ambitious (although admittedly I'm not. I would have sat on my ass and took joke fights for cash too) I would have made sure I got it on with my fellow countryman Jean Pascal. I'd have made it at a catchweight of 172 and had both of our titles on the line. To me that's a great matchup and a good weight for both fighters seeing as Bute has weighed 172 before and Pascal sometimes usually weighs in under 175 anyway.

Bilbo, I agree Bute should fight better opponents, but the difference in our opinions, is that I don't fault him for not having any opponents to fight at his weight class and not moving up in weight.

I think we can agree that there isn't another good opponent at 168. Sartison isn't any different than Magee or Brinkley. The only semi-worthwhile opponent is Robert Steiglitz, but Steiglitz turned down a fight with Bute previously and really isn't anything special either. The only option is for him to jump up in weight to 175. I don't think Bute shoud be criticized for staying at his natural weight class and waiting to fight the best at that weight class when the tournament is over.

I can also assume we agree that he's done the right thing by going back to Showtime. That should tell you that he is interested in fighting the opponents in the tournament or he wouldn't have made that move.

I don't like the idea of him forcing Cloud or Erdei to come down to meet at a catchweight either.