Since Pavlik isn't fighting Bute - what do you guys think of Quillin or Pirog?

[Kev]

Pirog looked really sub-par in his last fight, nothing on his shots getting caught a lot. I honestly think Jacobs could take him easily in a rematch. Plus he's gotta a small frame for being over 6' I think he would have a hard time being effective at 168. Quillin needs to fight someone else of note before getting a shot a Bute IMO. I think Quillin should fight Andrade or someone durable and steady like that, someone that can take Quillin to deeper waters.

I honestly think Bute is fine taking some lame opponent, because the only meaningful fight left for him at Super Middle is the winner of the S6 and that's not until October.

Sheep, I know you're one person who isn't high on Pirog or is very high on Jacobs. I'm probably in the middle, you can't take away that Pirog knocked Jacobs out hard. On the other hand, Pirog looked flat in his last performance. In any event, Jacobs is out indefinitely due to illness (if I recall, he had a lump removed from his spine).

I agree with you about Quillin. He needs an Andradeesque fight before he steps up.

Bilbo - I don't it would be a good business decision for Groves right now to take a Bute fight because he's flying high on his win over Degale. It seems like the risk wouldn't be worth it at this point. He might as well milk his domestic popularity for at least a little while.

I think the winner or loser of the S6 would be a good fight to be honest, meaning Carl Froch or Andre Ward.

Maybe but he wouldn't have to win to boost his career. A solid effort would raise his profile, a loss to a solid world champion before you get into your prime doesn't harm a career.

Michale Watson went straight into a world title fight against Mike McCallum after taking Nigel Benn's commonwealth title as did Steve Dollins after only 20 fights or so.

True they both lost but it didn't harm their careers, they want on to have their biggest fights afterwards.

It won't happen but I'd rather see Groves fight Bute than Johnson just to see someone different. People always go on about how Johnson is always unlucky on the scorecards but even Rocky Juarez hasn't had as many different chances to win belts as him.

He's had 5 failed title shots in a row now, 6 if you count Tarver's IBO crown. Can't we just force him to win at least one significant fight before he gets another crack?