Lucian Bute is Planning To Return Strong in 2015

By Luke Furman

Former champion Lucian Bute (31-2) has promised to return strong in 2015. The boxer has been inactive since a January decision loss to countryman Jean Pascal. He was scheduled to come back on December 6th, in his first fight under the guide of trainer Freddie Roach, but he suffered a back injury while training in the Philippines and withdrew from the contest.

Bute spoke with local reporters in Canada and cleared up the rumors that he was considering the idea of retirement.

"I want to continue. I want to get back in the ring. I will take my time to get it right, because this injury has not only affected me physically, but mentally as well. I invested a lot of time and money - hotel, airfare, the training partners that were there - but situations like this happen and I can not do anything about it. I accept it, even if it hurts," Bute said.  "I have already booked appointments with doctors in the coming days to learn more about this injury."

Luke Furman covers boxing for bokser.org