Lucian Bute - a product of soft sparring

I think Bute is a product of soft sparring, he didnt seem to know how to react to getting hit, a little bit like a young Khan, and some other European fighters I have seen in the past. He was getting disorganised, and disorientated by punches that you would not even call full force, by a hard, but not concusive puncher at world level. He obviously hasn't got a terrible chin, as he never went over. Saying that he clearly hasnt got a vey good chin chin, but I believe his main problem is a lack of competitive sparring, because technically, even against Froch he was very good. He can overcome his whiskers if he goes back to the drawing board, and irons out the flaws, and maybe learn to fight where he doesn't echange too much. Anyway I am not ready to give up on the guy, because he does a lot of good things, and he has beaten some solid guys. He really needs to get himself some world class sparring, with some of the top guys at 168lb, maybe some of the top guys at lightheavy. I don't think he is a complete lost cause, he is just not conditioned to take punches at that kind of level.

Comments (15)

Scary

I don't think it's over for him, and he did ok in the first 2 rounds, still landing less than Froch. Froch is as slick as they come! ;) When you called Glen "The Rock" Johnson soft sparring I facepalmed.

14y ago

killerbunny

Cosign, especially if its hard sparring they both would perform even better without the pressure of an audience and being televised. More comfortable and easier to do what you want. Ive had sparring sessions that were waaaaay tougher than actual competition. I believe you and I agree with you...:boxing:

14y ago

Pito

14y ago

Redd_Foxx

Does soft sparring account for him knocking guys silly until he fought serious competition? He was getting tagged in volume by one of the best in his class, that was the problem.

14y ago

sunny31

this he's sparred with glen johnson extensively. they both have lived and trained in florida. in fact they've served as eachother's only sparring partners before. meaning they go out there and work for four or eight rounds against eachother. against a pro of that level that's insane work, and very rare. Glen Johnson is obviously good quality sparring, but he is one style, and has Never been a big puncher, even at his best. This kind of proves my point to a certain extent, he has obviously been able to handle Johnson, who has been fighting at world title level for as long as I can remember, it is a high level, but because of a major flaw he comes completely unstuck against Froch. It makes me think he has not been truly beaten up, knocked down, hurt in the learning phase of his career, and has not had consistently top quality, intense, sparring, he looked like a fighter who was not at all use to getting hit that hard, and for a fighter who has been a world champion for a while that is surprising...but not impossible. It is a theory, we will see.

14y ago

New_England

Um, I don't believe Glen Johnson is soft sparring. this he's sparred with glen johnson extensively. they both have lived and trained in florida. in fact they've served as eachother's only sparring partners before. meaning they go out there and work for four or eight rounds against eachother. against a pro of that level that's insane work, and very rare.

14y ago

TyrantT316

I think there's some merit to that. He seemed just fine from a boxing perspective. However when he was really getting hit and unloaded on, it didn't look like he knew what to do. As if he didn't know how to get out of the way. He's adopted the ropes as support rather than good defense, knowing when to clinch and knowing when to move. Adjustment isn't in his game either. He's a good boxer with a sneaky left, but he proved to be limited in the adjustment department. That does kind of remind me of Khan. Khan is one speed and fights that way the whole time. When he starts getting hit, he's holding, back pedaling and looking confused. But his speed usually carries him to survival.

14y ago

dan_cov

He made Froch miss, and made him pay quite a few times, problem is when you another guys power is having that much effect on you than it is nearly impossible to execute. He didn't really make him miss though, Froch was almost landing with everything he threw & it didn't help matters when he would lay on the ropes & let Froch tee-off on him.

14y ago

dan_cov

Well it's a theory, and like I said I have seen it before. I am not even a fan, but it was an observation. Sometimes a guy has enough in other areas of his game to make up for a big flaw. I believe he could be one of those guys if he wants it enough, and still believes in himself. He will obviously need to make some changes to his team. It is not that crazy? Are you of the opinion he is just not good enough at that level? Elaborate. Yeah I am on the opinion that Froch, Ward, Kessler, Dirrell all beat him 10/10 times. He does have tools but I can never see the guy being an elite super middleweight. His defense is very leaky & he reacts horribly to getting hit, he has no head movement and seems a confidence fighter & IMO that for a fighter like he is, that is going to be a very hard defeat to bounce back from.

14y ago

sunny31

Um, I don't believe Glen Johnson is soft sparring. What even at this age, if Glen Johnson couldn't hit him in a fight, I don't imagine he would hit him too much in sparring. I don't consider that great sparring at glenn's age.

14y ago

sunny31

Do you honestly believe half of that? ''because technically, even against Froch he was very good.'' :no1: He made Froch miss, and made him pay quite a few times, problem is when you another guys power is having that much effect on you than it is nearly impossible to execute.

14y ago

sunny31

Do you honestly believe half of that? Well it's a theory, and like I said I have seen it before. I am not even a fan, but it was an observation. Sometimes a guy has enough in other areas of his game to make up for a big flaw. I believe he could be one of those guys if he wants it enough, and still believes in himself. He will obviously need to make some changes to his team. It is not that crazy? Are you of the opinion he is just not good enough at that level? Elaborate.

14y ago

Bushbaby

Um, I don't believe Glen Johnson is soft sparring.

14y ago

dan_cov

''because technically, even against Froch he was very good.'' :no1:

14y ago

dan_cov

Do you honestly believe half of that?

14y ago