Bute vs. Zuniga is Fueled By Referee Controversy

[BIGPOPPAPUMP]

According to Alfredo Marchio, promoter of Fulgencio Zuniga, if Marlon Wright is selected as the referee for his fighter's bout with IBF super middleweight champion Lucian Bute - the fight will not go foward. Marchio does not trust the Montreal ref being involved and he also doesn't want three Canadian judges being selected. The fight takes place this coming Friday at Montreal's Bell Centre and Showtime plans to televise in the United States. [details]

[daju_99]

Man shut up Bute, Librado Andrade knocked you out and the ref helped you by giving you a 20 second count!

[ulises_solis]

zuniga should withdraw from the fight if they put that **** ref in the ring

[grandres]

i really despise ******s that dont recognize the truth like Bute man!! how can he say he won that fight!? he had it on points for sure, no one takes that away from him but he got 24 seconds worth of count! how can he consider himself a man and go and say that he could've really either continued or get up for that matter within the first 10 second count!! the dude has lost all my respect!! with that being said.....**** BUTE!!!

[Ravens Fan]

Man shut up Bute, Librado Andrade knocked you out and the ref helped you by giving you a 20 second count!

I really don't understand how everyone is stating that the ref gave Bute the hometown advantage. During the 12th round as Librado clearly was hurting Bute the ref never let Bute clinch when he was so desperately trying to hang on. Every time Bute rapped Librado up the ref stepped between them. Now,as far as the knockdown is concerned.

When Bute went down there was a whole four seconds left in the fight and the bell did not sound until more then twenty seconds later. Now I know no fighter can be saved by the bell but does that mean the round is extended until the end of the count or that the fighter just has to stand and beat the count regardless if the bell rings or not? I have to be honest I could not see if Librado was in the neutral corner or not, but the ref seemed to think he was not and if so he was violating the rules and the ref had every right to stop the count and pick it up were it ended when the fighter complies with the rules, as the rules state. And that is what I saw, the ref looked at the time keeper to get the count and he started the count at six were he had left off to confront Librado. Just as I have seen many times before as per the rules. Bute was standing well before the original count would have ended and there would have been no time left in the round for Librado to even get another shot off, regardless of how long the count was. So, I believe there really was no controversial ending. The only thing I think the ref did not do was call Bute to him and ask him to hold up his gloves but by then the round should have been over and Bute had already beat the count. In my humble opinion it was much to do about nothing.

[rod_serrs]

I think that these are fair demands and if Bute is the fighter he thinks he is then he should have no reason to be against these demands. I think that a Columbian, Canadian, and American should judge the match. This is how the Campbell/Funeka fight was set up and with a respectable referee as well. These aren't hard demands to meet and are actually very fair IMO.

[Dave Rado]

Man shut up Bute, Librado Andrade knocked you out and the ref helped you by giving you a 20 second count!

I don't think he can hear you.

[-Boxzilla-]

if i were zuniga i wouldnt want wright as a ref either ... fyi i was at the urango vs. Ngoudjo fight and people booed wright when they announced him so the home town crowd dont like him either ...

[Zarco]

rat ref...

[MANGLER]

No beef wit Bute, he's a decent fighter. But **** that ref. He seriously took away Andrade's big moment.