Lucian Bute is the best super middleweight in the world!!!

[krispy kreme]

How do threads like this get so many responses?

[The Hammer]

You rank Froch ahead? Jesus.

I rank Froch ahead because he's defeated three top ten fighters (Pascal, Dirrell and Taylor), Ward has defeated one top ten (Kessler) and a top 20 (Miranda).

People are making too much of Ward's win over Kessler, with the home ref Jack Reiss, the headbutts and the headgames helping Ward out. Kessler walked into a trap in Oakland and his promoter should never have agreed to it.

[krispy kreme]

I rank Froch ahead because he's defeated three top ten fighters (Pascal, Dirrell and Taylor), Ward has defeated one top ten (Kessler) and a top 20 (Miranda).

People are making too much of Ward's win over Kessler, with the home ref Jack Reiss, the headbutts and the headgames helping Ward out. Kessler walked into a trap in Oakland and his promoter should never have agreed to it.

He would have lost anyways, Kessler was outclassed.

[El Angel]

Andrade is a good chin and good stamina. Bute was outboxing easily in the first fight until he gassed late. I'd rather have Bute in the tournament than Taylor, but you can't base Bute being the #1 SMW in the world off beating Andrade. Kessler did it too, and Ward spanked him.

[Benny Leonard]

Refusing to fight outside his hometown Oakland like ANDRE WARD??

You mean like Ward, needing a HOME REF to allow him to headbutt and hit while holding?

Head-butts shouldn't be allowed and he should be warned next time around. His next opponent should even make sure of it by sending the tape to the officals prior to the bout and give them their warning that this should not be allowed.

However, this has taken place in boxing throughout history and fighters have won and lost because of it...even ATG fighters...so who knows what will be allowed or not allowed.

In boxing, it is not a clean "sport" because in reality, it's really a fight. That is why you have to be prepared for all the dirty tricks. Same reason why Tyson was not given a pass against Holyfield. Tyson knew history and he knew the game...so don't complain and take it like a man. Even Tyson admitted he lost his discipline. He should have known how to better react with the right tactics. Although he did try to head-butt him back which didn't work against Holyfield's new size head.
What Tyson should have done was to use his jab more which is fast, stiff, hard, and accurate...well...maybe not so much anymore but it was at one point and that is on him. The other thing he could have done is taken a step back with his right leg and countered Holy coming in with his head with left hook followed by a right-uppercut or even a straigh-right (something he picked up while training for Ruddock). But he was a different fighter by that point and it cost him.

[Heru]

No the best three are

1. Bute 2. Abraham 3. Froch

Ward's still way behind, and he's never beat a contender impressively like Bute beat Andrade and Abraham beat Miranda. As well, Ward has to cheat to win.

When you post bull**** like this, you reveal yourself as sketchy at the least.

Not having Ward in front of Froch at least is embarrassing.

[-Boxzilla-]

When you post bull**** like this, you reveal yourself as sketchy at the least.

Not having Ward in front of Froch at least is embarrassing.

my top three is bute aa and ward ... in that order ...

[Clegg]

On the strength of that performance you can put him in the top three, certainly.

I think him, Ward and Abraham are the probably the 3 best at the weight. Not sure who would come out on top if they all fought head to head though. I'd probably lean towards AA.

[Mikhnienko]

Some other things that can be pointed out is that Bute in past fights, as well as tonight, can hit you with a punch you don't see...both punches, one to the head, knock-down...and then one to the body....that's really impressive.

He's done this before with the way he fights:
Say you are an orthodox fighter and you throw the right coming towards him; he'll make you miss by dipping/weaving slightly to his left, then hit you with a fast left to the body. That's what I'm talking about Ward. If Ward lunges in like he did against Kessler...Bute will counter that and he has shown many options in his arsenal to counter it. He can throw to the body and/or step back to create a short distance and then counter you.

Yeah, or the 1st KD in the 4th rd against Zuniga, take a half step back and shoot his left to the body, beautiful stuff

He picks his spots but he is a very smart and effective body puncher.

He also throws a quick & powerful half uppercut/hook with his right to catch you coming in, he did it tonight against Andrade and the announcers mentioned it.

His footwork is great along with his upperbody movement for defense.

Also his 10th and 11th rd ko's of Berrio and Joppy shows that he can carry his power into the late rounds, doesn't diminish

[vercingetorix3]

How do threads like this get so many responses?

Easy, because it creates controversy. Making bold, brash statements like that tends to generate multiple responses.

That being said, Bute is one of the best, not THE best. I think he takes Taylor by KO and Froch by decision, still not sure about Kessler, Ward, Dirrell and the he might beat Abraham by decision.