Criticism of Showtime: Bute vs Magee (and the 3-fight deal)

[RSBonos]

Erdei moved up to Cruisweight and won a world title in a FOTY worthy performance against Giancobbe Fragomeni. This despite the fact that Erdei is a midget compared to Bute.

Bute, on the other hand, wasn't even willing to move up 7 lbs to fight Pascal at LHW in what would have been the biggest fight in the history of Canadian boxing.

Erdei's fights against Fragomeni, Garay x 2 and Julio Caesar Gonzalez represent at least 4 opponents who were much more challenging than anyone and everyone that Bute has faced.

It's a good thing you mentioned Erdei though, as he represents yet another opponent who Bute could consider fighting to get a little respect, yet won't be considered because he actually has boxing skills.

Erdei is the poster boy for overprotected champion of the past decade. 99% of all boxing fans will agree with me. Only Mundine might surpass him in the ducking/wasted talent department.

Andrade > any of Erdei's wins (what does that say LOL), and I still think that Bute will have a couple of super fights before he goes out. Erdei's best hope at this moment of achieving that is facing Dawson etc and hoping that he doesn't get beat too bad at his old age. He did jack after winning the 'lineal' title.

You are only slightly less ridiculous then that Zaveck fanatic. I hope for your sake that you have Hungarian heritage. I'm Romanian\Canadian, what's your excuse?

[The Gambler1981]

Gary Shaw isn't going to send Dirrell to fight Montreal without at least 2 warm up fights to get him back into the swing of things. By the time Dirrell has been cleared and is ready for that kind of fight Bute will already have fought Mendy and Stevens and finished his Showtime contract.

At that point he isn't going to risk a shot at the Super 6 winner by taking on Dirrell. Bute's resume is not only mediocre, but is filled with guys who are dreadfully slow of hand and foot. A guy who can move around the ring and throw punches in combination? Not gonna be the direction that Bute goes.

That is why I take it if I am Shaw and Dirrell to be honest, it would be a bold move but that is a quick route toward the top if what you think is correct, as long as Dirrell plays to win~.

I am sure Dirrell would not be any kind of first choice though, really no one should want to fight Dirrell by choice.

[Pullcounter]

showtime needs bute to fight the super 6 winner to crown the undisputed champ at 168 lbs.

that's why they have to sign him to 3 fights and that's why they have to accept bute fighting bums.

[RSBonos]

Well maybe Showtime is getting in on that end?

No. Interbox and GYM have always had their own PPVs, I don't think that they are linked. They make good money in Quebec but at the expense of having almost no presence in English Canada. Only recently have Bute and Pascal been mentioned in the national newspaper. But they are superstars in Quebec and I doubt that their promoters would share the PPV profits with Showtime.

[Kevin Malone]

showtime needs bute to fight the super 6 winner to crown the undisputed champ at 168 lbs.

that's why they have to sign him to 3 fights and that's why they have to accept bute fighting bums.

Why didn't they sign him to a 5 fight deal 1 year ago, or a 2 fight deal a month from now? It just seems arbitrary and we get nothing out of it. I see no interest in this fight and it's next weekend. I think this was a bad moves on Showtime's part. I'd rather they lock in the Super 6 finalists for an additional fight on the network than have Bute fighting no-namers for his first 2 fights.

[ShoulderRoll]

Bute's contract with Showtime is much worse than Berto's. And I never thought I would say that anyone had a worse contract that Berto!

[Rocky Rode]

Will Bute even bring ratings to Showtime? I don't get this either.

If Ward wins the Super 6 and Bute is set to fight the winner...where will they fight? Ward hasn't fought outside of CA in forever and Bute doesn't want to leave Canada.

[The Gambler1981]

No. Interbox and GYM have always had their own PPVs, I don't think that they are linked. They make good money in Quebec but at the expense of having almost no presence in English Canada. Only recently have Bute and Pascal been mentioned in the national newspaper. But they are superstars in Quebec and I doubt that their promoters would share the PPV profits with Showtime.

Well that depends can Showtime give them extra value it might be worth it to bring them in, if the pie gets bigger you can afford to cut someone in.

I was merely presenting this as a possible reason why Showtime paid what they did for the rights to Bute.

[Hitman932]

Will Bute even bring ratings to Showtime? I don't get this either.

If Ward wins the Super 6 and Bute is set to fight the winner...where will they fight? Ward hasn't fought outside of CA in forever and Bute doesn't want to leave Canada.

Ward will have to leave California for the Super 6 final.

Bute will continue to fight in Montreal.

The fight between Ward and Bute should end up in Atlantic City or at Madison Square Garden.

[Rocky Rode]

Ward will have to leave California for the Super 6 final.

Bute will continue to fight in Montreal.

The fight between Ward and Bute should end up in Atlantic City or at Madison Square Garden.

There's already a site for the Super 6 final? Good. I wanna see Ward leave Cali for once