Comments Thread For: Sauerland: Bute, Stieglitz Fights on The Table For Kessler

[Jack Napier]

either fight is ok
Bute might look for something else, has more options
Kessler wrecks Steiglitz, Bute could beat him

[Kesslerfan#1]

My thoughts exactly.

Advantages of Kessler Fighting Stieglitz Before Bute
Advantage - A unification fight would increase the hype around the eventual Kessler-Bute clash, which hopefully would be immediately after.
Advantage - It gives Kessler another fight to get any remaining ring rust off (even though it didn't look like there was much last Saturday), and it's against a guy who fits nicely in the middle of Bouadla (who kind of impressed me actually, certainly better than his record indicated) and Bute.
Advantage - It gets a belt away from Stieglitz, who strikes me as a fairly protected champion to be honest. I haven't been super impressed with the competition he has faced since winning the belt from Balzsay. Gutknecht was green (18 fights), and Ornelas and Gevor are just okay... nothing special.

Advantages of Kessler Fighting Bute Immediately
Advantage - A Kessler-Stielgitz fight keeps Bute on the shelf, and unless he picks to fight Andre Dirrell (which I think is unlikely), we will probably get yet another obnoxious Bute defense where his opponent has no chance of beating him, since there really is almost no one left for him to fight in the division that anyone has ever heard of.
Advantage - It's the best possible fight that can be made in the division that doesn't include Andre Ward or Carl Froch (except for maybe Andre Dirrell, whose status is uncertain at the moment, and either fight being made is far from guaranteed).
Advantage - It avoids the possibility of a hand injury or cut or something that could further delay a Bute-Kessler fight after the interim fight against Stieglitz and whoever Bute gets in the ring with.
Advantage - In the most remote of possibilities, Stieglitz could get a fluke win over Kessler, and the Bute-Kessler matchup would never happen, or would only happen after an immediate rematch... and even then, the Super Six would be over, and more attractive opponents will be available for Bute.

Great Post!!

[Fox McCloud]

either fight is ok
Bute might look for something else, has more options
Kessler wrecks Steiglitz, Bute could beat him

What options do you think Bute has?

The Ring's Rankings at 168
1. Andre Ward - Busy with Froch in the fall.
2. Carl Froch - Busy with Ward in the fall.
3. Lucian Bute - Who we are talking about obviously.
4. Mikkel Kessler - He would be fighting Stieglitz in this scenario.
5. Robert Stieglitz - He would be fighting Kessler in this scenario.
6. Sakio Bika - Bute already beat him pretty handily when he was a prospect on the way up, so the rematch is not very enticing, considering Bute has only gotten better, and Bika was already established when that fight took place.
7. Glen Johnson - He's an okay option, although he just lost, has more than 10 losses, and is pretty old by boxing standards. However, Andrade did okay in spots against Bute in both of their fights (before he got knocked out in the second, although people don't remember that very often), and Johnson is probably a more formidable pressure fighter than Andrade is, even at this point in their careers.
8. Arthur Abraham - 1-3 in his last four, which is more realistically 0-3 against credible opponents. No thanks.
9. Dimitri Sartison - Not a terrible choice, as he beat Gevor, and has the fake WBA title. However, Kessler wrecked him a couple of years back, winning every round and then sending him away on a stretcher after a knockout victory. He is another fighter with little hope of beating Bute.
10. Thomas Oosthuizen - Who? He has a record of 15-0-1, meaning he's green. Plus, his best result is a draw against Isaac Chilemba, who beat Maxim Vlasov. Chilemba's record in his last five fights is 4-0-1, and it was against opponents with a combined 84-1-0... that's a hell of a run. If Oosthuizen had faced and remained undefeated with that level of competition in his recent fights, he would certainly be qualified for a title shot. But since he has fought competition that leaves something to be desired, Bute picking him as an opponent would be pretty disappointing.

Other Possibilities
Edwin Rodriguez - This guy looks like he is going to be a damn good fighter. He has wins over sons of greats for their eras in Aaron Pryor Jr. and Dirt McGirt Jr. Those wins aren't fantastic, but sort of like Golovkin at 160, it's his visible talent that would allow him to take a shortcut to a title shot without getting any good victories over mid level guys.
Peter Quillin - Still pretty green, but a pretty good fighter. Not an awful fight. He would rely on his talent more than than his resume like Rodriguez would to be an acceptable opponent for a fight with Bute. However, he did knock Jesse Brinkley quicker than Bute did in his last fight. Pretty impressive...
Jean Paul Mendy - Bute is already set to fight him in one month from today... which actually operates as the fight that happens at the same time(ish) that Kessler's fight with Bouadla, so he certainly won't end up being the fight that happens if/when Kessler fights Stieglitz. Just an FYI, Mendy has no shot of beating Bute by the way, as he has a draw with Anthony Hanshaw on his resume and was getting torched in his best "win" against Bika until he got hit when he was down and won by DQ. I also find it quite odd that Bute has another mandatory that he has to fight so soon after taking care of Jesse Brinkley when he was his mandatory less than a year ago.
Allan Green - Lost two in a row without showing a lot of potential for the elite level of the sport... still a decent name, but I don't think people would react favorable to Bute picking him as an opponent.
Piotr Wilczewski - 29-1 fighter from Poland. Just picked up a mediocre win over Amin Asikainen, but also has a third round TKO loss on his resume courtesy of Curtis Stevens. That hurts his stock A LOT. Not interested in this one until he gets another good win or two.
Aaron Pryor Jr. - 16-3 career record... one of those was a respectable loss to Edwin Rodriguez, but the other two were an SD to a guy who was 7-3-1 and an MD to a guy who was 4-1-0. He just picked up an MD over Librado Andrade, which is quite impressive... although I've heard that decision was suspect to say the least. Too many losses for so few fights, and a questionable victory over Andrade doesn't erase enough of that to warrant a fight with Bute... he should get another good win to put himself in line for a title shot in my opinion.
Renan St. Juste - I was totally unimpressed with this clown when I saw him... plus, he's a Haitian living in Quebec who speaks French... literally my least favorite mix of ethnicities and nationalities. Regardless of my personal dislike of the guy, he has a UD loss to a guy who was 16-14-1 and an SD to a guy who was 12-4-1. Unimpressive. He did wreck Sebastian Demers his last time out, although that guy is looking pretty far on the downside of his career at this moment. Still, not title shot worthy in my mind with a loss in the fight before his last.
Jesus Gonzales - 26-1 fighter who has a TKO loss to Jose Luis Zertuche (Pavlik victim who was 15-2-2 at the time). However, he knocked out the first guy who went the distance with Lemuiex (although in his three fights before Gonzales, he was knocked out in two of them, with the Lemuiex fight being the exception), and he won a UD over the 19 loss guy who likely ended Jeff Lacy's career. People will probably be pretty unhappy if this is the guy who Bute fights if/when Kessler fight Stieglitz.

[Fox McCloud]

Great Post!!

Lol, I can still be a pretty good poster when I actually care to be... which only turns out to be when I take my ADD meds oddly enough.

The intense focus that it gives me is also the reason that my serious posts are super long.

[BattlingNelson]

What options do you think Bute has?

The Ring's Rankings at 168
1. Andre Ward - Busy with Froch in the fall.
2. Carl Froch - Busy with Ward in the fall.
3. Lucian Bute - Who we are talking about obviously.
4. Mikkel Kessler - He would be fighting Stieglitz in this scenario.
5. Robert Stieglitz - He would be fighting Kessler in this scenario.
6. Sakio Bika - Bute already beat him pretty handily when he was a prospect on the way up, so the rematch is not very enticing, considering Bute has only gotten better, and Bika was already established when that fight took place.
7. Glen Johnson - He's an okay option, although he just lost, has more than 10 losses, and is pretty old by boxing standards. However, Andrade did okay in spots against Bute in both of their fights (before he got knocked out in the second, although people don't remember that very often), and Johnson is probably a more formidable pressure fighter than Andrade is, even at this point in their careers.
8. Arthur Abraham - 1-3 in his last four, which is more realistically 0-3 against credible opponents. No thanks.
9. Dimitri Sartison - Not a terrible choice, as he beat Gevor, and has the fake WBA title. However, Kessler wrecked him a couple of years back, winning every round and then sending him away on a stretcher after a knockout victory. He is another fighter with little hope of beating Bute.
10. Thomas Oosthuizen - Who? He has a record of 15-0-1, meaning he's green. Plus, his best result is a draw against Isaac Chilemba, who beat Maxim Vlasov. Chilemba's record in his last five fights is 4-0-1, and it was against opponents with a combined 84-1-0... that's a hell of a run. If Oosthuizen had faced and remained undefeated with that level of competition in his recent fights, he would certainly be qualified for a title shot. But since he has fought competition that leaves something to be desired, Bute picking him as an opponent would be pretty disappointing.

Other Possibilities
Edwin Rodriguez - This guy looks like he is going to be a damn good fighter. He has wins over sons of greats for their eras in Aaron Pryor Jr. and Dirt McGirt Jr. Those wins aren't fantastic, but sort of like Golovkin at 160, it's his visible talent that would allow him to take a shortcut to a title shot without getting any good victories over mid level guys.
Peter Quillin - Still pretty green, but a pretty good fighter. Not an awful fight. He would rely on his talent more than than his resume like Rodriguez would to be an acceptable opponent for a fight with Bute. However, he did knock Jesse Brinkley quicker than Bute did in his last fight. Pretty impressive...
Jean Paul Mendy - Bute is already set to fight him in one month from today... which actually operates as the fight that happens at the same time(ish) that Kessler's fight with Bouadla, so he certainly won't end up being the fight that happens if/when Kessler fights Stieglitz. Just an FYI, Mendy has no shot of beating Bute by the way, as he has a draw with Anthony Hanshaw on his resume and was getting torched in his best "win" against Bika until he got hit when he was down and won by DQ. I also find it quite odd that Bute has another mandatory that he has to fight so soon after taking care of Jesse Brinkley when he was his mandatory less than a year ago.
Allan Green - Lost two in a row without showing a lot of potential for the elite level of the sport... still a decent name, but I don't think people would react favorable to Bute picking him as an opponent.
Piotr Wilczewski - 29-1 fighter from Poland. Just picked up a mediocre win over Amin Asikainen, but also has a third round TKO loss on his resume courtesy of Curtis Stevens. That hurts his stock A LOT. Not interested in this one until he gets another good win or two.
Aaron Pryor Jr. - 16-3 career record... one of those was a respectable loss to Edwin Rodriguez, but the other two were an SD to a guy who was 7-3-1 and an MD to a guy who was 4-1-0. He just picked up an MD over Librado Andrade, which is quite impressive... although I've heard that decision was suspect to say the least. Too many losses for so few fights, and a questionable victory over Andrade doesn't erase enough of that to warrant a fight with Bute... he should get another good win to put himself in line for a title shot in my opinion.
Renan St. Juste - I was totally unimpressed with this clown when I saw him... plus, he's a Haitian living in Quebec who speaks French... literally my least favorite mix of ethnicities and nationalities. Regardless of my personal dislike of the guy, he has a UD loss to a guy who was 16-14-1 and an SD to a guy who was 12-4-1. Unimpressive. He did wreck Sebastian Demers his last time out, although that guy is looking pretty far on the downside of his career at this moment. Still, not title shot worthy in my mind with a loss in the fight before his last.
Jesus Gonzales - 26-1 fighter who has a TKO loss to Jose Luis Zertuche (Pavlik victim who was 15-2-2 at the time). However, he knocked out the first guy who went the distance with Lemuiex (although in his three fights before Gonzales, he was knocked out in two of them, with the Lemuiex fight being the exception), and he won a UD over the 19 loss guy who likely ended Jeff Lacy's career. People will probably be pretty unhappy if this is the guy who Bute fights if/when Kessler fight Stieglitz.

You are missing out on Bute's obvious plan B choice

Kelly Pavlik.

[Fox McCloud]

You are missing out on Bute's obvious plan B choice

Kelly Pavlik.

Wow... I'm... quite embarrassed, especially after saying that I can be a pretty good poster when I still care. Well, I care right now, and I still omitted a blatantly obvious possible (probable even) opponent for Bute. I looked at The Ring's top ten, and then Boxrec's top 25 rated fighters at 168. Oh god, WTF... he even is listed as number five on Boxrec's list. I'll be back, I have to go do the dance of shame for a while.

[BattlingNelson]

Wow... I'm... quite embarrassed, especially after saying that I can be a pretty good poster when I still care. Well, I care right now, and I still omitted a blatantly obvious possible (probable even) opponent for Bute. I looked at The Ring's top ten, and then Boxrec's top 25 rated fighters at 168. Oh god, WTF... he even is listed as number five on Boxrec's list. I'll be back, I have to go do the dance of shame for a while.

You deserve a mulligan wiener.

[Fox McCloud]

You deserve a mulligan wiener.

Thanks Brolenga Mock.

[BritishBoxing92]

Mikkel Kessler's promoter, Sauerland Event, are still trying to decide which fighter is going to become the Danish star's next opponent. The two frontrunners are Lucian Bute and Robert Stieglitz. Promoter Kalle Sauerland has confirmed that offer has been recieved by Bute's side.

[Click Here To Read More]

i doubt bute will fight kessler he has been fighting questionable opposition and has not really been in any big fights lately, this other guy stieglitz i would put my money on him more likely to be fighting kessler next since bute is fighting undefeated jean paul mendy which is a move up from brian magee since he also fought in a eliminator bout but won by 1st round DQ against bika, dont see bute taking on kessler any time soon though

[Clegg]

If Kessler doesn't fight and beat Bute, I can't see him ever getting a shot at the likely Super Six winner (Ward). There's no reason that anyone would want to see a rematch of that fight unless Kessler does something special to establish himself as the top contender.

I still don't expect Bute to fight anyone, ever. He'll make a half-arsed attempt to get the Super Six winner to fight him in Canada with his dad as the ref, but that's all. This is a guy who was unwilling to face Pascal and has yet to face an opponent who knew how to block a punch or throw a jab.

Froch tried to fight him before, Pascal tried to fight him, Kessler's team flew to Canada to negotiate, Hopkins and Ward will attempt to fight him in the future. He won't face any of them.