Lucian Bute back in the ring in November against Grachev.

[Cutthroat]

that's not a tune-up, that's a real test!

Did you watch the Sillakh fight? Sillakh was absolutely schooling him, Grachev is a very 1 dimensional fighter his boxing skills are amateurish. Sillakh was a KO waiting to happen, his chin is REALLY bad as was his defense. Plus sillakh was able to drop Grachev with his mediocre power, you can just imagine what Bute will do to him.

I really doubt this fight goes more than 5 rounds, Grachev is wiiide open and Bute will do some serious damage.

[taansend]

Good comeback fight. Grachev a tough, hungry fighter with decent power.

And he's from San Diego where I lived for many happy years.

Not sure why so many slag off Bute. He went into Froch's hometown - when he really didn't have to - and came off 2nd best against a very tough fighter. Not the first champion to have come off on the wrong end of a stoppage.

He may have found out that he's not as robust as he thought but he's still an excellent boxer with a decent dig. And if (a very big if) he winds up beating Froch in a rematch at home I'm sure we'll see a ****load of 'experts' on here talking about his off night in Nottingham.

And I am a Froch fan, have been since day one. But it just astounds me how much stick Bute & Abraham get. They are decent fighters. Just because they're not the best doesn't mean they deserve all the ridicule they get.

[KnockUTheFukOut]

of course he is going to play it safe for the Rematch with Froch but the opponent is coming off of score a pretty good upset I guess

[dan_cov]

I spoke of the dangers of Grachev before he fought Sillakh & people shrugged him off as a no hoper (12/1 underdog), I can see the same happening again!

This guy was very successful in MMA, he comes from a kickboxing background (2X World kickboxing Champion, 4X Russian kickboxing Champion) were he was also very successful as can be seen, now he has crossed over to boxing & taken the scalps of two highly regarded, undefeated prospects who was amateur stand outs as well as the highly regarded gold medalist in Sillakh. Make no mistake about it this guy can fight!

Whilst he is limited, this guys toughness & desire to win as well as his sheer brute strength & power are not to be overlooked.
Also worth taking into account he was a small light heavyweight yet seriously strong, I can only imagine he'd be a lot better suited at super middleweight.

Bute could/perhaps should of taken an easier fight as this Russian is no stepping stone & will not be an easy comeback fight. I think his relentless pressure style can potentially give Bute a lot of problems.

[taansend]

I spoke of the dangers of Grachev before he fought Sillakh & people shrugged him off as a no hoper (12/1 underdog), I can see the same happening again!

This guy was very successful in MMA, he comes from a kickboxing background (2X World kickboxing Champion, 4X Russian kickboxing Champion) were he was also very successful as can be seen, now he has crossed over to boxing & taken the scalps of two highly regarded, undefeated prospects who was amateur stand outs as well as the highly regarded gold medalist in Sillakh. Make no mistake about it this guy can fight!

Whilst he is limited, this guys toughness & desire to win as well as his sheer brute strength & power are not to be overlooked.
Also worth taking into account he was a small light heavyweight yet seriously strong, I can only imagine he'd be a lot better suited at super middleweight.

Bute could/perhaps should of taken an easier fight as this Russian is no stepping stone & will not be an easy comeback fight. I think his relentless pressure style can potentially give Bute a lot of problems.

Great post!