IBF super middleweight champ Lucian Bute passed the biggest test of his pro career with relative ease. Bute raised his record to 30-0 by pitching a near shut out over Glen Johnson. At 42, Johnson can still compete with top tier fighters, as he did just this past June in losing a close majority decision to Carl Froch. However, despite giving a typically workmanlike effort, Johnson was never genuinely competitive in this fight. Scores were 120-108 twice and 119-109.
Punch Stats: Total Punches: Bute - 306 of 678; Johnson - 128 of 572. Jabs: Bute - 183 of 449; Johnson - 81 of 360. Power Shots: Bute - 123 of 229; Johnson - 47 of 212.
Bute is generally considered a top ten pound-for-pound fighter despite never facing an elite opponent. Glen Johnson is no longer an elite fighter (if he ever truly was) but the ease and dominance of Bute's performance is noteworthy. At 31, Bute continues to improve and becomes more aggressive and more entertaining with every fight. Hopefully, his next fight will be against the winner of the Andre Ward-Carl Froch title unification bout on December 17. Bute predicted that Ward will win that fight by decision.
On the undercard, junior welterweight Pier-Olivier Côté scored a spectacular knockout of Jorge Luis Teron just 33 seconds into the second round. Keep an eye on the 27-year-old Côté as it's hard to imagine him being in a dull fight.
Comments
It really does appear that Johnsons long career is nearing the end. Bute fought a relatively cautious fight until the last few rounds, if he had pressed harder in the middle rounds Johnson who looked very tired may not have gone the distance. Still a worthy effort from Glen. I think Andrews remark re Johnson being maybe not elite was a bit unkind, considering Glens annihilation of Roy Jones and close decisions that had they gone his way would have put a whole different perspective on how his status was perceived. I hope the super six winner will be Froch, as Bute v Froch promises to be much more entertaining than safety concious Ward.
Cote looked sensational against a good opponent. He has a great arsenal, is poised and in the second round he was as good as any fighter at this stage of his career I have seen. Looking forward to his next match up.