Former Super Middleweight champion Lucian Bute injured his back and his December 6 bout with Roberto Bolonti has been called off accring to Dan Rafael of espn.com.

InterBox promoter Jean Bedard announced that while Bute-Bolonti is off, the card will go on with former light heavyweight champion and Quebec star Jean Pascal having his co-featured bout against Donovan George elevated to the main event.

“Even though it’s sad news for Lucian and his fans, the Dec. 6th gala is important for Jean Pascal’s future and the world of boxing,” Bedard said in announcing that the show, an Integrated Sports pay-per-view in the United States, will go on.

HOBOKEN, NJ (October 30, 2014) – Integrated Sports Media (ISM), North America’s undisputed leader of major boxing pay-per-view distribution, announced today that it will deliver the “Bute vs. Bolonti” double feature to United States fans, Saturday, December 6, live from historic Bell Centre in Montreal.

Bute vs. Bolonti is being distributed in the U.S. by ISM for live viewing at 8:00 p.m. ET – 5:00 p.m. PT on both cable and satellite pay-per-view via iN Demand, DirecTV, DISH, and Vubiquity for a suggested retail price of only $24.95.

Former International Boxing Federation (IBF) super middleweight champion Lucian “Le Tombeaur” Bute (31-2, 24 KOs), currently the World Boxing Council (WBC) No. 5 world rated light heavyweight, headlines in a 10/12 round bout against former world title challenger Roberto “La Bestia” Bolonti (35-3, 24 KOs). In the 10/12 round co-feature, former WBC light heavyweight champion Jean Pascal (29-2-1, 17 KOs) will risk his world No. 1 ranking against Donovan “Da Bomb” George (25-4-2, 22 KOs), fighting out of Chicago.

“We’re excited to bring this great card to American fight fans,” ISM president Doug Jacobs said. “Bute and Pascal are still two of the top, most popular light heavyweights in the world. They both have incredibly passionate fan bases. There’s nothing more exciting than broadcasting a major boxing event from Bell Centre in Montreal. We’re happy that InterBox has given ISM an opportunity to showcase Bute, Pascal and others in the United States.”

“InterBox is proud to have reached an agreement with Doug Jacobs and ISM to present our December 6th Bell Centre card throughout the United States of America,” InterBox president Jean Bedard commented. “Our Team is working hard on all facets of this promotion. We are looking forward to offering our American fan base a quality event with top rated boxers in meaningful fights.”

Romanian-born Bute has reached cult status in Quebec. He was the IBF super middleweight champion for five years from 2007 through 2012, when he lost to Carl Froch. During his aforementioned stretch of dominance (10-0, 8 KOs), Bute defeated world champions such as Alejandro Berrio, William Joppy and Glen Johnson, in addition to Librado Andrade (twice), Edison Miranda, Jessie Brinkley, Brian Magee and Jean-Paul Mendy.

Bute moved up to fight as a light heavyweight in 2012, winning a 12-round decision against previously unbeaten Denis Grachev for the North American Boxing Federation (NABF) title, which he lost in his last fight (Jan. 18, 2014) by decision to his Montreal arch-rival Pascal.

Bolonti is a 35-year-old Argentinian whose last fight was a loss by 12-round decision to World Boxing Association (WBA) light heavyweight champion Juergen Braehmer last June in Germany. Bolonti, who has never been stopped as a professional boxer, is a former WBC Latino, South American and Argentina 175-pound division champion. His only two fights outside of Argentina, however, resulted in losses to Braehmer and in two years ago to former world lightweight contender Tony Bellow
in the United Kingdom by way of a 12-round decision.

Pascal has won three straight fights, including his last to Bute in this past January, since losing his WBC title to living legend Bernard Hopkins in 2011. The Haitian native who has lived in Montreal for many years is presently the No. 1 world rated light heavyweight contender by the WBC and World Boxing Organization (WBO), as well as ranked No. 3 by the IBF. He was the first to defeat multiple world champion Chad Dawson, as well as former world champions Silvio Branco and Adrian Diaconu (twice), during his outstanding 9 ½-year pro career in which he’s never been knocked out.

Additional PPV fights will soon be announced. All fights and fighters are subject to change.

Tickets are on sale and available to purchase by visiting www.evenko.ca, or calling 1.855.310.2525 and Club de boxe Champion (1.514.376.0980).

For additional information please visit www.IntegratedSportsnet.com or www.InterBox.ca, follow on Twitter @IntegratedPPV @InterBoxCA @ButeLucian @JeanPascalChamp.

According to Dan Rafael of espn.com, former Light Heavyweight champion Jean Pascal will take on Donovan George on December 6 at Bell Centre in Montreal as part of the Lucian Bute – Roberto Boloni undercard.

The signing “will place Pascal in a better position with regards to high-profile fight opportunities in the future,” said Interbox President Jean Bedard.

“Two big fights such as Bute versus Bolonti and Pascal versus George on the same card is a very rare occurrence in Quebec,” Bedard said.

“I always had a great respect for Jean Bedard. My company [Jean Pascal Promotions] is thrilled to be working alongside InterBox for my next four fights,” Pascal said.

“I am very happy to be fighting George,” Pascal said. “He took (reigning world champion) Adonis Stevenson to the 12th round and I plan to do better so that fight fans can use this as a measuring stick for an eventual fight between Stevenson and I.”

“I am coming to win and to shock Quebec,” George said. “I jumped on the fight versus Pascal the very minute it was proposed to me.”

Former Super Middleweight champion Lucian Bute will be back in action on December 6 at the Bell centre in Montreal when he takes on former world title challenger Roberto Bolonti.

“I wanted to face a quality opponent who is coming to fight,” Bute said. “Bolonti is a persistent, come-forward boxer who is difficult to rattle. This is exactly what I need, and exactly what I will train to counter.”

“Bolonti is an excellent challenge for Lucian and InterBox is very happy to have concluded an agreement with this popular boxer of world caliber,” Bedard said. “Bolonti had several other options but chose to fight Lucian. Judging by the performance of Bolonti in his last fight for a world championship, our fans are in for a real treat.”

“I feel better and more confident for this bout than for others I had abroad before,” Bolonti said. “It is going to be a good fight for sure. I want to win clearly in order to have a new world title chance, because this fight against Bute will be like a bridge (to) another world championship opportunity.”

MONTREAL (April 16, 2014) — This afternoon at La Cage aux Sports Boucherville, Groupe Yvon Michel (GYM) and InterBox announced that they had reached an agreement with Jean Pascal Promotions to ensure the services of the NABF Champion and WBC Diamond Belt light heavyweight champion Jean Pascal (29-2-1, 17 KOs), who recently defeated Lucian Bute.

The multi-fight agreement was signed last Saturday between President Yvon Michel of GYM, InterBox President Jean Bédard and Chief Operating Officer (CEO) of Jean Pascal Promotions, Greg Leon.

WBC #1 contender Pascal became a promotional free agent after his fight this past January 18 in Montreal. During the nine years since his first professional fight Feb. 3, 2005, the 31 years old athlete fought all of his 32 fights under the aegis of Groupe Yvon Michel. During this period he won many titles highlighted by his conquest of popular WBC light heavyweight champion Adrian Diaconu at Montreal’s Bell Centre in June 2009. The following year, in the same arena against Chad Dawson, he added the prestigious “Ring Magazine” and IBO titles, and was recognized as the lineal 175-pound champion. Last January, he won his clash against Bute in front of more than 20,000 spectators gathered in the castle of the Montreal Canadiens.

Greg Leon, CEO of Jean Pascal Promotions, said, “”I want to thank Group Yvon Michel and InterBox for making our negotiation smooth and seamless. Jean Pascal Promotions and I are truly looking forward to promoting with such outstanding organizations. Jean Pascal is already the box office champion of the Canadian market and without question that is a position that he will only have a firmer stronghold of following these next two events. We are looking forward to giving the fans the fights they are craving and I have no doubt that Jean Pascal will be the last man standing when all is said and done.”

“We will work closely with GYM and InterBox across all platforms to design an integrated strategy that grows Jean Pascal’s brand globally. Our entire team is very excited with the deal we have concluded,” added Raven Brosier, consultant for Jean Pascal Promotions.

“At GYM, we are particularly pleased to continue our association with Jean Pascal, thru his company Jean Pascal Promotions, which began when he was 22, in 2005,” GYM president Yvon Michel commented. “Our alliance with InterBox in this project is not the result of a contextual improvisation but a long reflection that began at the end of last summer. Now, GYM and InterBox will join forces to offer the best opportunities for our boxers and to give our fans the best shows.”

“For us at InterBox, we are excited to implement our agreement with GYM, to combine the respective talents of both organizations and work to present to boxing fans major fights. It is in this perceptive that fits the agreement with Jean Pascal Promotions. Our first goal was to keep this talented Quebec athlete here in Quebec,” InterBox President Jean Bedard stated.

“As President of Jean Pascal Promotions,” Pascal remarked, “I have many new challenges ahead of me, but like I’ve done many times before, I plan on making history both inside and outside of the ring. I will be taking on the best challenges and give the fans their monies worth like I always do, but this time I will be doing so as a promoter and a boxer.”

“This opportunity is like a dream come true for me. I’m very excited about working with and learning from Groupe Yvon Michel and InterBox to make our events something the fans will never forget. I have to thank Yvon Michel, Jean Bedard, and Jean Pascal Promotions CEO Greg Leon for making this deal possible. The rest of my staff – Antonio Decarie, Feymie Ze Lou and Raven Brosier – deserve great thanks also for being involved on every step of this new journey.

The objective is to make two more fights in 2014 for Jean Pascal, the next scheduled for September. Discussions on the potential opponent are already underway and those for a U.S. broadcast will follow.

Jean Pascal scored a decisive 12 round unanimous decision over Lucian Bute in a Battle of former Montreal based world champions before a sold crowd of 20, 479 at the Bell Centre in Montreal.

Pascal came out working the body. In round two, Pascal shook Bute with a flurry of punches that also produced a mouse under the left eye of Bute. Pascal was effective with the right in round three. Bute scored later in the round with an uppercut and straight left. In round four, Pascal landed another hard flurry for which Bute looked shaky but took well. Pascal continued to dominate the action for which Bute had no answer for. In fact, there were times were Bute looked like he was there just to watch Pascal as his punch about was around 25 punches per round for the first 11 frames.

Bute had his fire lit before the final frame as he ferociously came out and landed many hard blows on Pascal in thee corner which was much to the delight of the massive crowd assembled at Bell Centre. That rally was too little and much too late for Bute, who may have saved a little face with the attempt of the late heroics.

Pascal, 175 lbs of Montreal won by scores of 116-112, 117-110 and 117-111 and is now 29-2-1. Bute, 173.6 lbs of Montreal is no 31-2.

Undefeated Heavyweight Mike Perez and Carlos Takam battled to a 10 round draw.

It was a tale of two fights as Perez seized a slight advantage early by landing some short shots inside and was effective with the overhand left. In round three, Perez was cut around the right eye from an accidental headbutt. That gave Takam the confidence to begin coming forward and dominated the fight on the inside. Takam clearly had the advantage in the later rounds but in the judges eyes, Perez took enough rounds early to salvage a draw by scores of 96-94 and 95-95 twice.

Perez of Cork, Ireland is now 20-0-1. Takam, 256 lbs of France is now 29-1-1.

Saturday’s HBO World Championship Boxing doubleheader telecast airs at 10:15 p.m. (ET/PT).

The HBO telecast kicks off live from the Bell Centre in Montreal when heavyweights Mike Perez and Carlos Takam square off for 10 rounds.

The evening’s main event features a light heavyweight matchup as Canadian stars Jean Pascal and Lucian Bute lace up their gloves for a 12-round showdown.

Official Weights from Montreal:

Jean Pascal: 175 lbs.
Lucian Bute: 173.6 lbs.

Mike Perez: 231.2 lbs.
Carlos Takam: 256.2 lbs.

Join the conversation on Twitter: #PascalBute

American fight fans will see the biggest bout in Canadian boxing history when the action-packed tripleheader WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP BOXING: JEAN PASCAL VS. LUCIAN BUTE, ELEIDER ALVAREZ VS. THOMAS OOSTHUIZEN AND MIKE PEREZ VS. CARLOS TAKAM is presented SATURDAY, JAN. 18 at 10:15 p.m. (live ET/tape-delayed PT) from the Bell Centre in Montreal, exclusively on HBO. The HBO Sports team will call all the action, presented in HDTV and in Spanish on HBO Latino.

Other HBO playdates: Jan. 19 (8:30 a.m.) and 21 (midnight)
HBO2 playdates: Jan. 19 (4:00 p.m.) and 20 (11:00 p.m.)
In the historic main event, the country’s top rivals, Jean Pascal (28-2-1, 17 KOs) and Lucian Bute (31-1-0, 24 KOs), meet in a 12-round, 175-pound spectacle originally slated for May 2013. The 31-year-old Pascal has never backed down from a challenge, confronting American stars Bernard Hopkins and Chad Dawson with supreme confidence. Bute, 33, has displayed flashes of brilliance as a super middleweight, and will now test his power in the light heavyweight division.
The preceding bout features Montreal’s Eleider Alvarez (13-0-0, 8 KOs) and Thomas Oosthuizen (22-0-2, 13 KOs) of Boksburg, Gauteng, South Africa in a 12-round light heavyweight title clash. The undefeated Alvarez, 29, who has fought his last ten fights at the Bell Centre, will have the backing of fight fans around the country. Returning to HBO after recording a draw against Brandon Gonzales in June, Oosthuizen, 25, is making the transition from super middleweight to the highly competitive 175-pound division.
The evening opens with a battle of highly touted heavyweights, as Mike Perez (20-0, 12 KOs) of Cork, Ireland, takes on Carlos Takam (29-1, 23 KOs) of Noisy-le-Grand, Seine-Saint-Denis, France in a scheduled ten-round bout. Coming off a November win, Perez, 28, seeks to preserve his undefeated record and power-punch his way to a shot at a heavyweight crown. Boasting an impressive 11-fight win streak, including eight by knockout, Takam is making his HBO and Canadian debuts. He is sharp having scored a third round KO win over Jakov Gospic on Dec. 20.
All HBO boxing events are presented in HDTV. HBO viewers must have access to the HBO HDTV channel to watch HBO programming in high definition.
Follow HBO boxing news at hbo.com/boxing, on Facebook at facebook.com/hboboxing and on Twitter at twitter.com/hboboxing.
® WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP BOXING is a registered service mark of Home Box Office, Inc.

MONTREAL (October 31, 2013) – InterBox and Groupe Yvon Michel (GYM) are very pleased to confirm the rescheduled date for the much anticipated Light Heavyweight bout featuring Jean Pascal (28-2-1, 17 KO) vs. Lucian Bute (31-1-0, 24 KO). This local bout with high International intrigue will take place on Saturday, January 18th 2014 at the Montreal Bell Centre. HBO World Championship Boxing will televise.

This high profile bout between two former World champions was originally scheduled to take place last May 25th, but was postponed due to an injury to Lucian Bute’s left hand.

Yvon Michel, President of GYM, is very enthusiastic that this long awaited bout is finally rescheduled: “We are preparing for an event like no other in Canadian history. This event will be the new measuring stick for us in our sport, and this statement is true as much for boxing fans as it is for the fight itself and the intensity surrounding it”.

“We are excited to finally present this event. Our fans have waited a long time for this. Both boxers are ready so believe me, nobody will regret the wait,”adds InterBox president Jean Bedard.

“Finally! I have been waiting for this fight for years,” states former World Light Heavyweight champion Jean Pascal, who celebrated his 31st birthday on Monday. “I believe my opponent’s team conspired to postpone the fight in an attempt to demoralize me. Believe me, it did not work! On January 18th the ring will be too small for the both of us. Bute will not be able to hide. I will expose him”.

“As you all know already, I will arrive to the ring very well prepared. This is a fight that I wanted. I am going to have fun on January 18th, and so are the majority of Quebecers present at the Bell Centre,” declares former Super Middleweight champion Lucian Bute, who will be stepping up to Light Heavyweight for the bout.

Boxing in Quebec is surging more than ever!

Over the last few years, Quebec has become the International reference point for the quality of its boxers, the Champions it has developed, as well as the competencies of the two biggest promoters, GYM and InterBox.

It has now become second nature for boxing fans throughout Quebec to expect thrilling fights and intriguing boxing events loaded with talent right in their own backyard. What started off as local interest has now caught the eye of the most popular International broadcaster in the World, HBO. This prestigious network will be visiting Quebec and producing their 4th major Show in the Province in 7 months time.
“We have nothing to envy from anyone. We can compete with every American city. HBO loves coming here and have genuine interest in all our boxers, not just the champions. This is definitely a source of pride for us,” states Jean Bedard.

“Over 15,000 tickets have already been sold. We are convinced we will pass the 20,000 fan mark at the Bell Centre. The entire World will be looking in with admiration on January 18th,” states Yvon Michel.

Antidoping tests
Both boxers have signed the antidoping protocol and will be tested randomly over the next two and a half month period. These tests, comprised of urine and blood collection, are subject to World Anti Doping Agenecy (WADA) standards, which are similar to Olympic style testing.

Tickets on sale now
Tickets are now on sale at evenko.ca, or by dialing 1-855-310-2525, or by contacting Club de boxe Champion at 514-376-0980.

Jean Pascal will tune up for his January bout with Lucian Bute when he takes on George Blades on September 28th in Montreal as part of the Adonis Stevenson Light Heavyweight title defense with Tavoris Cloud according to Dan Rafael of espn.com

“In taking this fight, we have evaluated the pros and cons and at the end when we got the assurance that Jean was physically in perfect condition and in good health, we decided to do it. He’s a professional fighter and a professional fighter should fight,” Yvon Michel, Pascal’s promoter, told ESPN.com on Thursday.

“I’m very happy to be back and I want to thank Yvon for that because boxing is my life,” Pascal told ESPN.com. “It’s not a championship fight, so I’m going to fight at a catch weight, 180. I don’t consider this fight as a tuneup fight because at my level every fight is important and a loss can damage the rest of my career.

“Also, I know that Mr. Blades won’t come to [just to] cash a check. He and his whole team are coming to win.”

“It’s a big fight with Lucian Bute on Jan. 18, but by Jean fighting on Sept. 28, it will keep him motivated to keep training and he will want to look good against George Blades,” Michel said. “Blades is not a world champion but anyone can look good if you’re not well prepared. So Jean wants to use that fight as a preparation step for the fight after against Bute. We all believe having Pascal back in the ring will revive the popularity around the Pascal-Bute fight after it was postponed. Having Jean fighting will put it back in people’s minds and after Sept. 28 we will re-launch the marketing around the Pascal-Bute fight.”

Montreal, Monday, May 13th 2013 – InterBox and Groupe Yvon Michel (GYM) have reserved the dates of Saturday, December 7th and Saturday, January 25th at the Montreal Bell Centre for the postponed Bute vs. Pascal bout.
Both promoters reserved two dates in order to afford HBO some options. Both promoters plan to discuss the two options with HBO Executives in a few weeks time before announcing the exact rescheduled date.

All tickets purchased will be accepted
All fight fans who have purchased tickets already can hold on to them for the December 7th or January 25th rescheduled date. Fans can also purchase tickets to this historic event by visiting www.evenko.ca, through InterBox, through GYM (514) 383-0666, and by contacting the club de boxe Champion (514) 376-0980.

Lucian Bute underwent successful surgery to his left hand today, in Florida.

As expected, Dr. Veronica Pedro extracted several bone fragments during the 40 minute operation.

Lucian is in good spirits and recuperating at his Florida residence. He will be fitted with a cast next Thursday.

Montreal, Wednesday, May 8th – After internal discussions, InterBox and Groupe Yvon Michel (GYM) have jointly decided against promoting a boxing event on Saturday, May 25th at the Montreal Bell Centre. Preferring to wait until Lucian Bute recovers from surgery to his hand, HBO has confirmed interest in broadcasting the Bute vs. Pascal bout when the new date is known.

InterBox and the GYM Group will now focus their efforts on the Stevenson vs. Dawson WBC Light Heavyweight event on June 8th. Certain undercard bouts signed for May 25th will be presented on the June 8th card. More details to follow shortly.

Kessler vs Froch II broadcast
InterBox holds the rights to Canada of the May 25th IBF and WBA World Super Middleweight titles Unification bout between Carl Froch and Mikkel Kessler, and will announce shortly its intentions regarding broadcast throughout Quebec.

All tickets purchased will be honored
All tickets already purchased for the Bute vs. Pascal Gala will be honored by the Bell Centre for the rescheduled date.

Montreal, Tuesday, May 7th 2013 – Lucian Bute suffered an injury to his left hand that has forced the postponement of his May 25th bout vs. Jean Pascal. Lucian will undergo surgery this week to remove bone fragments from his hand and recovery is anticipated to take a few weeks.

Motivated like never before, Lucian Bute was in the middle of the best training camp of his career. “I am very disappointed by this injury. I have never been in better shape. My preparation was ahead of schedule until late last week. The fans that paid high ticket prices to see me in action against Pascal deserve to see both boxers at their best. Unfortunately I would be far from my best in my present state. For my own good, I have to take the advice of my doctor and undergo this operation. I feel very sad for the fans” declared Lucian Bute.
“This situation is heartbreaking. Lucian`s preparation surpassed our objectives and now this injury will prevent him from offering his fans a great performance on May 25th. We are all very disappointed with this turn of events but the decision to go straight to surgery was the only one to be made as he could no longer use his left hand adequately in training. In the past, we made the error of not listening to the signs of distress coming from the body of an athlete. We do not want to make these same mistakes again » states head trainer Stephan Larouche.

InterBox president Jean Bedard fully supports his boxer during this difficult time. “This is very discouraging for the team. InterBox and Lucian Bute have been through a lot to offer this fight to the fans, but unfortunately injuries are a part of the sport. We made the decision to postpone the fight in the best interests of the fans and of our boxer, Lucian. We will do everything in our power so that Lucian rehabilitates from this injury as fast as possible so he can lace up the gloves against Jean Pascal”.
Refund for tickets purchased
InterBox and Evenko will communicate the procedure for refund of purchased tickets as soon as possible.

Montreal, Tuesday, April 30th, 2013 – InterBox and Groupe Yvon Michel (GYM) are proud to announce all six undercard bouts that will support the historic fight between Lucian Bute (31-1-0 24 KO) and Jean Pascal (27-2-1 16 KO) on Saturday, May 25th 2013 at the Montreal Bell Centre. 4 title belts will be on the line for this Mega Card that has already convinced over 17,000 fans to purchase their tickets. Several new good tickets have been placed into circulation for the general public on Monday.

Froch vs Kessler II: IBF and WBA World titles Unification bout aired live at the Bell Centre

The evening’s festivities will get under way at 6:30 PM at the Bell Centre, with the live presentation of the much anticipated rematch between Carl Froch (30-2-0, 22 KO) and Mikkel Kessler (46-2-0, 35 KO) on big screen. The winner of this bout will unify the Super Middleweight titles (IBF & WBA). Both boxers squared off for the first time during the Super 6 Boxing Series in April 2010 in Denmark, with Kessler walking away from a hotly contested showdown with a unanimous decision victory on home soil (115-113, 116-112, and 117-111). Having promised Carl a rematch in his Home Country, Kessler signed on the dotted line to fight Froch at the 02 Arena in London. Froch is looking to avenge his loss and add the WBA belt to his long list on accomplishments.

Alvarez vs Green

Undefeated #5 rated WBA Light Heavyweight contender Eleider Alvarez (12-0-0 8 KO) will be looking to score a 4th consecutive knockout at the Bell Centre. His customer is a tough one and certainly no stranger to Quebec. Allan Green (32-4-0, 22 KO), a former Super 6 contestant, is 2-0 in Quebec rings, having beaten Quebeckers Sebastien Demers and Renan St-Juste. This bout is scheduled for 10 rounds.

Gauthier vs Roman

Sebastien Gauthier (22-4-0 14 KO) from St-Jerome, Quebec, has not had life easy his last few fights, having come out the losing end of physical and bloody wars with ex-World champions Steve Molitor and Rodrigo Guerrero. Gauthier will be looking to renew with the win column but will be facing another tough test in California boxer Manuel Roman (15-2-3, 6 KO) over 8 rounds.

Bizier vs Rios

Quebec native Kevin Bizier (20-0-0, 14 KO) is set to dispute his second fight in 2013. His opponent, the rugged and experienced Aldo Nazareno Rios (48-6-0, 11 KO) from Argentina, will be looking to capitalize on Bizier’s inactivity. Ranked IBF #3 and WBA #6, Bizier will have his hands full with Rios, who has only been KOed once in 54 fights! Rios’ two defeats by decision in World title fights prove he is a tough contender. This bout is scheduled for 8 rounds.

Zewski vs Samuels

Strong off another eye-popping victory last April 13th in New York, Mikael Zewski (19-0-0, 15 KO), from Trois-Rivieres, Quebec, will reacquaint himself with his Quebec fans on May 25th. His opponent, Derrick Samuels (18-4-1, 5 KO), will have a tough task in front of him. The last time the undefeated Zewski boxed at home, he annihilated his opponent in 37 seconds (Cesar Chavez on November 3rd 2012). Zewski will be looking to make another huge statement on May 25th. This bout is also scheduled for 8 rounds.

Bouchard vs Cotroni Jr: A local fight that promises emotion!

Sebastien Bouchard (6-0-0, 2 KO) from Quebec will face the biggest test of his young career on May 25th. Undefeated in 6 bouts, he will lace the gloves vs. Frank Cotroni Jr. (7-1-0 4 KO) in a bout scheduled for 6 rounds at 154 lbs. The blue chip prospect of the Club Empire Gym of Quebec City is looking at this fight as his spring board into bigger and more meaningful fights. Both boxers have been calling each other out for the last year, which is great news for fight fans!

New good tickets available!

Tickets for Pascal vs. Bute are on sale at the Bell Centre Ticket Office by dialing 1-877-668-8269 or by visiting www.evenko.ca. Tickets are also available at Club de boxe Champion by calling (514) 376-0980. Now that the Bell Centre configuration is complete, new good seats are available for the first time at the ticket office.

-30-

Lucian Bute (31-1-0 24 KO) met with media representatives at the Palm Beach Boxing Gym in West Palm Beach to promote his upcoming fight vs. Jean Pascal (27-2-1, 17 K0s), which is being labeled by the media as the greatest fight in Canadian Boxing history,

On Saturday night, May 25th, airing live on HBO Championship Boxing from Bell Centre in Montreal, Lucian will step in the ring against former WBC light heavyweight champion Jean Pascal. The gala is co-promoted by InterBox and Groupe Yvon Michel.

Here some quotes from Lucian Bute, Stephan Larouche and InterBox president, Jean Bedard.

Lucian Bute
“It’s been almost 6 years that he’s been talking negatively about me. He repeatedly said that I was afraid to face him and that by avoiding him I do not respect the fans. I always knew this fight would happen. It was just a question of choosing the right time. And here we are.”

“I accepted to move up to 175 to make sure the fight happens! The time has come to shut him up!”

“I was an undefeated boxer during my preparation leading up to the fight with Carl Froch. I knew nothing of the impact and consequences of defeat. I discovered the hardships of losing. It was very hard to live with what happened. The defeat made me lose some confidence in my abilities and it showed in my fight against Denis Grachev. I was hesitant in my performance. It took some time, but I am back and hungry for victory. I will not repeat any of my errors against Pascal.”

“It’s been a while since I’ve been at such peak physical condition. I miss this feeling!”

“Pascal is very present in my head. When I walk into the gym, I think of Pascal. I visualize the fight all the time, sometimes even while having dinner with my team!

Stephan Larouche
“Lucian said Pascal’s endurance lasts four rounds and he boxes 1:30 per round. This is true and I would say that Lucian is being generous. The way I see it Jean Pascal fights one minute per round and gives it his all towards the end to try and steal the round. ”

“Jean Pascal had a lot of injuries lately. I wish him all the best and I hope he will show up in top physical form. But let’s say, if the past is any indication of the future, he may struggle to perform during twelve rounds.”

Jean Bedard
“My fighter is highly motivated and I expect a great performance from him. Lucian and Stephan have come up with the strategic plan. Stephan’s team is implementing such plan and Lucian will execute it on May 25th. For a promoter, this is very reassuring.”

More than 17000 tickets have been sold. Good tickets are limited but still available for sale at the Bell Centre Ticket Office, by dialing 1-877-668-8269, or by visiting www.evenko.ca. Tickets are also available at Club de boxe Champion by calling 514-376-0980.

Go to www.InterBox.ca or www.groupeyvonmichel.ca for more information, or follow on Twitter @InterBoxca, @YvonMichelGYM, @lucianyl or @JeanPascalChamp.

Montreal, Tuesday, April 16th 2013 – InterBox, Lucian Bute, Jean Pascal and Groupe Yvon Michel (GYM) hereby confirm that antidoping tests are in place leading up to their fight scheduled on May 25th at the Montreal Bell Centre. All parties have agreed on all procedures and both fighters have approved the antidoping program.

The program is inspired by the highest standards in the industry and calls for unannounced testing for each boxer before, during and after the May 25th fight.

At the request of the third parties involved in this effort, all procedures and intervening companies shall remain confidential.

Both promoters, together with their respective boxers and team members, will not comment further on any aspect related to the program or procedures in place.

Montreal, Wednesday March 20th 2013 – InterBox and Groupe Yvon Michel (GYM) are proud to announce that the historic bout featuring Lucian Bute (31-1-0 24 KO) vs. Jean Pascal (27-2-1 16 KO) will take place on Saturday, May 25th at the Montreal Bell Centre.

Both boxers have been invited by the Bell Centre and the Montreal Canadiens to participate in the ceremonial puck drop yesterday just before the NHL game between the Canadiens and the visiting Buffalo Sabres.

Important ticket sale information for Bute vs. Pascal

Tickets for this much anticipated mega-fight will go on sale on Thursday, March 28th at 10 AM. Members of the Evenko Newsletter, of Club Cage, and Vidéotron employees will benefit from an exclusive pre-sale period from Tuesday, March 26th at 9 AM until Wednesday, March 27th at 10 PM.

Tickets will be on sale at the Bell Centre Ticket Office, by dialing 1-877-668-8269 or by visiting www.evenko.ca. Tickets will also be available at Club de boxe Champion by calling (514) 376-0980.

Press Conference open to the public

Lucian Bute and Jean Pascal will go face-to-face for the first time on Tuesday, March 26th at 12:30 PM at the Bell Centre during the Official Press Conference to inaugurate this historic bout. This event will be open to the general public. Boxing fans across the Province will be able to witness the beginning of what is sure to be a very interesting 2 month sprint before fight night.

Montreal, Friday, March 15, 2013 – InterBox and Group Yvon Michel (GYM) are extremely proud to confirm that the highly anticipated duel between Lucian Bute (31-1-0 24 KO) and Jean Pascal (27-2-1 16 KO) is now signed, sealed and delivered! This huge clash will take place on Saturday, May 25th with details such as the venue and American TV yet to be finalized.

“This fight will mark an historic moment for boxing in Canada. Emotions will be high and the memories will be engraved in the collective memory forever,” declares the president of GYM, Yvon Michel.

“This is the fight that everyone has been waiting for, even the casual fan. It was an honor to help finalize it”, states the president of InterBox, Jean Bedard. “All parties were anxious to reach an agreement and now boxing fans across the World can expect a spectacular show on May 25th,” concludes Jean Bedard.

All others details will be communicated to the public shortly including the first “face to face” between Lucian Bute and Jean Pascal as well as information regarding ticket sales.

According to Dan Rafael of espn.com, potentially the biggest bout in Canadian boxing history between former world champions Jean Pascal and Lucian Bute has been agreed to.

“Bute and Pascal are going to fight each other, it’s just when we don’t know,” Yvon Michel, Pascal’s promoter, told ESPN.com on Monday. “We are working on different scenarios.”

The likely scenario is that they will meet in the spring, probably May 25. A less likely scenario is that they would meet in the fall with each having an interim bout. Either way, Bute would rise in weight from 168 pounds to 175 to fight in Pascal’s division, Michel said.

“I have already had phone calls from the Bell Centre, from Olympic Stadium and a football stadium in Quebec City,” Michel said. “It’s the biggest ever fight in Canada.”

Said Buter’s promoter Interbox CEO Jean Bedard: “Everybody here [in Canada] has wanted the fight for a long time. It will be the biggest event in boxing history in Canada.”

The reason the deal comes as such a surprise, however, is the timing. Pascal has had a deal in place, although not signed, to face light heavyweight champion Chad Dawson on May 25 on HBO in a rematch at the Bell Centre. The fight was originally scheduled for March 9 but postponed because Pascal re-injured his shoulder in a unanimous 10-round decision win against Aleksy Kuziemski on Dec. 14 and needed additional time to recover.

Michel said Pascal’s interim bout before facing Bute could be the rematch with Dawson, but he was not very convincing. It would be a big gamble to take with the Bute fight looming.

“This is what we haven’t decided yet. This is what we are evaluating right now,” Michel said of whether to fight Bute or Dawson next. “But Pascal will make $700,000 to fight Dawson. He will make more than $2 million fighting Bute.”

“There’s a lot of interest from people in Canada and outside of Canada for this fight,” Bedard said. “HBO already planned for Pascal-Dawson II, so this is an issue for them, but it’s their decision. They say that have already planned to work with [Dawson promoter] Gary Shaw and Yvon.

“But Pascal wants to fight Bute more than Dawson and there is a lot more money for him in the fight. HBO likes to be part of very big events. May 25 would be a big event because HBO has [the Mikkel Kessler-Froch super middleweight title rematch] in London and after that (on the same telecast) you could have Pascal-Bute. That’s big. The boxers are there, the promoters are there, the fans are there for this fight. Everybody is on the same page.”

Shaw is not happy about Pascal-Bute likely killing the May Pascal-Dawson rematch.

“I met with Yvon this week in New York, where he told me that Bedard had offered him a fight with Bute and he would put Dawson on the undercard, give him $600,000 and we could bring our own opponent. I told him, I would never do that to my fighter or HBO,” Shaw said. “We finished lunch, I asked, ‘Do we still have a fight,’ and Yvon said, ‘Yes,’ and shook my hand, and said, ‘We have a deal.’

“That is everything I know. Yvon has always been honest and I would be very disappointed to find out that Yvon has done anything underhanded. But remember, this is boxing, and stranger things have happened.”

HOBOKEN, N.J. (October 30, 2012) — With a rematch against former World champion Lucian Bute still on the cards, as well as potential grudge rematches against Andre Ward and Mikkel Kessler in International Boxing Federation (IBF) super middleweight champion Carl “The Cobra’s” Froch’s future, the 34-year-old British favorite admitted that his November 17th title defense against Yusaf Mack, headlining the “True Brit” pay-per-view event (in the U.S.), could be his last fight at home in Nottingham, England.

“If the Bute fight happens,” Froch explained, “it will be in Canada, and rematches with Ward and Kessler could well happen in America and Denmark, so this could well be my last fight in Nottingham.”

Froch and Mack headline an exciting night of boxing on Nov. 17 with Tony Bellew aiming to seal his second World light heavyweight title shot in a World Boxing Council (WBC) title eliminator against Argentine invader Roberto Bolonti.

“True Brit,” presented by Matchroom Boxing, will be distributed in the United States by Integrated Sports Media for live viewing at 3:00 PM/ET – 12:00 PM/PT on both cable and satellite pay-per-view via iN Demand, DIRECTV, DISH Network and Avail-TVN for a suggested retail price of only $29.95.

“True Brit” will also be available to view via Fight Now TV, America’s only 24-hour combat sports and entertainment channel, on Cablevision channel 464 as part of the iO Gold package.

Froch (29-2, 21 KOs), rated by The Ring Magazine as the No. 1 contender in the world, captured the IBF title in his last fight on May 26 with an impressive fifth-round technical knockout of previously undefeated champion Bute (30-1). In the past four years, his last eight fights have been against a Who’s Who of the 168-pound division with victories over Bute, Glen Johnson (DEC12), Arthur Abraham (DEC12), Andre Dirrell (DEC12), Jermain Taylor (TKO12) and Jean Pascal (DEC12). Froch’s only losses were by 12-round decisions to unbeaten World Boxing Council (WBC)/World Boxing Association (WBA) king Ward in the final of the Super Six Tournament, and four-time World champion Kessler during the aforementioned tournament. Seven of his last eight opponents, excluding Dirrell, have been world champion.

IBF No.5-ranked Mack (31-4, 17 KOs) has been fighting as a light heavyweight since 2008. He lost his only world title shot to IBF 175-pound champion Tavoris Cloud by eighth-round technical knockout in 2006.

“I’m in fantastic shape and itching to get in there again,” Froch said. “The Bute fight was special and the best night of my career, but there’s no chance I’ll take my foot off the pedal on November 17. Yusaf is a dangerous customer and he has nothing to lose coming here and everything to gain. Yusaf has fought for a World title at light heavyweight and he is going to be doing everything he can to prove himself at super middleweight.”

Bellew (18-1, 12 KOs) and South American champion Bolonti (30-1, 19 KOs) will fight in the 12-round co-feature, an official WBC eliminator to become champion “Bad” Chad Dawson’s mandatory challenger, with the vacant World Boxing Council (WBC) Silver light heavyweight championship on the line.

Bellew, rated No. 10 by The Ring Magazine and No. 14 by the World Boxing Organization (WBO), has lost only once as a professional, last year in his only World title challenge fight to undefeated WBO champion Nathan Cleverly by 12-round majority decision.

Bolonti will be going for his 27th consecutive victory on Nov. 17. Fighting outside of his native Buenos Aires, Argentina for the first time, Bolonti is rated No. 5 by the WBC, No. 10 by the WBA and IBF.

The PPV card, pending time restrictions, will also showcase some of Britain’s top, young fighters, including bantamweight prospect Khalid “Kal” Yafai (3-0, 2 KOs), a 2008 Great Britain Olympian, vs. TBA, lightweight Scott “Scotty” Cardle (5-0, 1 KO) vs. Joe Elfidh (7-2), former European middleweight champion Kerry Hope (17-4, 1 KO) in a six-round tune-up vs. TBA prior to his December 8th showdown with Darren Barker, lightweight Martin J. Ward (2-0) vs. TBA, middleweight Ryan “Tank” Aston (7-1, 3 KOs) vs. Tyan Booth (11-6-1, 2 KOs), and featherweight Leigh “Leigh-thal” Wood (4-0, 1 KO) vs. Gavin Reid (6-16-1, 3 KOs). All fights and fighters are subject to change.

Go online to www.integratedsportsmedia.com, www.fightnow.com for more information about the “True Grit” PPV. Follow Integrated Sports on Twitter @integratedppv and Fight Now TV @fightnowtv.

About Integrated Sports Media: North America’s leading distributor of International Pay-Per-View and Closed Circuit sports events has presented World Championship and world-class boxing matches featuring Erik Morales, Vitali Klitschko, Ricky Hatton, Cristian Mijares, Evander Holyfield, Roy Jones, Jr., Tomasz Adamek, Ivan Calderon, Pauli Malignaggi, Rocky Martinez, Nicolai Valuev, Amir Khan, Marco Antonio Barrera, Arthur Abraham, David Haye, John Ruiz, Wilfredo Vasquez, Jr., Brian Viloria, Giovani Segura and Ruslan Chagaev. Also World Championship and world-class mixed martial arts shows featuring Fedor Emelianenko, Tim Sylvia, Bobby Lashley, Mirko Filipovic, Bob Sapp, Jeff Monson, and Roy Nelson. In addition, Integrated Sports Media distributed numerous International soccer matches featuring teams like Real Madrid,Club America of Mexico and the National Teams of Argentina, Honduras, El Salvador and the USA. For more information on upcoming Integrated Sports events visit www.integratedsportsnet.com.

About FIGHT NOW TV: With offices in New Jersey, Las Vegas and Toronto, FIGHT NOW TV is a cross-platform media company that creates and distributes content through its television, video on demand, and online outlets.

Founded by Channel Zero, Inc. and media entrepreneur Mike Garrow, FIGHT NOW TV launched last year as the first and only 24-hour-a-day, seven-days-a-week combat sports channel in the nation. The network’s mandate is to bring the best battles, fiercest fights and stunning knockouts to America. FIGHT NOW TV caters to fight fans of every genre, giving them a front row seat to compelling coverage of MMA, boxing, wrestling/grappling, Muay Thai, kickboxing and other combat sports. FIGHT NOW TV is the place for the best analysis, live and current events, documentaries and news coverage of the biggest PPV events and match-ups from around the

SAN DIEGO, CA (October 24, 2012)—WealthTV has announced that this Saturday night’s card featuring heavyweights Franklin Lawrence and Dominick Guinn has been cancelled. The network’s next live fight is the showdown between BUTE v. Grachev scheduled for November 3rd.

“We’re disappointed whenever a boxing card is delayed or postponed. But as is the case with the Lawrence – Guinn fight, sometimes the situation is completely outside of our control. I’m excited to have the Lucian Bute – Denis Grachev fight right in front of us on November 3rd followed by a great card featuring a Flyweight unification fight between Brian Viloria and Hernan Marquez on November 17th” stated WealthTV president Charles Herring. .

The Bute v. Grachev fight can be seen on WealthTV nationally on Verizon FiOS TV channel 169 and 669 in HD, AT&T U-Verse TV channels 470 and 1470 in HD, along with over 100 cable systems across the country as well as on line viewing on numerous connected devices and via www.wealthtv.com.

About WealthTV

WealthTV is the premier lifestyle and entertainment network —the destination for exclusive and original programming, simultaneously transmitted in high definition and standard definition. WealthTV delivers to informative shows to its viewers, providing invaluable insights on what every American dreams of – from travel secrets to fast cars, from outrageous homes to live events, and much more. The network fills a television vacuum by delivering intellectually stimulating, thought-provoking entertainment and always-unbiased news from an insider’s perspective. For more information, please visit www.wealthtv.com.

SAN DIEGO, CA (October 16, 2012)—On Saturday night November 3rd, former IBF Super Middleweight champion Lucian Bute will take on undefeated Denis Grachev in a twelve round fight for the NABF Light Heavyweight championship. The card will be televised LIVE in the United States on WealthTV and will originate from the Bell Centre in Montreal.

Bute of Montreal has a record of 30-1 with twenty-four knockouts. He is the long reigning IBF Super Middleweight champion winning the belt in October of 2007 with a eleventh round knockout of Alejandro Berrio. Bute went on to defend the title nine times with wins over World Champion William Joppy, Brian Magee and Glen Johnson plus top challengers Librado Andrade (twice), Fulgencio Zuniga, Edison Miranda, Jesse Brinkley and Jean Paul Mendy.

This past May, Bute suffered his first career setback when he was stopped by three-time World champion Carl Froch. Bute needs a win to set up the highly anticipated rematch with Froch. But first he has to get by the upset minded and undefeated Grachev.

Grachev of San Diego, by way of Chaykovsky, Russia has a record of 12-0-1 with eight knockouts and is coming off the biggest win of his career when he stunned highly ranked and undefeated Ismayl Sillakh (17-0) this past April 27th. Grachev has defeated two previously undefeated fighters, namely Azea Augustama and Valdine Biosse (9-0), in a fourth round stoppage.

WealthTV is coming off a strong trifecta weekend in professional boxing. The three card weekend kicked off Friday with a classic IBF Super Middleweight elimination bout that saw Adonis Stevenson score a sensational twelfth round knockout over Donovan George. Saturday saw the explosive first round knockout for David Price over former Audley Harrison that was the battle of British Olympians and topped off the evening with 2008 Olympic Gold Medal winner James DeGale scoring a twelve round unanimous decision over Hadilla Mohoumadi.

WealthTV has previously announced that on October 27th, top American Heavyweight Franklin “Yah Yah”Lawrence will take on battle tested Dominick Guinn and on November 17th in a bout in what many are predicting a “Fight Of The Year “Candidate as WBO Flyweight champion Brian Viloria and WBA Flyweight champion Hernan “Tyson” Marquez will do battle in a much anticipated unification bout.

Network president Charles Herring stated, “Our boxing staff is searching the world for the best upcoming and proven fighters. We’re pleased to be delivering on our commitment to offering boxing fans the highest quality bouts free to WealthTV viewers without any premium channel like associated fee. We anticipate upwards of 40 to 60 live world-class boxing events on the network for 2013, a run rate we are currently achieving.”

The Bute v. Grachev fight can be seen on Wealth TV nationally on Verizon FiOS TV channel 169 and 669 in HD, AT&T U-Verse TV channels 470 and 1470 in HD, along with over 100 cable systems across the country as well as on line viewing on numerous connected devices and via www.wealthtv.com.

About WealthTV

WealthTV is the premier lifestyle and entertainment network —the destination for exclusive and original programming, simultaneously transmitted in high definition and standard definition. WealthTV delivers to informative shows to its viewers, providing invaluable insights on what every American dreams of – from travel secrets to fast cars, from outrageous homes to live events, and much more. The network fills a television vacuum by delivering intellectually stimulating, thought-provoking entertainment and always-unbiased news from an insider’s perspective. For more information, please visit www.wealthtv.com.

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Former IBF Super Middleweight champion Lucian Bute will look to try to rebound from his first loss when he takes on undefeated Denis Grachev November 3rd at the Bell Centre in Montreal according to Dan Rafael of espn.com

“I am very happy that this fight is signed,” Bute said. “I can’t wait to see my fans again and to fight in front of them at the Montreal Bell Centre. This fight will be the first step of my goal to re-conquer the IBF super middleweight belt.

“After several talks with Lucian and head trainer Stephan Larouche, we established a complete list of Lucian’s needs and evaluated each opponent in function with such list,” Bedard said. “We stopped looking once we got to Denis Grachev and got the fight signed. Three of his last four opponents were undefeated, and he KO’d two of them. Grachev is the best available boxer that Lucian can fight.”

Said Larouche: “We chose Grachev for his abilities in the ring. I am convinced that his punching power and inside brawler style will be a good test for Lucian.”

Grachev is coming off a big upset win over Ismayl Sillakh andis hoping to ruin Bute’s plans of a rematch with the man who defeated him Carl Froch in March.

According to Dan Rafael of espn.com, IBF Super Middleweight champion Carl Froch and the man he beat Lucian Bute will meet in a rematch next year after they each take interim bouts this fall.

Froch stopped Bute in round five on May 26 in Froch’s hometown of Nottingham, England and rematch will take place in Bute’s adopted hometown of Montreal.

“Froch versus Bute has already gone down as one of the greatest nights in British boxing history,” said Froch’s promoter Eddie Hearn. “It generated record television audiences and a sold-out arena where fans were treated to what many respected pundits and fighters have described as one of the best atmospheres ever felt in a British fight. Of course, like any fighter, Lucian is keen to avenge this defeat and, as per our agreement, has the opportunity to try to make that happen.

“Both myself and Lucian’s promoter, Jean Bedard (of InterBox) feel that it is in the best interests of both fighters and any future rematch that both fighters will take an interim fight later this year. Froch versus Bute II in Montreal is a massive event and I’m sure that impressive victories for both men later this year will add further fuel to the fire.”

“We will be looking to announce an opponent for Carl in the next few weeks for another big fight in the U.K.,” he said.

“That was not the real Lucian Bute in that Nottingham ring on May 26,” said Bute, who had made nine defenses before being cut down by Froch. “I spent the last few weeks reflecting about what went wrong, what happened, and the only thing that is crystal clear in my mind is that I want my rematch with Carl Froch as soon as possible.”

Said Bedard, “There is no hiding the fact that the result on May 26 was hard on everyone. But even in defeat, in the locker room after the fight and the days following the loss, I still felt Lucian had the fire in his belly to come back stronger and demand his rematch with Froch. Matchroom is a great organization to work with and I have been speaking to Eddie once or twice a week since May 26. I almost know his number by heart.”

“I’m very tough, you know,” Carl Froch said Saturday, after he ruined Lucian Bute. “I’m a bit of an animal.”

It was the sort of self-assessment that, when unleavened by criticism, comes off as boorish and predictable sales-speak intended to preclude fisticuffs more than promote them. But from Froch’s mouth, which bears a frank tongue that quickly, and consistently, conceded the man who decisioned him in December, Andre Ward, was, is, the better man, the statement had exactly the right panache. In Froch’s Nottinghamshire, that is, in a place Ward has not been and will not be seen, Froch is the world’s most ferocious 168-pound man.

He proved that by tearing through IBF super middleweight champion Lucian Bute, Saturday, in England’s Capital FM Arena, and stopping the undefeated Romanian-born Canadian southpaw at 1:05 of the fifth round, when American referee Earl Brown, shaken by the sight of Bute’s head nearly touching his shoulder blades, waved-off the fight, restarted the fight, and had his authority usurped entirely (and appropriately).

There is plenty to be said for making fights to please fans, to fill arenas, to ensure future generations’ writers shake their heads at modifiers’ inadequacies as they happen off the fingers. But there’s one other thing to be said for making fights, and it is a thing that is occasionally lost for good reason. Because prizefights weaken their participants – alter their motor skills, shorten their lives, reduce their abilities to associate thoughts that aren’t immediate familiars – it is intuitively advisable to have an athlete make few of them as possible en route to comfortable a retirement as possible, with comfort defined in realms both physical and financial. This is truer the older a fighter gets; who would begrudge Evander Holyfield or Roy Jones Jr. a retirement party now?

But when an athlete is still prime, there’s a different strategy to consider: Fight more because you will fight better. Most arguments for increased volume are made by aficionados for self-interested reasons. We wish to see better spectacles more often while enjoying an ancillary chance at converting laymen to devotees. Nothing wrong with a little self-interest, of course, but in Carl Froch’s case, it misses the point – as Froch reminded us while uttering this clause at the end of a postfight answer, Saturday: “Most importantly, that’s what I want.”

What Froch wants is to be a great prizefighter, an international item, an immortal – a thing over which he has almost no control. Barring that, he wants to be an improving prizefighter, and in a twist that is proper, not ironical, Froch’s activity has brought that very effect. He has matched himself as a prime fighter against other prime fighters, and he is a better fighter right now, this very moment, than he was before he did. All clichés about styles aside, there is a very good chance the Carl Froch who engaged in that aesthetic disaster of a Super Six opener with Andre Dirrell 31 months ago would not have done to Lucian Bute what Froch just did.

The lesson of that fight with Dirrell, that some men who place a premium on trap-setting and reflexes are athletes not fighters and need to be gone-through not abided, changed the way Froch approached his opening minutes with Bute – a man superior in both reflex and athleticism. And the fight that came after Froch-Dirrell, the close decision loss to Mikkel Kessler that put a first blemish on Froch’s record and saw Froch, in its fifth round, land a buckling right hand then do a moment’s showboating with his right glove, taught Froch a hurt man is more interested in his continued consciousness than you are, and must be treated accordingly.

At a fundamental level that stylists often shun, a choice must be made in a prizefight that is otherwise even. It is a calculation of what a man will sacrifice – what percentage of his dignity and health – to undo an opponent. From the opening round, when Froch swam at Bute, throwing the right hook then crossing his feet over and crunching misplaced limbs one against the other, Froch proclaimed: All of it; I will sacrifice all of it in my hometown, right now, in the next instant even.

It has been written of Froch that he badly wants to fight even if sometimes he does not appear to know how. There were moments of that, too, in Saturday’s match. But the hardiness of his offense and the thrill Froch evinced in round 1 when Bute caught him with what Froch might call “something sweet” and both men paused to mark how comparatively little it affected the Brit, those were things for which Bute, whatever his class, was unprepared. Or so he looked – unprepared, uncomfortable, overwhelmed.

We must honor Froch as a bulwark against the rising and increasingly persuasive tide of the hypothetical. Had Froch not swapped blows unsuccessfully with Andre Ward six months ago, right now, on the virtue of what Froch did to Bute – widely considered no worse than the world’s second-best super middleweight – we’d be making a hypothetical Froch-Ward match in which even Ward’s supporters would concede that, if in the unlikely event their man could steal a decision from Froch, Ward would be hurt worse by Froch than any opponent before or after.

Instead we know exactly where we stand. Froch, to his resounding credit, fought both Ward and Bute and stated rather plainly before and after both occasions he was at his very best. Ward is definitively better than Froch, and he will be tomorrow. Froch is definitively better than Bute, and he will be until the men retire.

We do not believe that, or present persuasive arguments about its likelihood – silly rhetorical exercises that disintegrate into ad-hominem suspicions if not attacks – rather, we know it. Bless Carl Froch for providing that knowledge.

Bart Barry can be reached at bart.barrys.email (at) gmail.com

Dan Rafael of espn.com is reporting that IBF Super Middleweight champion Lucian Bute will travel to Nottingham, England to defend his crown against former champion Carl Froch on May 26th.

“It’s my goal to fight the best boxers in the super middleweight division,” Bute said Thursday. “Carl Froch belongs in the elite of the super middleweight division and it will be a great fight. I am very confident and it will not faze me fighting in enemy territory.

“Supporters of Carl Froch will live their greatest disappointment. The IBF belt will fly roundtrip Montreal-Nottingham and back.”

“We are delighted to have agreed to terms for what I believe will be the biggest night for British boxing in many years,” said Eddie Hearn, Froch’s promoter. “I have to respect Lucian and his team for agreeing to enter the lion’s den and face Carl in his hometown of Nottingham, but am fully confident that Carl can become a world champion again on this epic night.”

“It’s a dream come true to get this opportunity to become a three-time world champion in my hometown of Nottingham,” Froch said. “The Super Six was an incredible journey for me but I missed fighting in the UK and it was important that Eddie and I made that happen, and for it to be for a world title is the icing on the cake. I’m ready to go to war all over again.

“Andre Ward wants Lucian to fight an A-level fighter. This should happen in May, and after he will have no more excuses to avoid Lucian,” said Jean Bedard of InterBox, Bute’s promoter.

“We really wanted to press forward with this fight. We’ve been insistent, made some concessions, but it was important to realize this is a fight that Lucian, our fans and our partners wanted,” Bedard said. “Also, I am convinced that Lucian will silence the critics. Lucian is showing great courage in agreeing to defend his title in enemy territory.”

“It is great news that Carl has landed this fight as it is one that we have wanted for a long time,” said Rob McCracken, Froch’s trainer. “I have always been confident that Carl will beat Lucian, and I will have him fully prepared and in the best possible shape on May 26.

“Lucian has already fought outside Canada in his professional career,” Larouche said. “This is a great challenge ahead for him on May 26 and Lucian will perform to his fullest as he always does. The style of these two incredible fighters will make for an explosive fight that I am sure boxing fans around the world won’t want to miss.”

According to Dan Rafael of espn.com, IBF Super Middleweight champion Lucian Bute and former WBC champ carl Froch are working on a two fight that deal that would see the fighters take on each other in each’s home country.

ute and Froch are negotiating a two-fight deal that would begin with a bout in the spring in Montreal, Bute’s adopted hometown where he is a major star, and be followed by a rematch in Froch’s hometown of Nottingham, England, Eddie Hearn of Matchroom Sport, Froch’s promoter, told ESPN.com on Monday.

Hearn said he was “having positive discussions with Jean and the team at InterBox” about the deal and that he was “very happy with the idea of working with them.”

“We have penciled two dates — April 14 for Montreal and Aug. 4 in Nottingham — for the ‘home and away’ bouts,” Hearn said. “Don’t see why we can’t get this boxed off in the next week or so.”

“At the end of the day, we need the second fight to be relevant and appealing,” Hearn said. “I’m very sure it will be.

“We are talking,” Hearn said of conversations with Showtime. “They have expressed their desire to keep Carl and I don’t envision any problems either side.”

Lucian Bute was flawless in defending the IBF Super Middleweight title with a twelve round unanimous decision over former Light Heavyweight king Glen Johnson at the Pepsi Colisei in Quebec City, Canada.

Bute showed why he just may the best Super Middleweight in the world as he dominated Johnson round after round with what could be the most diverse offensive arsenal in the Super Middleweight division.

Bute was consistent with everything from jabs to uppercuts. Bute kept the normally aggressive Johnson. Bute seemingly had Johnson in trouble in several rounds as he was cheered on by his massive fan base that was over 16,000.

Johnson was game but Bute has too much for the nearly forty-three year old Johnson and won by scores of 120-108; 120-108 and 119-109.

Bute, 167 1/2 lbs of Montreal, Quebac is now 30-0. Johnson, 166 1/2 lbs of Miami is now 51-16-2.

When asked if he was disappointed that he was unable to close out his seventh straight title defense via stoppage, Bute responded, “No, I’m very happy. This is a great experience. Fighting Glen Johnson is an honor for me. I needed a fight like this.”

Johnson felt the bout was closer than the statistics or the scorecards indicated. “I thought I won the fight. I don’t think he was landing anything.”

Regarding his hesitation to throw more power shots, Johnson said, “My right arm swelled up in about the fourth round so I couldn’t throw my big right hand. I basically beat him with one hand.” Johnson displayed the swelling on his upper right forearm to the SHOWTIME cameras to help support his claim.

With the looming Dec. 17 showdown between Super Six World Boxing Classic finalists Andre Ward and Carl Froch, Bute told SHOWTIME ringside reporter Jim Gray that he plans to attend the fight and predicted that Ward would win by decision. When asked if he wants to fight the tournament’s victor, Bute said, “Of course. It’s my dream.”

Pier Olivier Cote scored an emphatic second round stoppage over Jorge Teron in a scheduled twelve round Jr. Welterweight bout.

Cote rocked Teron in round one from a huge right. Cote was all over Teron only to get hit with a flush counter right that sent Cote back. Cote started round two with a perfect left right combination that sent Teron to the canvas. Teron got to his feet only to have Cote land a right to the body that was followed by a devastating left hook that plummeted a prone Teron to the canvas. Teron began squirting blood out of his nose and the fight was waved off at thirty-three seconds of round two

Cote, 140 lbs of Quebec City is now 18-0 with twelve knockouts. Teron, 139 1/4 lbs of Las Vegas is now 25-3-1.

Dan Rafael of espn.com reports that IBF Super Middleweight champion Lucian Bute on November 5th in a bout that will be televised on Showtime.

Johnson got that bout after negotiations failed with Mikkel Kessler and Kelly Pavlik.

“We reached an agreement. I’m just waiting for the paperwork and I’m moving forward. I’m preparing myself mentally and physically,” Johnson told ESPN.com. “I have every intention of going to Canada to derail that train.”

Leon Margules, Johnson’s co-promoter with Lou DiBella, said the offer eventually was improved, but he was still not happy with it. However, Johnson so badly wanted the fight, he gave Margules firm orders not to blow the deal. Margules didn’t and Johnson accepted an offer that will pay him less than $400,000.

“It’s a better deal than they initially offered, but it’s not as healthy as it should (be),” Margules said. “But at the end of the day, Glen’s the boss and he wanted the fight. The difference in money, while important, was not going to deter him from making sure he got this opportunity.”

“To be honest, I stopped focusing on the dollar value and just kind of wanted to keep my eyes on the prize, which is the opportunity to derail that train and then make a splash in a rematch or fight somebody else for big money,” Johnson said. “It is not about what I get for this fight. Even if I got what I wanted to get, or somewhere in between what I wanted and what I’m getting, it really wasn’t going to change my zip code. I had to just focus on the opportunity to fight for a world title against a major star in the sport in Canada. It doesn’t come any better than that.”

“We worked very hard for the Pavlik fight and we were very surprised with what happened,” Bedard said. “We were already planning press conferences. But at least he pulled out three months before the fight and not three days like he just did (for a fight scheduled against Darryl Cunningham on Aug. 6). We know we have a guy, Johnson, who will be there. This is Lucian’s biggest opponent. He’s fought everybody. He’s only been knocked out once and that was by Bernard Hopkins in 1997, and he didn’t even go down.

“For Lucian, there are still a lot of people who don’t think he’s the best super middleweight, so I think it’s a great fight for fans to see where Lucian is now. People (in Quebec) are happy that we can bring this quality of fighter here to fight Lucian. A lot of people think it’s a tougher fight for Lucian than Pavlik.”

“I’m extremely excited. I’m delighted. I believe this could not come at a better time,” Johnson said. “I’m coming off a loss I’m disappointed in. There’s nothing like getting an opportunity to go out there and redeem yourself, so this opportunity couldn’t have come at a better time.”

“He’s a tremendous body puncher,” Johnson said. “I’ve seen him work. He’s an overall good boxer. He’s a southpaw, so that bring its own difficulties. I have tremendous respect for his abilities and I have huge respect for his stardom and for him as a person. But this is a business and this goes out the window when the bell rings. I’m trying to feed my family and beat him.”

“It’s really a fight Glen’s wanted since they sparred,” Margules said. “He’s always believed he could beat Bute. Glen wanted the fight in the worst way.” The Jamaican-born, Miami-based Johnson, who has suffered several debatable decision losses in his opponent’s hometown, said he is not concerned about going to Bute’s turf for the fight. He said he knows he cannot leave it to the judges.

“I believe the knockout is going to happen. I feel like this is something I need to win the fight,” Johnson said. “I just need to dominate. I’m not going to win a close decision. I better go in there and separate from myself from Bute in every fashion and a knockout would be the best way, the sure way to get that victory.”

Lucian Bute made the seventh defense of the IBF Super Middleweight crown with a body punch assault tenth round stoppage over gritty Brian Magee in front of over 13, 000 rabid fans at the Bell Centre in Montreal, Canada.

Bute came out and over the first few rounds was very effective with the right hook but Magee was competitive as he featured some body work. Magee was doing well at the beginning of rounds but Bute would box well enough to take most of the first five frames. In round six, Bute landed a vicious right hook to the that sent Magee down to a knee. Magee got up but Bute was dominant the rest of the round as he landed some more right hooks and straight lefts.

Just seconds after being sent to the canvas via a low blow, Magee was dropped with another right hook to the body in round seven. Replays later showed that the low blow was indeed a solid and legal punch. Magee came out in round eight looking like a tired fighter from the effects of the body work.

Magee would not go away as he was tough as nails in taking some shots and not giving up in an effort to pull off the big upset.

In round ten, Bute landed yet another crushing uppercut but this time landing flush on the chin that sent Magee to his knees and referee Pete Patgorski waved off the bout immediately at 2:04 of round ten.

Bute, 167 1/2 lbs of Montreal is now 28-0 with twenty-three knockouts. Magee, 167 3/4 lbs of Northern Island is now 34-4-1.

The fifth consecutive stoppage by Bute begged the obvious question: Who is next? Ready to answer that question was Mikkel Kessler, who flew from Denmark to attend the fight and provide commentary with the SHOWTIME broadcasting team. Asked if he would fight Bute in front of the Lucian-loving Montreal crowd, Kessler responded, “Yea, why not?” He later continued, “[Bute] can have his hometown. I’ll kick his [butt] anywhere.”

When questioned if he would be interested in a match with the former WBA and WBC Super Middleweight Champion, Bute commented, “If he’s well enough to fight, I’ll fight anyone.”