Saturday’s Showtime card from Montreal, Canada saw IBF s/middle champ Lucian Bute in a successful defense when halting challenger Fulgencio Zuniga in stanza four of a serious mismatch. 

Bute had all the advantages of a 6’2” versus 5’10” height and reach edge while working from the southpaw side - the game Colombian, not a big banger, but more an established no quit career club fighter, never had the chance of solving the puzzle on this outing. 

Bute kept Zuniga at bay with quicker hands, and repeatedly peppered his opponent from both sides - but the big round four finis began with a sizzling left hand to the solar plexus, that had Zuniga pausing before dropping to the canvas in pain. 

The Colombian managed to get to his feet just prior to the ten count, but Bute quickly pounced on his wounded prey, letting go a non-stop barrage that referee Lindsey Page Jr. correctly called no-mas. Enters the books a TKO4 at 2:25 mark. 

Post Scripts:

• Lucian Bute (24-0, 19 KOs) ~ age 29 - Romanian convert to Canada, a tall one at 168 pound class - working from port side adds to the credits. A bit unorthodox in style also helps the cause but could put him in peril once stepping up to better level among the overall s/middle field.

• Fulgencio Zuniga (22-4-1, 19KO) ~ age 31 - brought in as more of a  morale booster for Bute, who in last outing was saved by combination of referee and final closing bell from suffering first defeat. Zuniga not the punching threat to test the Bute crockery that other futures will be. Needs regrouping at the club fight level where his past proven toughness will again reward him with wins and longevity. 

Rest of story: Was my first peek at the unbeaten adopted son of “Oh Canada” and anxious to read between the lines of the unbeaten Romanian transplant - and prior to the fighters ring entrance we hear from Showtime broadcast team, smiling Nick (check out my pearly whites) Charles and Steve “Far out” Farhood for input.
                      Bingo! - First up a tape of the closing seconds of Bute-Andrade in last outing - Bute far ahead on scorecard when backed to the ropes by the aggressive and hard punching Andrade. Tries evading, with unorthodox turn with both hands low - is drilled with a power punch that finds the back of the head and then a big one flush on the jaw, and the adopted one is down and looking cooked. Enter caddy and referee Marion Wright, who begins a Canadian century 21 version of the ol’ Dempsey-Tunney long count of yesteryear. The “Oh Canada” version includes a few extras for the hometown crowd in attendance - gets to three, stops to wave Andrade back to neutral corner, resumes the count, only to repeat the numbers, pauses, pointing - we see the ludicrous scenario finally ending once Bute gets to his feet and the final bell is sounded. It then goes to the scorecards, with Bute retaining the strap via unanimous decision.                              

                       The Charles-Farhood duo belabored the hometown butchering in that one but missed the illegal that Andrade got away with - the big rabbit punch that set up the picture perfect right to the jaw. 

So where do we see Bute in the bigger picture after the stoppage of Zuniga you ask? Guess here is he is worth the peek whoever the opponent - size, quickness, decent power - chin the only question, but nothing soft about the proverbial ticker - some providing the answers: Mikkel Kessler (WBA); Froch (WBC); Jermain Taylor, Balzsay, Inkin.

 

GEL -