Lucian Bute Defends Title With KO
Bute knock-outs Brinkley to defend title for the sixth time in a row
Romania’s IBF super-middleweight world champion Lucian Bute thundered challenger Jesse Brinkley in the ninth round through a knock-out to defend title on Friday night. The Romanian dominated the bout from the very first bell to storm a left uppercut to Nevada’s body to be cheered by almost 12,000 fans at the Bell Centre in Montreal. The American would drop for the third and final time as the win came once referee Sam Williams jumped in quickly to call a halt of the bout. Brinkley would stay to the ground while Bute raised his hands in the air. And the belt would immediately be worn by the Romanian.
“He was a very tough opponent. He was a good puncher with a good right hand. I was in good shape though, training in Florida for six weeks. I’m very proud of my performance,” Bute said afterwards. It was all about Romanian’s hegemony as Brinkley go to the ground in the fifth and eighth rounds, during which he could barely stand on his feet and the count would also go to nine seconds. Said Bute’s trainer Stephane Larouche: “We knew Brinkley was going to be a courageous fighter. We thought we had won the fight three times, but he kept coming back. He had heart and he never quit. I though Lucian knocked him out three times, but he’s a hard guy to get rid of.” However, this was Bute’s 22th knockout and his fourth consecutive one in championship bouts. He also goes to a 27-0 record that includes his sixth successful defence since he first stole the belt from Alejando Berrio in October 2007. Although few believed the Romanian was about to face a not too strong opponent, Brinkley confirmed the contrary. He pushed the fight into the ninth round despite falling three times to the ground.
As for Bute, he raised the pressure progressively from the third round to the end. He also hit a very quick upstairs to show Romanian’s speed as well. This was preceded by a powerful left hook in the body in the fourth round as the victory started to be shaped. Brinkley would only fire a quick uppercut that saw Bute spitting out his mouthpiece. But the Romanian didn’t get nervous while a little smile to himself could be seen while he was moving towards neutral corner. This was also Brinkley’s best moment. He hoped for more ever since, but the 30-year-old Romanian cut down all his briskness. Brickley’s broken nose followed a devastating barrage coming from the Romanian to send the American down to the canvas.
Next, Lucian Bute is expected to defend title in front of former undisputed middleweight champion Kelly Pavlik, fight which is scheduled on March next year.
