CASPER
New member
Bute puts title on line against Brinkley
MONTREAL (AFP) – Lucian Bute will put his International Boxing Federation super middleweight title and his unbeaten record on the line Friday against mandatory challenger Jesse Brinkley of the United States.
The Romanian-born, Montreal-based champion wasn't included in the Super Six World Classic super middleweight tournament organized by US cable television outlet Showtime, thanks to his ties to rival outlet HBO.
As the Super Six tournament - designed to work its way toward crowning a unified champion next year - has scrambled amid a spate of injuries, Bute has continued to rack up victories.
He has won all 26 of his pro bouts and stopped five of his past six opponents in world title fights.
The southpaw also boasts a four-inch height advantage over the bulldog Brinkley, who owns a record of 35-3 with 22 knockouts.
Brinkley's championship chance comes more than five years after he appeared on "The Contender" reality television series.
He was beaten on the boxing-themed programme by Sergio Mora, who went on to claim a 154-pound title.
Brinkley will have his work cut out for him in front of Bute's adopted home fans at the Bell Centre.
Trainer Peter Manfredo Snr said the Nevada native was ready.
"It's a difficult fight, but he's physically prepared," Manfredo told ESPN.com. "He's done over 150 rounds of sparring, and we've got a lot of southpaws here - and some good ones ... His head is on straight, he has been dieting correctly, he has been looking pretty good in sparring, and he's ready to go."
MONTREAL (AFP) – Lucian Bute will put his International Boxing Federation super middleweight title and his unbeaten record on the line Friday against mandatory challenger Jesse Brinkley of the United States.
The Romanian-born, Montreal-based champion wasn't included in the Super Six World Classic super middleweight tournament organized by US cable television outlet Showtime, thanks to his ties to rival outlet HBO.
As the Super Six tournament - designed to work its way toward crowning a unified champion next year - has scrambled amid a spate of injuries, Bute has continued to rack up victories.
He has won all 26 of his pro bouts and stopped five of his past six opponents in world title fights.
The southpaw also boasts a four-inch height advantage over the bulldog Brinkley, who owns a record of 35-3 with 22 knockouts.
Brinkley's championship chance comes more than five years after he appeared on "The Contender" reality television series.
He was beaten on the boxing-themed programme by Sergio Mora, who went on to claim a 154-pound title.
Brinkley will have his work cut out for him in front of Bute's adopted home fans at the Bell Centre.
Trainer Peter Manfredo Snr said the Nevada native was ready.
"It's a difficult fight, but he's physically prepared," Manfredo told ESPN.com. "He's done over 150 rounds of sparring, and we've got a lot of southpaws here - and some good ones ... His head is on straight, he has been dieting correctly, he has been looking pretty good in sparring, and he's ready to go."
