In fact, a suspect set of whiskers would be on display in Lucian’s first go round with Librado Andrade not long ago, as Bute for all intensive purposes in that fight was plain and simple the victim of a knockout. However, the recipient of a long count courtesy of referee Marlon Wright, this debacle of officiating in and of itself would allow “Le Tombeur” to unjustly remain champion for a time.
Although kudos should be given to the Canadian based Bute for granting Andrade a timely rematch to stop the iron jawed Mexican with non other than a body shot, Lucian’s apparent vulnerability will surely be targeted once more by upcoming opponent and upset minded opponent Denis “The Pirate” Grachev (12-0-1, 8 KO’s), as “Le Tombeur” will yet again venture amongst the ranks of light heavyweight.
For the native of Chaykovsky, Russia, who in pulling off the unexpected with a victory over the perhaps overrated Ismayl Sillakh with a shot to the chin that would garner Denis the NABF title, he must no less endeavor to exploit Bute in the very same way. Searching early and often for any residual carryover from the Froch beating should be par for the course, as a decision wouldn’t be in the visiting Russian’s best interest.
And with what’s been mentioned thus far, let’s be accurate here. Bute before getting dropped and stopped by Carl Froch would weather a number of hard shots, albeit to the jaw from the less than straight punching Englishman. In essence, Lucian’s jaw is not so much at issue here but rather the point of the chin, as at the precise moment when “The Cobra” saw fit to straighten out that right hand for the very first time to land on the so called button, that would be all she wrote for Bute who would go down in a heap.
To be sure, perhaps the main reason Bute is no longer undefeated, besides underestimating Froch’s effective range and failing to utilize a consistent jab to avoid getting tagged, is that the Englishman’s own chin is second to none. This allowed “The Cobra” to simply walk through shots from Bute which would normally have opponents reeling, whereupon the southpaw at this juncture looks to finish off adversaries with what has become his go-to punch, the uppercut to the body.
Whether Grachev’s chin can hold up or not remains to be seen. But what’s for sure is that he mustn’t square his feet so as to avoid getting whacked with the uppercut in question, this while he simultaneously presses the attack. For applying consistent pressure in an attempt to catch Bute in the exchanges is the only chance Grachev has got. Otherwise Bute as the better skilled and lengthier fighter will look to use distance and the ring to his advantage, leisurely choosing spots to fight in.
And whereas Denis has won a number of world titles as a kickboxer, I surmise this will not crossover successfully into the boxing ring, so that Grachev is facing non other than an uphill battle against the more boxing experienced Bute who has fought a level of competition his counterpart has yet to face. But what the Russian fighter lacks in experience, he will attempt to make up for with determination, knowing that this is an opportunity that may not come his way again.
In stepping up, the defending champion does possess a modicum of good skills, while he packs a bit of a punch. At the same time he’s no doubt on a high after recently garnering the NABF 175 pound title from the aforementioned Sillakh, the very fringe title that will be up for grabs once “The Pirate” enters the ring this Saturday night.
But the question remains, will Grachev’s current abilities be enough to turn the trick? For along with the ring no doubt being a very large one to accommodate Lucian’s freedom of movement, it will be situated in hostile territory before a fervently supportive Bute crowd at the sold-out Bell Centre in Montreal, Quebec, Canada, not only a locale where the former champion is most comfortable, but where he’s most successful.
If Grachev as the apparent underdog has any chance at pulling off the victory here, again it will come as a result of landing solidly during an exchange. To accomplish this, in addition to being a smart aggressor, “The Pirate” must demonstrate poise and patience, the very characteristics that were previously on display against the highly thought of Sillakh which would allow Grachev to hang in and rally late.
If he can demonstrate a solid beard while letting his hands go, and/or weather what Bute has to offer up early on while avoiding that fight ending solar plexus blow, there’s always the chance that Lucian can fade during this twelve round contest. The two most notable fighters already mentioned who’ve given Bute trouble were able to take it on the chin, to then catch Bute where he’s most vulnerable. In light of this it must be reiterated that Grachev will look to exploit Bute in the same manner as he did the lengthier Sillakh.
What the Russian prizefighter cannot do as he did against Ismayl Sillakh is become fatigued himself. It’s at this juncture that Grachev will lower his guard, a circumstance wherein which he will become victimized by Lucian’s right hook then left hand. Denis in having a momentary defensive lapse against Sillakh would suffer a flash knockdown, a scenario he would prefer to at all costs avoid with Bute. That being said, it’s my best guess that “The Pirate” will be much sharper, as well as enter the ring in much better condition considering the magnitude of this match up.
And although Bute is still questionable in that he would be unsuccessful in stepping up to the elite level against Carl Froch, this is where I get off on the thought of Grachev pulling off the unexpected. The defending champion for all his effort and determination is still at the very least a notch below the challenging Bute, so that by all outward appearances he will be out-skilled and perhaps out-willed, taking on too much too soon.
In this respect I look for a come-backing Bute to either end things outright with a well placed body shot so as to reassert himself somewhat, or obtain a unanimous decision verdict in front of a raucous hometown crowd in what looks to be none other than a set up fight for “Le Tombeur.”
Set up that is in regards to once again facing the man who took his title, IBF champion Carl “The Cobra” Froch. For Lucian’s sake though, he shouldn’t look to far, but should look to handle matters at hand in the form of Denis “The Pirate” Grachev who plans to give it his all in a light heavyweight bout that can be seen on Wealth TV starting at 7pm ET/4pm PT.
