Undefeated Champion Lucian Bute Signs Multi-Fight Deal With Showtime Sports

Added on Nov 05, 2010 by Brian Blake in

Boxing

One of Canada’s most popular fighters, Lucian Bute, looks to expand his American fan base as earlier today he inked a multiple fight contract with Showtime Sports. The Montreal resident and his new partner also reached an agreement that his initial bout under the new deal would take place in early 2011 against an opponent to be named. The partnership was initially announced at a press conference at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas and then immediately made available to the remainder of the press during an international media teleconference.

“We’ve been obviously very active in the super middleweight division with our Super Six World Boxing Classic Tournament,” said Ken Hershman, Executive Vice President and General Manager of Showtime Sports. “The one missing link that has evaded us has been Lucian Bute and we’re happy to fill that hole now with him. We have a plethora of opponent options for him. We will continue to deliver on our message and our promise to our subscribers to put on the biggest and best events in boxing on Showtime.

“Lucian is a tremendous talent. He’s undefeated and he sells out Montreal with his eyes closed. He’s got one of the most dynamic fan bases and ring entrances in all of boxing. He’s the real deal and we can’t wait to get him on Showtime come the first quarter of next year.”

While in Vegas, Bute is expected to take in tomorrow night’s Super Six clash between replacements Allan Green and Glen Johnson as either fighter could potentially be his next opponent. However, many followers of the sweet science felt that Bute himself should have been asked to be a part of the World Boxing Classic rather than some of the current and/or original participants.

“When we put the Super Six together I thought we had some really good fighters and some really intriguing matchups and it’s all been really fascinating. And now we have the opportunity with Lucian to take him and put him in with the winner of the Super Six for what would be the greatest fight in super middleweight history. We’re just really looking forward and not back.

“We think having Lucian around the same time as we’re doing the Super Six will really drive home his awareness and his popularity and tie him into the Super Six properly so that when we do get to the end we will have built the biggest fight of all-time in this division,” Hershman added.

If there was any initial disappointment or frustration over having been snubbed regarding Showtime’s super middleweight tournament, he made it very clear that there isn’t a hint of lingering resentment and, on the contrary, couldn’t be any happier about the deal that was struck.

“I’m very happy to be here today. This is a very big opportunity for me. Thank you to Ken Hershman for giving me the opportunity to fight on Showtime. This gives me the opportunity to prove that I belong with the best super middleweights in the world. All the best fighters in the division are linked to Showtime right now so that gives me the opportunity to fight against the best in the world. And being on Showtime will give me that platform,” Bute announced.

Bute’s last appearance in the squared circle took place just a couple of weeks ago when he defeated veteran Jesse Brinkley with a ninth round TKO in a mandatory defense of his IBF super middleweight championship.

As previously stated, the deal with Showtime presents Bute with plenty of immediate options in the division he currently campaigns at, but he also stated that down the line there is another options that he looks forward to.

“I have a lot of respect for [WBC Light Heavyweight Champion] Jean [Pascal]. He was still an amateur when I came to Montreal after turning pro. He’s a good fighter. Hopefully the fight will happen in the near future, but with the new contract I have signed with Showtime it will just help everyone to get well-known and the fight will be that much bigger. I know Quebec fight fans are waiting for it, but by waiting the fight will just keep getting bigger and bigger all the time.”

In the mean time, Bute is set to take this new deal into 2012 while keeping his undefeated record intact, the championship around his waist, all while trying to make Lucian Bute a household name.

“This new contract will help me get to the next level and be known all around the world. It was a plan we had three years ago to be well known in America and to be on a major network. I’ve been known a little bit in the States and now I have to go to the next level,” concluded Bute.