Team Bute Considers Fighting in United States for Big Bouts

Lucian Bute's trainer Stephan Larouche told Fightnews.com that Bute, whose home base is in the great fight city of Montreal, is willing to come to the United States next year for potential big fights:

"I think our next two or three fights might be in the United States," said Larouche. "We might have to fight Andre Ward, or Froch or Kessler. I don't think they'll like to come to Canada and I think if they are able to sell those fights, we would be pleased to go to New York, or Vegas or Atlantic City. Lucian is open to that."

Bute (29-0, 24 KO) faces Glen Johnson on November 5 in Montreal, and the Super Six concludes on December 17 when Ward and Froch square off in Atlantic City. That fight was supposed to happen on October 29, with Showtime clearly trying to line up the dates carefully to capitalize on any hype for a Super Six winner vs Bute fight, but Ward suffered a cut in training that pushed the date back. It still should be close enough that the winners line up fine for a date against one another, but having the Super Six and Bute on back-to-back weekends really was ideal. Things happen, though.

I don't know that I can say I'm totally confident in Bute coming to the States to fight these guys, though. Kessler isn't going to fight Bute in the U.S. for sure. There's nothing in it for either of them, really. They can make more money fighting at home in Montreal and Denmark against lesser opponents. Froch may balk at the idea of traveling to the States yet again, as he seems itching for a fight at home in the United Kingdom.

Could Ward vs Bute happen? Yes, and the only snag I saw there was the fight being in Canada. It belongs in Montreal, to be honest, where it will make the most money, because I can't see Ward vs Bute being a hot ticket in the States. Neither have a big American fanbase. But if that's how it had to be for that fight to happen, then fair enough.

There's also the idea that Kelly Pavlik could re-enter the picture. Pavlik says he's looking to get another chance to prove himself, and that he's no longer hung up on money. Would he be offered $1.35 million again to fight Bute? Probably not. Would he get good money, more than he would elsewhere? Sure, and Pavlik might actually be willing to go to Montreal at this point, too.