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The always-generous WBC have approved the January 18, 2014, fight between Lucian Bute and Jean Pascal as a "WBC Diamond title" fight, meaning that Bute and Pascal will give the sanctioning body money to fight for a meaningless belt that nobody cares about and has no real purpose.
Bute (31-1, 24 KO) and Pascal (28-2-1, 17 KO) already have plenty going for them with this fight. HBO will televise in the States, there will be PPV money in Canada, and the show will easily sell out the Bell Centre in Montreal. But just having the NABF light heavyweight title (also a WBC-affiliated belt) up for grabs isn't enough. Diamond belt!
Bute vs Pascal was originally scheduled for May 25, but was postponed when Bute was injured in training camp. The fight, which is considered likely to be the biggest fight in Canada's history, will also have extra anti-doping regulations in place.