On Friday night (October 15), Lucian Bute’s (27-0, 22 KOs) left uppercut proved to be the deciding factor in leading him to a KO victory over a determined but outclassed Jesse Brinkley (35-6, 22 KOs).
Both fighters spent the first two rounds slowly feeling each other out and failing to commit to any sustained offense. These tactical rounds were carried by Bute, who through a longer reach was able to pepper Brinkley with light but scoring right jabs and lefts to the body. However, Brinkley used his shorter height to make himself an elusive target, and Bute struggled to land most of his power punches.
By the third, Bute began to step it up by launching his whipping left uppercut. The punch stunned Brinkley, and Bute followed up with a straight left. Brinkley responded in kind with a straight right that stopped Bute from launching an all-out assault.
Going into the fifth, Bute had become aggressive in targeting the body. The champion’s faster hands were a step ahead of Brinkley, and he caught the American with a thudding left uppercut to the stomach. Brinkley immediately doubled over on his knees in pain, conjuring up images of Bute’s last KO victim, Librado Andrade. But Brinkley fought through the debilitating shot and rose just before the referee reached 10. In a sly veteran move, he spit out his mouthpiece to gain more recovery seconds. By the time the referee had cleaned it and fixed errant tape on his glove, the round had ended.
Bute smelled blood in rounds six and seven, but Jesse Brinkley refused to submit. When Bute tried to time the uppercut, Brinkley was now stepping in with hooks. Those shots connected, but Brinkley was still coming perilously close to being caught again.
Lucian Bute re-established his range in the eighth. This time, the left uppercut smashed into the center of Brinkley’s face for another knockdown. Bleeding and disoriented, Brinkley quickly regained his senses when he saw his corner may stop it. He shouted that he was ok, and jumped to his feet to affirm his words. Amazingly, Brinkley survived the round.
By round nine Brinkley was fighting defensively off the backfoot. But by backing into the ropes and bending forward, he was an open target for more of Bute’s money punch. The champion obliged with another jarring left uppercut, this one causing Brinkley to fall forward and then flat on his back. The referee had seen enough, and called a halt to the contest at the 2:48 mark.
The Compubox numbers told the story of how Brinkley failed to get his offense out the blocks. Lucian Bute connected on 87 of his 202 power punches, compared to 20 out of 109 for Brinkley.
With the win, Lucian Bute heads to a possible early 2011 showdown with Kelly Pavlik, contingent on the former middleweight champion defeating Bryan Vera on the Pacquiao-Margarito undercard.
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Bute looked off early, but once he got Brinkley’s rhythm down it was a whitewash. That left uppercut is a thing of beauty. Whether to the head or body, it’s effects are deadly. Anyone who plans to have a chance against him must nuetralize that punch.
I do take issue with RING magazine rating Bute as the #1 super middleweight. That distinction should go to WBA titlist Andre Ward, who’s run of victories over Edison Miranda, Mikkel Kessler and Allan Green trumps Bute’s recent opposition (Andrade, Mirand, Brinkley). Of course, whoever emerges from the Super Six has to face Bute to erase all doubt. Unfortunately for us, that likely won’t be until late 2011.
Kelly Pavlik is in for a long night if he gets in there with Bute. Pavlik is far too plodding and slow to deal with Bute. If he thought Sergio Martinez was a handful, he’s in for a nightmare with Bute’s handspeed and movement. It’ll be a nice American scalp for Bute while he waits for the Super Six to sort itself out. Or, he can use a Pavlik win to jump to light-heavyweight and face one of the champions there.
Even without the Super Six, Lucian Bute is about to make moves. How ironic, if he turns out to be as big a name or bigger than the Super Six winner.
Beats, Boxing and Mayhem 