James DeGale (c) vs, Lucien Bute - November 28th 2015

[wesshaw1985]

who takes home the IBF Title?

[davie]

Gone for draw
Don't actually think it will be a draw but can't make my mind up on this one so it's the closest option to 'don't know'

Think Degale might have too much as Bute isn't quite the fighter he was.
But I don't see anything in Degale to say he could blitz him like Froch did and if he doesn't get him out of there and takes his foot off the gas like ge did against Dirrell, Bute has the class to nick some late rounds and take a home decision.

[brilo33]

going to be a different fight to froch fight.froch walked him down with pure power.de gale cant do that.i say degale will box him and wear him down by 6th 8th round.and stop him late

[Cyclops]

Voted for Degale KO. I actually think James has shown that he has quite a dig recently. I think he's got enough to scramble Bute's brains and get himself a stoppage.

To be honest I haven't watched Bute since he was Cobra'd and I hear he's fragile and a shadow of himself etc, is moving back down to SMW... But his old form was pretty good. It's in his hometown and if he's found his mojo again, James is in for a tough night.

[Boxerbeetle]

Bute is totally shot, Degale could potentially win by stoppage although I expect him to win fairly wide on points.

[ALI]

I dont think DeGale will KO Bute, a points decision seems more likely.

If DeGale fights a stinker like he did against Dirrell, throwing on average 2 punches per round from the 4th onwards, Bute could take this on points. Its DeGales fight to lose IMO.

[Stuarty]

Late KO for DeGale. Bute was like a rabbit caught in the headlights against Froch and wasn't given time to settle. DeGale is a totally different fighter and Bute will be tricky with the home advantage. I can see DeGale eventually stopping him late on (10/11).

[whiskey]

Dunno about a Degale stoppage myself. When Bute was at his lowest ebb he did 12 rounds with Jean Pascal.

His old belt, his old home crowd, his old fortress - plus likely his pet referee Marlon Starling.

Could be an even contest, and I'm surprised you can get as much as 4/1 on Bute to win. It's much closer on paper.

[ALI]

Dunno about a Degale stoppage myself. When Bute was at his lowest ebb he did 12 rounds with Jean Pascal.

His old belt, his old home crowd, his old fortress - plus likely his pet referee Marlon Starling.

Could be an even contest, and I'm surprised you can get as much as 4/1 on Bute to win. It's much closer on paper.

I'm thinking along the same lines, 4/1 is good value. I've had this treble in my mind for a couple of weeks now: Bute @ 4/1, Klitschko KO @ evens and this longshot - Whyte @ 9/1. That will give a return of around 100/1., or, around 70/1 if you settle for Klitschko by any means.

Whyte's the obvious weak link, but that 9/1 is tempting as Joshua still has it all to prove.

[Bard of Boxrec]

Degale is going to walk this I think. Expect a stoppage in around 9.

[Crease]

I think that Bute's pride in front of his own fans means that he won't give this fight up, so I can't see a stoppage. I'd go with DeGale by wide pts decision.

[big lennox]

I think DeGale has underated punching power and is now reaching his prime. I think he will stop Bute quite easily. I think Froch did right in avoiding DeGale, as DeGale has really come into his own. He handled a trciky opponent in Dirrell much better than Froch did, which was quite telling.

[whiskey]

I think DeGale has underated punching power and is now reaching his prime. I think he will stop Bute quite easily. I think Froch did right in avoiding DeGale, as DeGale has really come into his own. He handled a trciky opponent in Dirrell much better than Froch did, which was quite telling.

He got a knockdown of Dirrell, but he was pretty mediocre throughout the rest of the bout - the way he kept taking his foot off the gas was plain scary in a Haymon arranged fight, on a Haymon TV show and against an American Haymon fighter.

"Almost snatched defeat from the jaws of victory"

[Crease]

I think DeGale has underated punching power and is now reaching his prime. I think he will stop Bute quite easily.

Hmmm, I suppose potentially he could do, but I would add that stopping Khatchikian, Gonzales or Periban is a lot different to stopping an elite fighter like Lucian Bute, who has been at the top of the tree. I would also point out that Bute has only been stopped once in his 34 fights, so he's not the softly-chinned character that some people perceive him to be.

Also, standing toe-to-toe with Bute is a hazardous tactic. DeGale has the speed and the skill to employ a safer gameplan and reduce Bute's chances of winning the bout.

He handled a trciky opponent in Dirrell much better than Froch did, which was quite telling.

That's a poor way of measuring it. To counter your argument I could also say that Froch stopped and KO'd Groves twice consecutively, yet DeGale lost to him.

[big lennox]

I think DeGale has underated punching power and is now reaching his prime. I think he will stop Bute quite easily. I think Froch did right in avoiding DeGale, as DeGale has really come into his own. He handled a trciky opponent in Dirrell much better than Froch did, which was quite telling.

He got a knockdown of Dirrell, but he was pretty mediocre throughout the rest of the bout - the way he kept taking his foot off the gas was plain scary in a Haymon arranged fight, on a Haymon TV show and against an American Haymon fighter.

"Almost snatched defeat from the jaws of victory"

You are right. I don't know why I wrote that last sentence. I was just in a provocative mood -my apologies. I do think DeGale will stop Bute, but I don't think he would beat Froch. I think he would give Froch (or anyone) something to think about, but as you say, there is no way you can switch off in the middle rounds against Froch and survive; and DeGale has done that a few times (I'm thinking some of his channel 5 fights as well against Dirrell).

I don't know how I feel about Froch coming back. Put simply, he is one of the finest champions this country has ever produced. The excitement he brings to all his matches is very hard to replicate anywhere, his chin, heart, stamina and timing is as good as anyone that I've seen. It's just that he has left the game on a high; an astonishing record, loads of money, world wide recognition from his peers, his marbles still in tact and a very good post fight career (sky commentary and building and running properties).

If he comes back, I would be delighted and excited -Froch vs DeGale or Golovkin would be mouth watering clashes and would capture the public's imagination. However, I would hate for him to go on too long and tarnish his record and take needless punishment against someone he would have beaten. That said, I don't know him or know what his training has been like since the Groves fight. Certainly against Groves in their rematch he looked very sharp and impressive. I thought he quietly dominated the fight -had an answer for everything, and controlled the ring and pace-before knocking him out in front of 80,000.

[whiskey]

Lennox, I think Froch's return hinges on Degale now.

If he does the bizz against Bute, then fairly I'm confident we'll see it happen.

If Degale scrapes by , or loses - then I think it won't interest him or the fans.

[Counter-puncher]

Lennox, I think Froch's return hinges on Degale now.

If he does the bizz against Bute, then fairly I'm confident we'll see it happen.
.

Really? That surprises me. I'd rather he stayed retired than risk *cliche alert* tarnishing his legacy.

[whiskey]

Lennox, I think Froch's return hinges on Degale now.

If he does the bizz against Bute, then fairly I'm confident we'll see it happen.
.

Really? That surprises me. I'd rather he stayed retired than risk *cliche alert* tarnishing his legacy.

Id not bet money on him coming back, but I imagine if the right fight / offer lands then he'd think about.

He's said he'd consider things for 2016 but beyond that he was done (or along those lines) in a few interviews that are kicking around this week.

[big lennox]

Lennox, I think Froch's return hinges on Degale now.

If he does the bizz against Bute, then fairly I'm confident we'll see it happen.

If Degale scrapes by , or loses - then I think it won't interest him or the fans.

Could be interesting. I think DeGale has got the bit between the teeth now he is champion and might make a statement against Bute.It's a fight that would generate a lot of interest -would be another Wembley Stadium fight.

[whiskey]

Lennox, I think Froch's return hinges on Degale now.

If he does the bizz against Bute, then fairly I'm confident we'll see it happen.

If Degale scrapes by , or loses - then I think it won't interest him or the fans.

Could be interesting. I think DeGale has got the bit between the teeth now he is champion and might make a statement against Bute.It's a fight that would generate a lot of interest -would be another Wembley Stadium fight.

Degale has hit the form of his career, not sure it's enough though as there's still holes in his game.

I'm not sure the rivalry is there to propel it to Wembley mind. More like O2 or MEN, at a push a football ground like Forest - but that would be hard to guarantee if it was spring or so. It would have to be at least late May onwards.

[LGilsenan]

Can see Degale stopping Bute in a really good fight maybe 8-9. I do thing DeGale deserves credit for defending his title in Butes backyard.

Too comment on the Froch vs DeGale fight, I think the Froch that Ko'd Groves would beat DeGale handily, but if Froch isnt the same after this long lay off then DeGale beats him on points. Personally I dont think Froch will return.

[ILikeBeer]

Gone for DeGale KO.

Bute is just not worthy of a title shot any more.

[Batley18]

I think Bute will take some rounds, but it could be a reasonably routine defense for Chunky. As others have said, I don't think he is capably of destroying Bute in the same way that Froch was able to, but he will pick his shots well and slowly break him down. I have gone with a decision, but it wouldn't surprise me to see James pick up a late stoppage.

[Bard of Boxrec]

If he comes through this I hope Ward is in Degale's buture.

[wesshaw1985]

If he comes through this I hope Ward is in Degale's buture.

No chance. He wont go hunting that fight. Ward beats him I think.
He should look to grab the belts from Abraham, Jack and Chudinov before approaching Ward IMO...