Zuniga and Bute Make Weight

Posted by Patrick Mullin on 03.13.2009

The IBF super middleweight title fight is on tonight.


Photo by Herby Whyne for Sportzframe

Yesterday afternoon, IBF super middleweight titlist Lucian Bute and challenger Fulgencio Zuniga both made weight for their title bout which is set for tonight on Showtime from the Bell Centre in Montreal. Bute came in at 167.4 pounds while Zuniga weighed in at 167.7 pounds. The fight will be shown as the main event for ShoBox: The Next Generation beginning at 11 p.m. ET/PT (delayed on the west coast).

Bute is making the third defense of his belt and is coming off a controversial win over Librado Andrade which saw him hurt badly in the final round of their bout. Referee Marlon B. Wright who was the third man in charge for that fight and was heavily criticized for the way he handled the knockdown from Andrade will not be refereeing this contest as Team Zuniga made it clear that they would withdraw from the fight if he was in charge.

What the two fighters had to say prior to Thursday's weigh in:

LUCIAN BUTE

"I have a lot of confidence and I had a great preparation for this fight. I think it will be extremely exciting, but I know I will still be the champion after tomorrow night.

"My first objective is to win tomorrow night. Then I am looking forward to a chance to unify the titles. Hopefully, I will get the chance to fight in the U.S. at a major venue like Las Vegas on SHOWTIME.

"I would fight Mikkel Kessler or any other champ in my division. I only want to fight the best at 168 pounds.

"My speed is going to make the difference against Zuniga. I'm going to move around and use the ring to my advantage. I'm going to throw punches from the outside and at all angles. He won't have a chance to get inside on me.

"Zuniga is a good fighter, but he is not as quick as I am. That is his weakness and I will take advantage of it.

From the Andrade fight, I learned that if I feel tired it is a mistake to stand and trade with an opponent."

On Questions about the 12th round against Librado Andrade:

"That (12th round against Andrade) is all forgotten. It has not affected me at all. I am concentrating on this fight.

"Sure, it was the first time I've been down, but that's boxing. Knockdowns happen. I'm not affected by that at all. I had good training and I'm completely over it. I guess the people who doubt or guess me will see tomorrow night how much I am over it.

"It was exhaustion. That's what it was. It was a good experience for me and I am a more mature fighter because of it.

"I have no excuse for what happened that night. I thought I had to finish strong and give it my all for the crowd. I won the fight and that's all behind me."


FULGENCIO ZUNIGA

"I sparred once with Bute and I learned enough about him in order to beat him

"I've been sparring with guys that are the same size as Bute, but they have heavy hands. I am prepared for anything.

"We know how we are going to fight a southpaw. We're not worried about his size. We're going to try to get inside and eliminate his reach.

"What I learned watching the Andrade fight was that the pressure does work against him. "I'm a little more confident because of Bute's (struggles) in last fight. Bute has already been wounded and hurt.

"This is very big opportunity for me. I will finish off the work I've started. I'm not finished yet.

"We can win anyway we need to. Knockout. Decision. It doesn't matter.

"Tomorrow night, Colombia will have a new world champion."