Lucian Bute is clearly no fool. Having accepted Matthew Barney as an opponent for a tune up ahead of his world-title eliminator it looks like the Romanian born puncher then followed the discipline of researching Barney’s career to date. Videotapes of Barney’s style will not have made pleasant viewing. Awkward, slippery, resilient and accustomed to fighting as the opponent and on occasion at 175lbs. Barney was not a fan fight, he isn’t an easy fight and in the end he was a fight Bute didn’t need.Bute, based in Canada opts to skip the warm up and ensure his June eliminator for the IBF title is well-planned. According to Dave Spencer, Canadian correspondent at FightNews.com, Sakio Bika the complete antithesis of Barney is the favourite to get the job. Game and strong, but predictable, slow and head-on the African will suit Bute in his quest to impress and progress with minimum risk.
Read Dave Spencer’s update here
Bute had no choice but to cancel his fight with Barney to be involve in the IBF.
It was required by the IBF.