Romanian born Lucian Bute retained his IBF super-middleweight title Saturday night Nov. 28 in Quebec City, Quebec, Canada, by knocking out the rugged Mexican Librado Andrade via body shot knockout in the 4th round if their rematch on HBO B.A.D (Boxing After Dark)
Bute, who was apart of a controversial bout with Andrade back in October 2008 when Andrade mounted a comeback in the 12th and final round of their 2008 boxing match by knocking Bute down and nearly out, but Bute was given a long count by referee Marlon Wright and saved by the bell. Lucian Bute won the decision that night but many believed Andrade was robbed of a late round knockout.
That controversial October 2008 match was erased tonight after Bute proved all the doubters wrong by being the first man to KO the durable Andrade.
Bute was looking fresh from the first bell, he used his angles and footwork to out slick the flat footed Andrade. During the 3rd round Bute found his rhythm and was blasting away at Librado with combos from every angle.
In the 4th round as Andrade kept pressing forward Bute was able to knock down Andrade like a sack of potatoes with a left hand on the chin, a punch Librado did not see coming. Librado smiled, winked, got up and beat the count and pressed forward again, Bute found another opening and hit Andrade with a left hook to the body which dropped Andrade.
Andrade could not beat the count and was frozen on his knees in pain from the well placed body shot. Bute impressed in front of 16,000 fans in a packed Pepsi Coliseum.
On the undercard South African Ali Funeka fought Joan Guzman of the Dominican Republic for the Vacant IBF lightweight title. Guzman from the early rounds was moving and trying to counter punch, while Funeka was the one pressing the action.
During the fight Guzman suffered a head butt and was battered and bloody even being stunned and hit cleanly on the ropes by the 6 foot 1 Funeka. Funeka clearly outworked Guzman who looked tired and fatigued throughout the fight.
What appeared to be a clear cut dominating win for Funeka, ended up in a controversial draw. The score cards are as follows: judge Alan Davis 114-114, judge Joseph Pasquale 116-112 for Funeka, judge Benoit Roussel 114-114.
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