UNDEFEATED 168-POUND CHAMPION LUCIAN BUTE
SIGNED MULTI-FIGHT AGREEMENT WITH SHOWTIME®
Agreement Provides the IBF Super Middleweight World Champion
With Numerous Challengers in the 168-Pound Division
BUCHAREST (Nov. 9, 2010)–- During a big press conference, Showtime Networks Inc. announced last Friday (Nov. 5, 2010) that undefeated IBF Super Middleweight World Champion, Lucian Bute, one of the most talented pound-for-pound and popular fighters of this era, has signed a multi-fight agreement with the premium television network. The announcement was made by Ken Hershman, Executive Vice President and General Manager of SHOWTIME Sports®, and Jean Bedard, Bute’s promoter and President of InterBox, at a press conference in Las Vegas.
With the network’s ongoing Super Six World Boxing Classic, which includes the best active fighters in the division, Bute is afforded a number of potential matchups on SHOWTIME. During the announcement, Mr Hershman showed his proud to have the Romanian champion fighting on his network.
“We’ve been obviously very active in the super middleweight division with our Super Six World Boxing Classic Tournament. The one missing link that has evaded us has been Lucian Bute and we’re happy to fill that hole now with him. We have a plethora of opponent options for him. We will continue to deliver on our message and our promise to our subscribers to put on the biggest and best events in boxing on SHOWTIME,” told Ken Hershman.
“Lucian is a tremendous talent. He’s undefeated, charismatic and he sells out Montreal with his eyes closed. He’s got one of the most dynamic fan bases and ring entrances in all of boxing. He’s the real deal and we can’t wait to get him on SHOWTIME come the first quarter of next year,” added the Executive Vice President and General Manager of SHOWTIME Sports®. Bute’s first fight in the new deal will be scheduled for the first quarter of 2011 against an opponent to be announced.
Ken Hershman also declared during the press conference: “now we have the opportunity with Lucian to take him and put him in with the winner of the Super Six for what would be the greatest fight in super middleweight history. We’re just really looking forward and not back. We think having Lucian around the same time as we’re doing the Super Six will really drive home his awareness and his popularity and tie him into the Super Six properly so that when we do get to the end we will have built the biggest fight of all-time in this division.”
“I want to thank Ken Hershman for giving me the opportunity to fight on SHOWTIME. All the best fighters in the division are linked to SHOWTIME right now so that gives me the opportunity to fight against the best in the world. And being on SHOWTIME will give me that platform,” said Lucian Bute.
The IBF champion added: “It was my dream to become a world champion and now that I am, I am still thinking about working hard and I still think about winning every round and being dominant. This new contract will help me get to the next level and be known all around the world. It was the plan we had three years ago to be well known in America and to be on a major network. I’ve been known a little bit in the States and now I have to go to the next level.”
“This is a great opportunity for Lucian and for InterBox,” said Jean Bedard, president of InterBox. “This agreement proves to everyone in boxing that InterBox is a world-class organization and Lucian is a great champion. Lucian will have the chance to fight the best fighters in his category and clean up his division. I would like to thank Ken Hershman and all the staff at SHOWTIME for making this deal happen and we look forward to some spectacular events in the future.
For Head Trainer Stephan Larouche, the entire weekend was like a dream come true. “I was extremely proud of Lucian while we were at the MGM Grand arena watching the fights as Showtime’s VIP guests last Saturday. Boxing greats, including “Sugar” Shane Mosley and Antonio Tarver all stopped by at our section to shake Lucian’s hand and to congratulate him on his boxing career. Lucian was touched very much by this, and I know this experience will make him stronger and hungrier and more motivated than ever to continue his explosion to the top of the boxing world” states Larouche.
“At one point I look over at Lucian, and notice he has a smile while staring at none other than Felix “Tito” Trinidad, who to me is one of the best fighters in the history of boxing. I didn’t say anything to Lucian, but I just know he was impressed to see him. Felix did not need to be there. I am sure a superstar like him could be doing 500 other things on a Saturday night. But there he was, to show support for fellow Countryman Juan Manuel Lopez. And I would bet good money that Tito being there made a big difference to Lopez”.
“After the fights, the fans at the MGM Grand would not let Lucian leave! They kept him there signing autographs for an hour. To us, this was one of the most touching gestures of the whole weekend. Lucian already has fans in America, and now thanks to all the hard work and determination Lucian has put into his professional career, the door is wide open for him to become a big star over there”.
Bute won the IBF title from Alejandro Berrio in 2007. He has since made six successful defenses against William Joppy, Librado Andrade twice, Fulgencio Zuniga, Edison Miranda and, just two weeks ago, Jesse Brinkley. All but one of those wins has come by knockout. In his first appearance on SHOWTIME, Bute retained the IBF crown with a lopsided 12-round decision over Andrade on Oct. 24, 2008, in one of the most talked about final rounds of the last decade.
About InterBox
Created in 1997 by Mr. Hans-Karl Muhlegg and bought by Eric Lucas & Jean Bedard in 2004, InterBox is now an Internationally respected boxing promotion company working with all major promoters and TV networks. Jean Bedard oversees all aspects of the business as he and his experienced Team continues to keep InterBox amongst the most recognized organizations in the world of boxing. InterBox has produced 4 world champions: former WBA lightweight world champion Leonard Dorin, former WBC super middleweight world champion Eric Lucas, former WBC light heavyweight world champion Adrian Diaconu and the current IBF Super middleweight World Champion, Lucian Bute. 5-time world champion trainer Stephan Larouche oversees training for all InterBox athletes.