Lucian Bute could NOT have looked worse after his knockout loss to Carl Froch. This was a fight that I had greatly been looking forward to seeing. I was one of the few people who chose Froch to win, although by decision. I was constantly amazed at how many people wrote Froch off against Bute. Froch lost against Andre Ward, but there is a different between getting out-boxed and then just annihilated like Bute was against Froch.

Seriously, though, Bute’s best win was against Edison Miranda, the perennial punching-bag of the world’s top super-middleweights. While Froch has proved to be one of the most durable fighters perhaps ever, facing absolutely top-notch opposition for the last couple years.

Unfortunately for Lucian Bute, he has lost that sheen of pound-for-pound greatness that gave him his superstar luster. People were really thinking that he was top five best in the world, undefeated, a vicious body-puncher. But he was knocked out by a guy who hadn’t knocked anyone out in years. The fight proved that people’s lingering suspicions of Bute’s chin were correct.

Bute’s career will never be the same, and I don’t ever see him fighting Carl Froch again. I predict he will face some lesser competition, and then announce his retirement.