Photo by Vincent Éthier
Gino Garcia, Contributing Writer
Jean Pascal vs. Lucian Bute should be an explosive performance. I see an issue with accidental headbutts due to Pascal’s explosive attack style. Although Bute is patient and has great timing, in the end Pascal will overcome Bute with speed. This fight ends in favor of Pascal by Round 7 by TKO.
Prediction: Pascal
Jose Sotomayor, Contributing Writer
This is the fight for relevance. Lucian Bute and Jean Pascal are coming off wins and look to remain in the hunt for a future title fight. Lucian Bute is probably the more marketable fighter and has shown flashes in the past of a fighter who could be a big star. In spite of that, Pascal seems to posses the more refined in-ring skills. If Pascal can avoid the left from Bute and use the ring effectively, he can easily outpoint Bute.
Prediction: Pascal
Lenin Acevedo, Photographer
For a guy who’s been able to carry a solid career in the fight world despite being knocked out by Gennady Golovkin in the amateurs, it says a lot about Lucian Bute’s confidence and comeback ability. I think that confidence is gone. Bute is not the same fighter. Jean Pascal’s aggression will surely overwhelm Bute’s slick ways. Pascal by TKO.
Prediction: Pascal
Gabe Rivas, Senior Analyst
Lucian Bute will seek to enter his name into the upper echelon of the Light Heavyweight division by taking on Jean Pascal, whose previous eight fights have been in the Light Heavyweight division. Bute only has one fight on his record at 175, against Denis Grachev. In other words, Pascal is more experienced at Light Heavyweight and, having been a word champion in the division, will have a considerable advantage when dealing with the power and size of the division. Bute, whose southpaw stance might give Pascal trouble, looked worse with Froch than Pascal did. Both fought Froch at Super Middleweight and, while Froch ran through Bute, Pascal managed to last the twelve rounds and lost via decision. I have Pascal winning this one because of his experience at 175 and how much better he did with Froch than Bute did.
Prediction: Pascal
Rob Anthony, Contributing Writer
Lucian Bute wasn’t good enough to get into the Super Six Super Middleweight tournament a few years ago. He wasn’t good enough to beat Carl Froch several months ago, and on Saturday night in Montreal he won’t be good enough to beat his fellow Montreal resident, Jean Pascal who at one time was considered the cream of the crop at Light Heavyweight. If he can win this fight convincingly, he makes himself a likely target for the lineal champion Adonis Stevenson, or powerful contender Sergey Kovalev. Pascal wins with pressure, and by catching Bute with his lead hand down. I predict a knockout in Round 9 for Pascal.
Prediction: Pascal
Juan Carlos Burgos, Contributing Writer
Jean Pascal will need to fight with a sense of urgency and purpose that I don’t see him typically fight with. In his fight with Bernard Hopkins, Pascal looked confused as to what do and waited too much. It was similar with his fight against Chad Dawson. If he waits or does not come into the ring with a solid game plan, Lucian Bute will just pick him apart. This will only be Bute’s second fight since his devastating KO loss to Carl Froch. I would like to see Pascal start fast and check that chin, but nothing in his previous fights suggest he has that in him. I think the lack of fire will ultimately cost Pascal.
Prediction: Bute
Alex Burgos, Editor-in-Chief
This is certainly a crossroads fight for both men. Whoever wins will be on the up-and-up and have a legitimate shot at a big money fight by the end of 2014. The loser may fall into obscurity and even contemplate retirement. I think that if Jean Pascal can maintain the pressure on Lucian Bute, he should be able to break his countryman down. I like Pascal by late-round stoppage.
Prediction: Pascal
