It's great to see a hard-working, honest pro like Brian Magee get a return to the limelight after time spent seemingly in the wilderness - or at least under the radar.
It was more than eight years ago that Northern Irishman Magee (34-3-1) picked up the lightly-regarded IBO Super-Middleeight title. The belt might not have meant much but it led to some nice paydays in front of an adoring Belfast crowd - most notably a win over former champ Hacine Cherifi in November 2003.
Magee was being tipped for serious success but somewhere along the line Magee went a little off track. After beating Cherifi there were rumblings about Magee's chin when he was dropped in the first round against unheralded Jerry Elliott.
Then in 2004 Robin Reid came along.
At The Kings Hall, with a packed audience, a potentially exciting fight turned out to be a poor bout from start to finish in which the younger Magee had been expected to make an emphatic statement against his ageing opponent (who incidentally has just come out of retirement, aged 40!).
Reid knocked Magee down four times - posing more question marks about Magee's chin - but still only scraped through a points win after time wasting, holding on and mucking about. He got the job done though.
In 2006 Magee was stopped in the 11th round with a chilling knockout by Carl Froch, who had seemed out of sorts. Of course, with hindsight the result looks better over time given two judges had Froch only one round ahead after 10 rounds.
Since then he's unbeaten in 10 fights and last year impressively won the European Super-Middleweight title by stopping Mads Larsen in seven rounds, following that fight up with one defence.
Now it's Magee's chance to make a statement and wipe out past dissapointments. On offer is the IBF belt against Lucian Bute, considered by some to be the number one in the division.
Magee must fancy his chances - or at least the payday - after turning down a far easier shot at alphabet WBO holder Robert Stieglitz.
Credit to Magee for taking the tougher, but potentially more rewarding, road.
In front of a partisan Canadian crowd Magee has his work cut out and faces a quick, strong and punishing fighter who seems to be improving.
With six defences of his belt (five by stoppages), fellow southpaw Bute (27-0) will be the overwhelming favourite.
Magee can draw confidence from his close contest with Froch and has arguably improved a lot since then, teaming up with trainer Bernard Checa. He also appears to be hitting the weight more effectively after years of ballooning up and struggling to scale down.
Further, Bute has not always looked invincible - or at least one night he certainly didn't when he took on Librado Andrade, who nearly stopped Bute after having him rocking and reeling in the final round. Fortunately for Bute he already had built a healthy points lead and held on. One year later he switched from his box and move tactics deployed in the first fight to stop the aggressive, iron-chinned Andrade in four rounds in the rematch.
Bute looks in great shape, is unlikely to be too sloppy with lucrative contests against the likes of Froch and possibly Mikkel Kessler (who is expected to be at ringside) in the pipeline.
Magee is brave and ready. He boxes well and having experienced some highs and lows is unlikely to be too daunted. He fought in Larsen's backyard and is likely to be calm and collected.
However, Magee's recent resurgence could have gone as far as it will do. At the age of 35 he may have already reached his peak.
I would envisage Magee putting up a brave showing that will earn him some new fans. The class of Bute will tell as he selects his shots and looks to startle the oncoming Magee with combinations from a variety of angles. Bute could get the stoppage by the ninth round.
* Postscipt: The outcome was, as anticipated, a Lucian Bute stoppage. This came in the 10th round.
Brian Magee gave a good account of himself and was brave in there, providing a stern test of Bute's credentials.
However, Bute had too much in the arsenal and the bodyshots wore down Magee.
Magee may have enough left, and have earned the chance, to have a shot at a world title eliminator. He definitely showed he's a European class - if not better boxer.
Despite the defeat, he deserves credit.
Bute should now look at stepping up another level in a division filled with talent. Andre Dirrell perhaps? Mikkel Kessler would also be another possible opponent.
It was more than eight years ago that Northern Irishman Magee (34-3-1) picked up the lightly-regarded IBO Super-Middleeight title. The belt might not have meant much but it led to some nice paydays in front of an adoring Belfast crowd - most notably a win over former champ Hacine Cherifi in November 2003.
Magee was being tipped for serious success but somewhere along the line Magee went a little off track. After beating Cherifi there were rumblings about Magee's chin when he was dropped in the first round against unheralded Jerry Elliott.
Then in 2004 Robin Reid came along.
At The Kings Hall, with a packed audience, a potentially exciting fight turned out to be a poor bout from start to finish in which the younger Magee had been expected to make an emphatic statement against his ageing opponent (who incidentally has just come out of retirement, aged 40!).
Reid knocked Magee down four times - posing more question marks about Magee's chin - but still only scraped through a points win after time wasting, holding on and mucking about. He got the job done though.
In 2006 Magee was stopped in the 11th round with a chilling knockout by Carl Froch, who had seemed out of sorts. Of course, with hindsight the result looks better over time given two judges had Froch only one round ahead after 10 rounds.
Since then he's unbeaten in 10 fights and last year impressively won the European Super-Middleweight title by stopping Mads Larsen in seven rounds, following that fight up with one defence.
Now it's Magee's chance to make a statement and wipe out past dissapointments. On offer is the IBF belt against Lucian Bute, considered by some to be the number one in the division.
Magee must fancy his chances - or at least the payday - after turning down a far easier shot at alphabet WBO holder Robert Stieglitz.
Credit to Magee for taking the tougher, but potentially more rewarding, road.
In front of a partisan Canadian crowd Magee has his work cut out and faces a quick, strong and punishing fighter who seems to be improving.
With six defences of his belt (five by stoppages), fellow southpaw Bute (27-0) will be the overwhelming favourite.
Magee can draw confidence from his close contest with Froch and has arguably improved a lot since then, teaming up with trainer Bernard Checa. He also appears to be hitting the weight more effectively after years of ballooning up and struggling to scale down.
Further, Bute has not always looked invincible - or at least one night he certainly didn't when he took on Librado Andrade, who nearly stopped Bute after having him rocking and reeling in the final round. Fortunately for Bute he already had built a healthy points lead and held on. One year later he switched from his box and move tactics deployed in the first fight to stop the aggressive, iron-chinned Andrade in four rounds in the rematch.
Bute looks in great shape, is unlikely to be too sloppy with lucrative contests against the likes of Froch and possibly Mikkel Kessler (who is expected to be at ringside) in the pipeline.
Magee is brave and ready. He boxes well and having experienced some highs and lows is unlikely to be too daunted. He fought in Larsen's backyard and is likely to be calm and collected.
However, Magee's recent resurgence could have gone as far as it will do. At the age of 35 he may have already reached his peak.
I would envisage Magee putting up a brave showing that will earn him some new fans. The class of Bute will tell as he selects his shots and looks to startle the oncoming Magee with combinations from a variety of angles. Bute could get the stoppage by the ninth round.
* Postscipt: The outcome was, as anticipated, a Lucian Bute stoppage. This came in the 10th round.
Brian Magee gave a good account of himself and was brave in there, providing a stern test of Bute's credentials.
However, Bute had too much in the arsenal and the bodyshots wore down Magee.
Magee may have enough left, and have earned the chance, to have a shot at a world title eliminator. He definitely showed he's a European class - if not better boxer.
Despite the defeat, he deserves credit.
Bute should now look at stepping up another level in a division filled with talent. Andre Dirrell perhaps? Mikkel Kessler would also be another possible opponent.
No comments:
Post a Comment