When IBF Super Middleweight champion Lucian Bute (27-0, 22 KO’s) defends his title against Northern Ireland’s Brian Magee (34-3-1, 24 KO’s, IBF #8) on March 19th, fight fans in attendance at Montreal’s Bell Centre will not only witness the brilliance of arguably the best 168 lb. fighter in the world in Bute, but they’ll also be treated to an undercard packed with burgeoning superstars in action-packed match-ups.
Martirosyan Makes Montreal Debut
Also, on the undercard, elite light middleweight prospect, and consensus top contender, Vanes “The Nightmare” Martirosyan (28-0, 17 KO’s, WBO #1, IBF #5, WBC #6) makes his Montreal debut, when he faces hard-hitting Mexican Bladimir Hernandez (18-4, 16 KO’s).
Glendale, California’s Martirosyan hasn’t fought since handily out-pointing feared New York upstart “Mean” Joe Greene last June in Yankee Stadium. That win, on the heels of a 10 round unanimous decision conquest of former world champion Kassim Ouma, solidified the 24 year-old’s standing as one of the top young fighters in the world.
Gaudet Takes on Tough Mexican Verdugo
Local fan favorite, and former world super featherweight title challenger Benoit Gaudet (23-2, 10 KO’s), of Drummondville, Que looks to continue his quest for a second world title shot, and fourth straight win (he’s 3-0 with 3 KO’s since his gallant TKO loss to the great Humberto Soto) when he faces rugged Adrian Verdugo (14-3-1, 11 KO’s) of Los Mochis, Mexico.
Pier-Olivier Cote to face Veteran Lozada
Quebec City light welterweight Pier-Olivier Cote (14-0, 9 KO’s) puts his perfect record on the line against would-be spoiler, veteran Michael Lozada (37-7-1, 30 KO’s) of Mexico City, Mexico.
Cote is fast becoming one of the top prospects in a stacked 140 lb division, thoroughly dominating seasoned veterans Cesar Soriano, and Walter Sergio Gomez in his previous two outings.
Gauthier Faces Stiff Test in Mexican Soto-Ramirez
St. Jerome, Quebec’s Sebastien Gauthier (19-2, 12 KO’s) goes toe-to-toe with tough Mexican Jovanny Soto-Ramirez (31-9-1, 26 KO’s) in a hard-hitting bantamweight match-up.
Gauthier has seemingly turned the corner since getting stopped in the second round by Mario Macias in June of 2009, going 2-0, including a dominating 8 round unanimous decision over respected veteran Julio David Rocque Ler (30-6, 18 KO’s) last October.
For his part, Soto-Ramirez has shown no ill affects from his TKO 2 drubbing at the hands of the great Fernando Montiel last December, with the Sinaloa-born slugger knocking out his two subsequent opponents.
Simion Laces Up Against Navarrete
Exciting Romanian featherweight prospect Viorel Simion (12-0, 5 KO’s) makes his North American debut when he hooks up with battle-tested Mexican veteran Pedro Navarrete (25-10-3, 14 KO’s).
Simion has taken the European boxing scene by storm, dominating quality fighter after quality fighter throughout his unblemished career.
Hyppolite, McFadden to Make Respective Pro Debuts
Two of Canada’s top prospects will be making their pro debuts on the Bute vs. Magee undercard, as light heavyweights Schiller Hyppolite and Colin McFadden will be stepping into the Bell Centre ring in separate bouts.
BUTE vs. MAGEE OFFICIALS ANNOUNCED
Referee Pete Podgorski, of Chicago, will be the third man in the ring when IBF Super Middleweight Champion Lucian Bute defends his title against Brian Magee, March 19th at the Bell Centre in Montreal.
Quebec judges Pasquale Procopio and Benoit Roussel will be joined ringside by Englishman Mickey Vann to deliver a decision should the fight go to the scorecards, while the IBF supervisor at ringside will be Hiawatha Knight.
Tickets on sale
Tickets for this InterBox March 19th Gala are available at the Bell Centre ticket office by contacting www.evenko.ca or dialing 1-877-668-8269, or by calling Club de boxe Champion at 514-376-0980.
