Former world champion Lucian Bute (31-2, 24 KOs) returns to the ring to face Italy’s Andrea Di Luisa (17-2, 13 KOs) in a 10-round super middleweight showdown on Premier Boxing Champions on NBCSN on Saturday, August 15 from the Bell Centre in Montreal with televised coverage beginning at 9 pm.
Another televised bout will pit a pair of undefeated light heavyweights against each other as 2008 Colombian Olympian Eleider Alvarez (17-0, 10 KOs) takes on Paraguayan knockout artist Isidro Ranoni Prieto (24-0-3, 20 KOs) in a 12-round battle. Additionally, 2008 Colombian Olympian Oscar Rivas (17-0, 12 KOs) will compete on the card.
“I’m ready and looking forward to going back in the ring,” said Bute. “I have not lost my passion and I train six days a week, twice a day. I am excited to perform on the big stage on August 15.”
“We are very proud to present this great event in Montreal,” said GYM President Yvon Michel. “This will also be the first time that NBCSN will be in Montreal to broadcast a boxing event and I’m also happy to support the return of former world champion Lucian Bute.”
Tickets for the live event, promoted Group Yvon Michel (GYM) in association with InterBox, are priced from $25 to $250, not including applicable service charges and fees, and are on sale Wednesday, July 15 at 10 a.m. ET. Tickets can be purchased at the counters of the Bell Centre, on www.evenko.ca, at GYM (514) 383-0666, at InterBox (450) 645-1077 or at Champion boxing club (514) 376-0980.
After an accomplished amateur career representing his native Romania, Bute moved to Montreal, Quebec, Canada and began his pro career in 2003 with 30 straight victories. Among those victories, the 35-year-old won a super middleweight world title over Alejandro Berrio. Bute owns victories over Sakio Bika, William Joppy, Edison Miranda and Jesse Brinkley and will be returning to the ring for the first time since Jan. 2014 on August 15.
A professional since 2008, Di Luisa will be making his North American debut on August 15 when he travels to Canada to challenge Bute. The 33-year-old racked up 12 wins to start his career including victories over previously unbeaten fighters Alessio Rondelli and Giuseppe Brischetto. Fighting out of Lazio, he enters this fight on a four-fight win streak, including his last two by knockout.
A 2008 Colombian Olympian fighting out of Montreal, Alvarez defeated Anatoliy Dudchenko by second round knockout on June 12. That fight marked the pro debut for the 31-year-old, after recording 15 victories in Canada and one in Monaco. The owner of victories over and Edison Miranda, Alexander Johnson and Ryno Liebenber, he looks to keep his perfect record intact on August 15. .
Born in Paraguay but making his home in Buenoas Aires, Argentina, Prieto has never lost as a pro and has won his last eight fights heading into August 15. The 29-year-old will be making his North American debut and fighting as a pro outside of South America for the first time. The heavy-fisted fighter has recorded three straight knockouts entering this fight.
Another 2008 Colombian Olympian, Rivas has also made his home in Montreal since turning pro. The exciting 28-year-old rides an impressive six-fight knockout streak into this fight and he hopes to build on the success he had in his U.S. debut, a first round knockout over Jason Pettaway in June 2015.
