BoxingScene.com was advised that it's practically a lock for Lucian Bute (26-0, 21KOs) to make a mandatory defense of his IBF super middleweight title against Jesse Brinkley (35-5, 22KOs) on the date of October 15 at the Bell Centre in Montreal. Talks are ongoing for the fight to get televised by ESPN as part of the Friday Night Fights series.

I've been told that InterBox, who promote Bute, are very interested in placing super middleweight contenders Kelly Pavlik and Librado Andrade in separate fights on the undercard.

There is a decent shot for Andrade, a popular fighter among Canadian fans, to land on the card. Pavlik is doubtful to fight on the show. InterBox would like to get him on board to further build a future fight with Bute, but the price of getting Pavlik involved on the card is too expensive. A source close to the negotiations told BoxingScene that Pavlik's minimum is too high to make him a realistic possibility for the card.

http://www.boxingscene.com/?m=show&id=28974

I love Bute. He has built a following in Canada. The Canadian shows on FNF have been very good. The fact that Bute (along with other local fighters) can pack the house in Canada means that he doesn't have to wait around for HBO or Showtime to have a date. He can take the mandatory, get it out of the way, and have ESPN televise it (hopefully) as his team doesn't require a big tv fee in order to have the fight.



If other fighters would build a darn home fanbase, then they could fight more often. Right now so many guys have to sit and wait for HBO or Showtime as they couldn't draw 1000 to see them fight.

I would love to see Kelly Pavlik and Librado Andrade meet, Andrade's style is perfect for Kelly to bounce back and remind us all what he's made of.

Pavlik vs Andrade would be a great fight.

I wouldn't think that ESPN FNF could afford Bute, but we shall see.

im surprized also brute in a FNF..much credit to him for relying on a sell out gate in montreal ..if they want pavik on the card why not go to hbo..you would think they would pay brute a little more than FNF and have money to give pavik his minimum..if they go a little over budget soo what..make it up the next fight..look a 2 fight card on hbo a 2 for oner..come on.jump on it.

HBO already passed on this that's why they're considering ESPN.

they passed with pavik on the card.

No, but considering Pavlik's next fight isn't going to be against a name HBO won't be that interested.

If it gets done that'd be great, but when has anyone at Bute's level been on FNF? I''m skeptical that it can get done.

The reason they may be able to get this fight is Bute isn't going to draw on PPV.

The bulk of the money from this fight would be from the nice live gate. Thus, a fee that ESPN may be able to afford to show it, might not be out of the question.

Everytime ESPN gets a big fight for FNF it falls through. Hopefully the huge gate this would draw would offset the costs and make it happen.

Love it

Get this done ASAP! Thank you ESPN