Bute to defend against Miranda on April 17th

According to Dan Rafael of espn.com, IBF Super Middleweight champion Lucian Bute will defend against former Middleweight title challenger Edison Miranda in April 17th in Bute’s adopted hometwon of Montreal.

“It will certainly be a pleasure for me to box again at the Bell Centre and to defend my title for the fifth time in front of my fans,” said Bute, a native of Romania based in Montreal. “I am taking Miranda very seriously. He demolished many good fighters and is a notorious puncher. I will have to keep my concentration level on high to stay champion.”

HBO will carry live coverage of the bout in the United States and hopes to pair it with Kelly Pavlik defending the middleweight championship against junior middleweight titleholder Sergio Martinez from Boardwalk Hall in Atlantic City, N.J. Pavlik-Martinez is still in negotiations.

“This is another shot for Edison and with his new trainer, I think we’ll do fine,”Said Leon Margules, who is Miranda’s co-promoter. “We’re excited about the fight. I think he can knock Bute out. Edison wants to show he belongs with the top 168-pounders and this is a great opportunity for him.”

Stephan Larouche, Bute’s trainer, said the styles of the two fighters — Bute being the skillful boxer and Miranda the brawler — should make for an entertaining fight.

“Styles make fights. I know this is a boxing cliché, but it’s the truth,” Larouche said. “Once again we have two world-class athletes with different styles that, when mixed together, have all the ingredients to explode. The fans are in for a treat.”