By: Matthew N. Becher
Premier Boxing Champions switched channels and cities in two nights, bringing another boxing card, this time on NBC Sports Network, from the Bell Centre in Montreal, Canada, Quebec.
Showcased was the Light Heavyweight division with two undefeated fighters looking to make an impression and win the WBC “Silver” title and also the return of former world champion Lucian Bute after a 19 month layoff from the ring.
Eleider Alvarez (17-0 10KO) vs. Isidro Ranoni Prieto (24-0-3 20KO): Light Heavyweight
This fight was between two undefeated, yet unknown Light heavyweight boxers for the WBC “Silver” title. It was for all intent and purposes a showcase fight for both fighters to be considered as future opponents for other PBC light heavyweight fighters such as Artur Beterbiev, the main event headliner Lucian Bute or the Lineal Light heavyweight champ, who was also ringside, Adonis Stevenson. Alvarez was the more experienced fighter, being a former Olympian in 2008 and fighting in a gym with the likes of Beterbiev and Jean Pascal. Prieto was fighting for the first time outside of South America.
Alvarez was the more aggressive fighter throughout the fight, throwing and landing more punches.
Both fighters had good exchanges in the early rounds, Alvarez having the faster hands, while Prieto had the harder ones.
Once the second half of the fight started the experience shown through for Alvarez, as he took control of the fight, used his jab more effectively and drained Prieto, who was not use to going into such deep rounds.
By the tenth to final round, Prieto had no more power on his once sharp punches, his arms were at his sides and he was all but done with the fight. Both men showed great chins and resolve,but the hometown Alvarez was able to do more and take a unanimous decision, staying undefeated and now throwing his name in the WBC title lottery.
117-111 (3x) AlvarezUD
Lucian Bute (31-2 24KO) vs. Andrea DiLuisa (17-2 13KO): Light Heavyweight
Lucian Bute is a former Super Middleweight world champion. He has hit a bit of a rough patch, after losing his title to Carl Froch, then moving up in weight and being beaten up by Jean Pascal. After a 19 month layoff from his last fight, Bute was matched up with a very light contender int Andrea Di Luisa, an Italian fighter who was fighting outside of Italy for the first time in his career.
The fight started out slow. Bute looked to be the naturally bigger man, and it took him a couple rounds to actually look comfortable back in the ring and start to throw shots with aggression and begin to double up on punches. But once he did, it was a wash.
Di Luisa had nothing to earn the respect of the bigger and better Bute. Bute took his time, ripping shots to the body and head of Di Luisa.
In the middle of the fourth round Bute landed a hard left cross that sent Di Luisa to his knees and a knockdown. Once he got up, Bute swarmed in for the knockout and the towel came in from the corner to stop the fight.
Bute got the win in his hometown and most importantly the Lineal Light heavyweight champion, Adonis Stevenson, was ringside scouting.
Bute TKO4 1:53
