QUEBEC CITY — Unbeaten Lucian Bute knocked out Librado Andrade in the fourth round here to retain his International Boxing Federation super middleweight world title.
The Romanian-born Bute, who has become a hero in his adopted Canada, dropped the Mexican challenger for the first time in the fourth with a short left to the chin - sending a crowd of 16,000 into a frenzy.
Bute then connected with a left to the midriff that sent Andrade down for the count at 2:57 of the fourth.
Bute improved to 25-0 with 20 knockouts, while Andrade fell to 28-3 with 21 wins inside the distance. Bute said the knockout was just what he had in mind.
"That's what I trained for," said Bute, who wanted to erase the memory of his first fight with Andrade in October of last year. Then, Bute dominated Andrade in Montreal until the final 90 seconds, before the challenger unleashed a desperate comeback that many thought Bute was lucky to escape.
"I haven't felt that good in two years," a joyful Bute said. "Tonight you saw the real Lucian Bute."
Andrade was trying to become the first world champion from Mexico in the super middleweight division.
Bute, meanwhile, demonstrated his strength despite being the only major champion in the division snubbed for the "Super Six" promotion featuring top US and European fighters.
"Tonight was my night," he said. "Everything went as planned."
On the undercard, South Africa's Ali Funeka punished former two-division world champion Joan Guzman but emerged with only a controversial majority draw in a fight for the vacant IBF lightweight title.
One ringside judge scored it 116-112 for Funeka, while the remaining two saw it 114-114 to leave the title still vacant.
Dominican Guzman remained unbeaten with a record of 29-0-1 with 17 wins inside the distance. Funeka moved to 30-2-2 with 25 knockouts.
It was a second North American disappointment for Funeka, who took on American Nate Campbell for the IBF and World Boxing Association lightweight belts in February.
Campbell failed to make weight and was forced to give up the belts. He then beat Funeka to deny the South African's bid to claim the vacant titles.
"I travelled a long way from South Africa to prove I'm the best in the lightweight division," a frustrated Funeka said. "What can I do? I don't even know what I can say."
Copyright © 2009 AFP. All rights reserved.
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