Lucian Bute Will KO Magee Tonight -- Would Get Brutalized by Sergio Martinez

IBF super-middleweight champion Lucian “Mister KO” Bute will defend his crown tonight against Irishman Brian Magee at the Bell Centre in his adopted hometown of Montreal, Quebec.

Bute (27-0, 22 KOs), a native of Romania who has long resided in Canada’s second largest city, hasn’t fought since he beat Jesse Brinkley by a ninth round TKO in October to retain his belt.

Michael D’Avirro was born and raised in Montreal and, like virtually all Canucks, he is an enormous fan of Bute’s.

“I love Bute because he fights out of my town,” said D’Avirro, 26, who has lived in Brighton since he started taking classes at Boston University in 2002. “But, Bute’s fighting style isn’t really up my alley. I like brawls and Bute puts on boxing clinics. Hopefully, tonight will be different.”

Bute is a very skillful boxer who has posed many opponents problems in the ring with his southpaw stance.

Provided Bute manages to trump Magee (34-3-1, 24 KOs), potential future adversaries include Andre Ward, Mikkel Kessler and electrifying WBC super welterweight king Sergio Martinez.

"I'm only concentrating on Saturday night, Brian Magee, a good performance and a win. I'll worry about Kessler and anybody else after I win this fight,'' said Bute, 31. "The fact that Kessler is going to be ringside is not going to affect my performance at all.''

Bute could beat Kessler and he may be capable of outperforming Ward on a given evening.

On the contrary, Bute wouldn’t have a prayer versus Martinez (47-2-2, 26 KOs), the man Ring Magazine ranks as the number three pound-for-pound boxer in the world.

Bute is wise to strictly focus on his bout with Magee.

Magee expressed a lack of concern that the crowd will be in rabid support of Bute.

"At the end of the day, there are only two fighters in the ring. I've been an away fighter all my life, so it doesn't make a difference,'' said Magee, 35. "I'm just so used it now, you know? It's just the way things are.''

However, the contest will be held during the weekend of Sunday’s scheduled St. Patrick’s Day parade in the “City of Mary.”

If Magee somehow emerges triumphant, he will celebrate with “A pint of Guinness, of course.”

Unfortunately for Magee, he won’t be able to enjoy a pint of Guinness in jubilation.

“Mister KO” will knockout Magee within nine rounds later this evening.