Lucian Bute Knocks Out Brian Magee in the 10th Round

Lucian Bute extended his undefeated record to 28-0 after dropping Brian Magee (34-4-1) with a body shot in the 10th round of their super-middleweight bout. The fight was broadcast on Showtime from Montreal.

Both fighters looked to establish their jabs early, making the first couple rounds very competitive. It took half the bout before Bute was able to showcase a punch that has stopped opponents before.

After dropping Magee in the sixth and seventh round, both due to body shots, Bute started to cease control of the 12-round IBF championship bout. The stoppage came at 2:04 after Bute landed a left hand to the body that put Magee down for the count.

Bute appeared before 12,219 fans at the Bell Centre, a familiar venue to the Romanian-born fighter.

In the televised undercard bout, Pier Olivier Cote (15-0) of Quebec City defeated Michael Lozada (37-8-1) after knocking him down three times in the first round. Lozada was able to survive the first two knockdowns, but a right hand connected flush and the bout was waved off with 10 seconds left in the round.

Cote is scheduled to appear on the undercard of Manny Pacquiao vs. Shane Mosley. The opponent hasn't been announced.

Also fighting tonight, Vanes Martirosyan (29-0) defeated Bladimir Hernandez (18-5) in the second round of their scheduled eight-round light-middleweight bout.

Mikkel Kessler (43-2), who was in attendance for the Bute fight, is the first choice for the 31-year-old in upcoming bouts. The boxer from Denmark is coming off a victory over Carl Froch in the Super-Six tournament but was forced to pull out after suffering an eye injury.

Until then, Bute will continue to fight opponents who are solid but not the elite fighters in the division. Andre Ward, Carl Froch, Glen Johnson and Arthur Abraham are all caught up in the tournament, which should be sorted out before June. The winner is guaranteed a fight with Bute.