Lucian Bute to rely on experience against WBC champ Badou Jack

Lucian Bute is running out of chances to become a world champion again.

The Canadian super middleweight faces World Boxing Council champ Badou Jack next Saturday in Washington, D.C., on a Showtime-televised card. Bute is coming off a 12-round unanimous decision loss to International Boxing Federation champion James DeGale on Nov. 28 in Quebec City and has lost three of his past five fights.

“The pressure won’t be on me because I’ll be on his turf in Washington,” said Bute, a former IBF champion. “He is the favorite because he’s the champion, but I’m confident and I’m able. We looked at some video of him. He’s a good boxer, but he’s not exceptional, and he makes mistakes.

”I have experience. This will be my 13th world championship fight. My experience and my speed will make the difference.”

Bute (32-3, 25 knockouts) has spent the past year working with Howard Grant as his trainer. He admits he wasn’t at his best against DeGale, but says he’s now more comfortable with Grant in his corner.

“(Grant) already knows me well and pushes me to go beyond my limits,” Bute said. “We’ve developed a trusting relationship, and I feel very comfortable working alongside him.”

Jack (20-1-1, 12 KOs) wants to unify the belts at 168 pounds. If he and DeGale successfully defend their titles — DeGale meets Rogelio Medina on the same card — a unification fight could follow.

Not so fast, Bute said.

“My confidence level wasn’t at 100 percent before I fought James DeGale, but now it’s all back after performing the way I did against him,” he said. “All the better for me if Badou Jack is already looking ahead to his next fight, is taking me for granted and is underestimating me. I know for my part that I can beat him. I’m going there to deliver and bring the belt back to Quebec.”

Canelo-Khan officials

Kenny Bayless of Las Vegas was named the referee for the WBC middleweight title fight between champion Canelo Alvarez and Amir Khan on May 7 at T-Mobile Arena.

The judges for the HBO Pay Per View card will be Adalaide Byrd and Glenn Trowbridge of Las Vegas and Glenn Feldman of Connecticut.

Pacquiao-Bradley numbers

The April 9 welterweight fight between Manny Pacquiao and Timothy Bradley Jr. did not sell out the MGM Grand Garden nor do well on HBO Pay Per View.

The official attendance was 13,046 with a gate of $6,411,584, according to figures from the Nevada Athletic Commission. It was the lowest attendance and gate of the three fights between the two.

The official pay-per-view numbers have not been released, but they will be fewer than 500,000 buys, according to Top Rank chairman Bob Arum. He had said he thought the fight would do around 700,000. The first fight in 2012 did 890,000, and the 2014 rematch did 750,000 to 800,000.

Tabiti headlines

Cruiserweight Andrew Tabiti will headline the Mayweather Promotions card May 13 at Sam’s Town. Tabiti (12-0, 11 KOs) will face Keith Tapia (16-0, 11 KOs) in a 10-round bout that will be televised on SHOBox: The New Generation.

On the undercard, Las Vegas cruiserweight Michael Hunter (11-0, eight KOs) will face Isiah Thomas (15-0, six KOs) in a 10-round bout.

Tickets, priced at $50 and $25, are on sale at Boyd Gaming box offices and at samstownlv.com/entertain.

Contact Steve Carp at scarp@reviewjournal.com or 702-387-2913. Follow on Twitter: @stevecarprj