The Cobra battles Canadian Bute for World title in first hometown fight in over two years
Carl Froch will challenge Lucian Bute for the IBF World super middleweight title at the Capital FM Arena in Nottingham on May 26.
The Nottingham star will fight in his hometown for the first time since October 2009 against the unbeaten Canadian-based Romanian who will defend his belt for the tenth time against The Cobra.
Froch comes back home after fighting the best in the business on the road as part of the Super Six World Boxing Classic, facing Mikkel Kessler in Denmark, Arthur Abraham in Finland and a semi-final and final in Atlantic City against Glen Johnson and Andre Ward.
The 34 year-old has championed a huge hometown show since teaming up with new promoter Eddie Hearn and he is delighted to be back fighting in front of a home crowd.
“It’s a dream come true to get this opportunity to become a three-time World Champion in my hometown of Nottingham,” said Froch. “The Super Six was an incredible journey for me but I missed fighting in the UK and it was important that Eddie and I made that happen and for it to be for a World title is the icing on the cake. I’m ready to go to war all over again.”
“It’s my goal to fight the best boxers in super middleweight division,” said Bute. “Carl Froch belongs in the elite of the super middleweight division and it will be a great fight. I am very confident and it will not faze me fighting in enemy territory. Supporters of Carl Froch will live their greatest disappointment. The IBF belt will fly roundtrip Montreal-Nottingham and back!”
“We are delighted to have agreed terms for what I believe will be the biggest night for British boxing in many years,” said Hearn. “I have to respect Lucian and his team for agreeing to enter the Lion’s Den and face Carl in his hometown of Nottingham but am fully confident that Carl can become a World champion again on this epic night.”
“We really wanted to press forward with this fight,” said InterBox’s president, Jean Bedard. “We’ve been insistent, made some concessions, but it was important to realise this is a fight that Lucian, our fans and our partners wanted. Also, I am convinced that Lucian will silence the critics. Lucian is showing great courage in agreeing to defend his title in enemy territory.”
“It is great news that Carl has landed this fight as it is one that we have wanted for a long time” said Froch’s trainer Rob McCracken. “I have always been confident that Carl will beat Lucian, and I will have him fully prepared and in the best possible shape on May 26.”
“Lucian has already fought outside Canada in his professional career,” said Bute’s trainer, Stephan Larouche. “This is a great challenge ahead for him on May 26 and Lucian will perform to his fullest as he always does. The style of these two incredible fighters will make for an explosive fight that I am sure boxing fans around the world won’t want to miss.”
Froch vs. Bute is definitely an intriguing, worthy clash, and will let everyone see just how Bute will stack up against top-flight competition in the division. The fight everyone is waiting for is still Andre Ward vs. Lucian Bute, but Bute vs. Froch is a worthy placeholder in the meantime. The fact that Bute is leaving his Canadian comfort zone and traveling to the U.K. adds a whole new element to the bout as well, and makes Bute vs. Froch that much more interesting, too.
