Undefeated International Boxing Federation (IBF) super middleweight champion Lucian Bute will make his 10th world title defense when he battles two-time World Boxing Council super middleweight champion Carl “The Cobra” Froch, Saturday, May 26. Promoted by Matchroom Sport, Ltd. and InterBox, the Bute vs. Froch World Super Middleweight Championship will be televised live in the U.S., from Nottingham Arena, in Nottingham, England, exclusively on EPIX, the multiplatform premium entertainment service. EpixHD.com will stream the fight live as part of a special free trial offer for boxing fans.
These two gladiators boast a combined record of 59-2 (44 KOs) – a 97% winning percentage and a 75% victory by knockout ratio.
As has become the custom, EPIX will once again present the closed-captioned simulcast of this world championship rumble on the jumbotron in Times Square in New York City (Broadway between 44th and 45th).
“EPIX is very pleased with the fan reaction and audience growth of its series of exclusive live U.S. telecasts of world championship fights. The fireworks Bute vs. Froch will produce is the perfect follow up to our unprecedented heavyweight championship trilogy which featured Wladimir Klitschko, Vitali Klitschko and Alexander Povetkin defending their world titles over three consecutive weeks,” said Travis Pomposello, EPIX CCO and executive producer of EPIX Sports.
“I am very pleased that boxing fans in the United States won’t miss this war between Carl Froch and me. I want to thank the EPIX network for broadcasting this fight. I am training very seriously to face Carl Froch and I look forward to defending my title for the 10th time. May 26th is going to be a great night of boxing!” said Bute.
“I’m thrilled that EPIX has taken on my fight with Lucian. I have a lot of fans across the pond and it is important that they get to see this fight live. It’s going to be a great atmosphere in my hometown on the night because it’s been so long since I’ve boxed there and I think people will be impressed at the noise and passion my fans show when they turn out in force – along with the class inside the ring on the night, it’s going to be a must see event,” said Froch.
“The enthusiasm and momentum building for this event is huge. We are very happy and proud that EPIX will present one of the best fights of 2012 in the world, live to boxing fans across United States. It was important for InterBox that Lucian get as much exposure throughout the World as possible,” said Jean Bedard, President of InterBox.
“We’re delighted to be teaming up with EPIX on this fight. It’s a massive night in World Championship boxing and I am sure that EPIX will do a great job presenting what is arguably the fight of the year,” said Eddie Hearn, Group Managing Director of Matchroom Sport, Ltd.
Bute (30-0, 24 KOs), a newly-minted Canadian Citizen, is a native of Galat, Romania who now fights out of Montréal, Québec, Canada. When he travels to Froch’s backyard in Nottingham it will be the first time Bute has not fought in Canada or Romania since 2004. A southpaw known for his two-fisted punching power and counterpunching prowess, Bute is in the fifth year of his world championship reign. He captured the world title in 2007, knocking out defending champion Alejandro Berrio in the 11th round of their ferocious fight.
Seven of Bute’s nine consecutive title defense victories have been by stoppage, including former world champion William Joppy, and top-rated contenders Librado Andrade, Edison Miranda, Jean-Paul Mendy and Fulgencio Zuniga. His recent six-bout victory by knockout streak ended in November with his unanimous decision victory over former world champion Glenn Johnson. Bute’s performance was so dominating he won all 12 rounds on two judges’ cards and 11 or 12 rounds on the third card with scores of 120-108, 120-108, and 119-109
Froch (28-2, 20 KOs), of Nottingham, England, is a pressure fighter known for his aggressive style and exceptional skills and movement. It would be hard to find another fighter in this division who has fought the caliber of opposition Froch has faced. He captured his first world title – the vacant WBC super middleweight championship – in 2008, winning a unanimous decision over future world champion Jean Pascal in a battle of undefeated contenders. Froch successfully defended the title twice in 2009, knocking out former world champion Jermain Taylor in the 12th round and winning a split decision over undefeated No. 1 contender Andre Dirrell.
After losing the title in 2010 to Mikkel Kessler via a close but unanimous decision, Froch regained the WBC title later that year with a unanimous decision victory over former world champion Arthur Abraham. After successfully defending the title against Glen Johnson in June 2011, Froch lost his crown last December to undefeated WBA super middleweight champion and 2011 Fighter of the Year Andre Ward, in a title unification fight, via a close unanimous decision.
This is great news for boxing fans, as Showtime had decided it wasn’t going to air the Bute vs. Froch fight. It’s a meaningful, intriguing and hopefully exciting fight though, so it certainly deserved to be televised here in the United States. EPIX stepped up to the plate and landed one of the biggest fights they will have had on their network to date.
