• Carl Froch v Lucian Bute

Froch 'pumped' for Bute contest

Carl Froch and Lucian Bute will meet in Nottingham on May 26 © PA Photos

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Carl Froch is exuding confidence ahead of his IBF world super-middleweight title challenge which takes place in his hometown of Nottingham on May 26 against undefeated Romanian Lucian Bute.

It is more than two years since Froch fought in the city of his birth and the prospect of his 'homecoming' along with the opportunity to take Bute's IBF belt mean the 34-year-old is already eagerly anticipating the encounter.

"It's great to be back in Nottingham - it's been too long," said Froch, who completed a media day on Monday to promote the fight. The last time the former WBC super-middleweight champion fought there was in October 2009 when he took a split decision over Andre Dirrell.

"I am so pumped up for the fight and I've got to give Lucian Bute credit. I've given him stick in the past for not fighting the top opposition, he didn't enter the Super Six but he beat who was put in front of him.

"He's not often fought out of his hometown so to put his title on the line in my backyard he's either very confident or very stupid - I think he's very confident and he's the champion, so why not be confident."

Froch will be looking for an impressive display and result as he seeks to bounce back from the second defeat of his career, which came in December to Andre Ward.

"I'm coming into the fight on the back of a loss, and when I did that after the Kessler defeat I was so tuned in to beating Arthur Abraham and it was a whitewash - and that's how I feel about this fight," he said.

"I've got a lot of respect for Lucian - he is a top-level athlete and so am I, there's no needle between us and there doesn't need to be, as the fight speaks for itself."

Bute, who has never fought outside of his native Romania, Canada or the US, said: "I would like to thank Carl for accepting the fight and stepping in the ring with me. Big fights take time to negotiate but I'm glad that this fight has come. Both Carl and I have had similar careers so far, for me it's the right time to come away from home and defend my belt and in my heart I believe I will be victorious.

"I've been criticised for not fighting away from home. I remember when Joe Calzaghe fought away from home at the end of his career he received the respect he deserved for doing that and that's what I am looking to do.

"Carl is a good strong aggressive fighter. He will have 9,000 cheering for him and not many for me. It has all the ingredients for a great fight."

© ESPN Sports Media Ltd.