• Carl Froch v Lucian Bute

Froch to use defeat as fuel for Bute

ESPN staff
March 27, 2012
Carl Froch has his eyes trained on Lucian Bute © PA Photos
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Carl Froch has warned Lucian Bute his "engine will be on full speed" when he attempts to wrestle the IBF super-middleweight belt away from the Romanian-born champion.

Froch is bidding to get his career back on track after being well beaten by Andre Ward in the final of the Super Six tournament in December. Bute, who has never fought outside of his native Romania, Canada or the US, is undefeated and is likely to ask many questions of the Cobra when the pair meet in Nottingham on May 26.

The last time Froch fought on the back of a loss was against Arthur Abraham in November 2010, Froch turning on the style to beat the Germany-based fighter on a unanimous decision.

With defeat still fresh in the mind, Froch is motivated to restore his bruised reputation, and the 34-year-old says he is confident of repeating the performance he gave against Arthur after losing his WBC title to Mikkel Kessler in April 2010.

"This match with Bute is exactly the challenge I needed," he was quoted by boxingscene.com. "Fans remember how, after the defeat to Kessler, I returned with my engine on full speed [against Abraham] and I won the belt again. It will happen again with Bute in Nottingham, which is my home.

"I have great respect for Lucian, but I'm prepared to do whatever is humanly possible to win. I do not believe in miracles, but my manager has made a miracle with Bute, by persuading him to come out of Montreal and come [over to fight me in Nottingham]."

© ESPN Sports Media Ltd.
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