• Carl Froch v Lucien Bute

Froch in his 'prime' at 34

ESPN staff
April 21, 2012
Perhaps unfortunately for Lucien Bute, Carl Froch says he feels in the prime of his boxing life © PA Photos
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Carl Froch believes he is 'very much in my prime' as the 34-year-old prepares for his IBF super-middleweight clash with Lucien Bute on May 26.

The Nottingham fighter will take on the Canada-based Romanian for the belt in his hometown as he looks to bounce back from his second professional defeat, which came at the hands of Andre Ward last time out.

Acknowledging that he is now not at an age most people would consider as being peak, Froch insists that he feels in the best shape of his career.

"It is a massive fight for me. I'm 35 in July, but I don't think age has much of a bearing if you look after yourself between fights which I do," Froch told Sky Sports.

"You have to concentrate and the recovery takes a bit longer so it probably feels harder, but you're probably doing the same work but it feels a bit harder, so mentally you have to dig in a bit more.

"But physically you can keep going into your late 30s, even your 40s if you keep yourself well. Bernie Hopkins is 47, he's almost a freak of nature to be 47 and still fighting.

"I really don't think I will be fighting then.

"But at 34 I feel very much in my prime, a lot of it has to do with how you treat yourself, whether you smoke or drink and the food you eat, but I do everything right."

After being beaten convincingly by Ward, Froch says it was imperative he returned to action and dispelled any doubts over his ability instead of calling it a day.

"It was a very tricky, horrible fight. It's not a point to prove, but for myself I wouldn't want to finish my career on a fight like that," he said.

"It was so awkward and messy. Don't get me wrong, Andre is a great fighter and he beat me fair and square, he was very good on the night.

"But his trickery and his defensive skills mean he's awkward and very hard to hit, which means he's good because he's hard to hit but it doesn't make for an entertaining fight.

"When I fight I'm in there to entertain, I'm looking for the finish, looking for the knockout. I'm not ducking and holding, I'm looking at putting on a real good show.

"And I think against Lucian Bute, he boxes and moves, he can punch a bit, I think this fight against Bute has the makings of a real, real showdown. Probably one of my best fights."

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