• Carl Froch v Lucien Bute

Calzaghe tips Bute to better Froch

ESPN staff
May 15, 2012
Joe Calzaghe: 'Lucien Bute would not have come to England unless he was confident' © PA Photos
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Carl Froch needs to drag Lucien Bute into a war if he is to snatch the IBF super-middleweight crown on May 26 in Nottingham, according to Joe Calzaghe.

Froch was outclassed in his last bout, surrendering the WBC crown to Andre Ward, but has bounced straight into a world-title showdown against unbeaten Romanian/Canadian Bute.

Pundits have struggled to split them: Bute is yet to taste defeat, while Froch has consistently been in with a higher level of opposition - so the feeling is that the partisan Nottingham crowd could make the difference for the challenger.

And Calzaghe, who retired from boxing in 2009, is thinking along similar lines, urging Froch to turn the contest into a real tear-up.

"Bute's definitely the favourite but home advantage does count for a lot," Calzaghe told the Sun. "If Froch can drag him into a war and make it a toe-to-toe affair, I can see the crowd spurring him on to the win.

"All I would say is that Bute wouldn't have come to England unless he was confident. It's going to be a tough, tough night, but I think Froch has got a chance."

© ESPN Sports Media Ltd.
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