• Carl Froch v Lucien Bute

Froch: Bute has made stupid mistake

ESPN staff
May 25, 2012
Carl Froch was outclassed by Andre Ward last December © PA Photos
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Preview: Focused Froch should better Bute

Carl Froch has warned Lucien Bute, the IBF super-middleweight champion, of the dangers of writing him off ahead of their Nottingham showdown on Saturday.

Froch was well beaten by Andre Ward last time out in the final of the Super Six tournament, leaving many pundits to speculate whether a run of tough battles was beginning to catch up with the Brit.

That was perhaps part of Bute's thinking when he surprisingly agreed to travel to his opponent's hometown to put his belt on the line - and if it was, Froch is vowing to silence suggestions of his decline.

"He's probably brave and stupid, a bit of both, to come here," Froch said. "He's looking at my last fight against Ward and is thinking 'maybe Froch is finished, he's coming off the back of a loss'.

"I don't know what he's thinking in his mind but I just think he's got the safety net of a rematch clause and he's stepping up now to this level. Does he know he can do it or not? I'm not so sure if he's convinced.

"He'll be feeling the nerves and the pressure. He's got a lot to prove and he's got it all to do on Saturday against me in my hometown. It's going to be very difficult for him to get a win in Nottingham."

Froch weighed in 11 stone 13 pounds 5 ounces, while Bute was 11 stone 13 pounds 12 ounces.

© ESPN Sports Media Ltd.
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