Boxing 24/7: Watch Live : Froch vs Bute

Bute and Froch plan to come together in what will be a sure-fire hit on May 26.

Lucian Bute has a highlight reel of 24 wonderful knockouts. He plans to make Englishman Carl Froch his 25th victim.

Here’s what they had to say:
Froch has been put in this spot because of his name rather than recent performance. He is just 2-2 in his last four fights, including a loss against No. 1 super middleweight Andre Ward last December that cost him the WBC Super Middleweight Championship.

Carl Froch: “It’s great to be back in Nottingham – it’s been too long. 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. 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. 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.”

Lucian Bute: “Very happy and excited to be here today – 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 fight.”