Carl Froch mandatory challenger for Lucian Bute – Boxing news
Carl Froch is now the mandatory challenger to face Lucian Bute by the International Boxing Federation.
Froch’s promoter Eddie Hearn confirmed the news by saying that he has been in regular talks with Lucian Bute’s camp to discuss the match.
Lucian Bute is the super-middleweight title holder right now. Carl Froch, 34, will now be taking on Bute for the super-middleweight title.
Previously, Carl, the two-time former WBC champion, was set for a ‘home and away’ bout with the champion but it never materialised. Froch became the number one contender by completing the Super Six Boxing Classic journey well. If things go well, then the
possible bout between Froch and Bute will be scheduled for May, to take place in Nottingham.
Froch lost to Andre Ward in the Super Six World Boxing Classic finale in December. However, his exhibition of skills compelled IBF to rate him as the number one contender.
His promoter, on this news, asserted, “I'm delighted that Carl has been installed as the mandatory (challenger) for Lucian Bute's next bout. Positive discussions have been ongoing with Interbox since the Super Six final and we hope to get this fight made.
It is Carl's dream to have his next fight in the UK and that is something very important to both of us. After recent discussions, I believe we can bring Lucian here in May and we will be happy to give him the rematch in Canada once Carl has taken the IBF title
from him.”
On the other hand, Bute has the option of turning down this offer for the time being. However, if he does so, he will have to pay a fee of $20,000 to the IBF in order to postpone the fight for the time being.
In addition to the fee, he will be bound to fight Froch after an interim bout. Therefore, it is better for Bute to face Froch now instead of paying the fee and facing him later.
Nevertheless, keeping in mind Froch’s recent performance against Ward, it can be said that Froch has an edge over Bute, who has never lost the home advantage in any of his fights.
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