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By James Slater: It has been announced how Super-middleweight rivals Carl Froch and Lucian Bute have agreed to fight a return match next year in Montreal, but that the two will fight opponents to be determined first, in November of this year.
Britain’s Froch ripped the IBF 168-pound title from the previously unbeaten Bute with a terrific performance in May, and the rematch clause ahead of the fight in Nottingham allowed Bute to demand a chance at revenge.
The 31-year-old southpaw could have demanded the next go at “The Cobra,” yet most fans felt he would have been unwise to have done so in light of how badly he was beaten up in those five one-sided rounds on May 26th.
And so it has been agreed that the two will fight selected opponents – Froch in the U.K, Bute in either Montreal or Quebec City – in November..
The promoters of both warriors say they hope to announce the November opponents soon.
Froch, as his fans know, is hoping to entice Mikkel Kessler to England for a return of their epic 12-rounder of April 2010. The only other loss on Froch’s record (next to the points defeat at the hands of Andre Ward), the close points loss to the Danish star is something that burns at the three-time champ. If this rematch can happen (a rematch that is, in my opinion, much bigger and more exciting than a Froch-Bute II), it will be yet another essential night for all U.K boxing fans.
As for Bute, it will be interesting to see who he chooses to face in his comeback fight. So far, no opponent has been mentioned, and it’s possible Bute will need a relatively “safe” foe against which to return. After all, Bute was badly shaken up by Froch; his cloak of invincibility ripped from him in his first big fight away from home.
Hopefully, though, both guys will win their November fights, and then get it on in a big fight for Canada in the spring or summer of next year. Froch will have to travel as he attempts to smash Bute for a second time, but will it matter? Is there any way Bute can reverse such a one-sided and punishing loss?
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We should find out in 2013