By Keith Idec
Carl Froch has a genuine respect for Glen Johnson, but he doesn’t think the former undisputed light heavyweight champion can upset Lucian Bute.
England’s Froch, who defeated Johnson in relatively easy fashion June 4 in Atlantic City, believes Bute will remain undefeated after facing Johnson on Nov. 5.
“I just think Johnson’s maybe seen better days,” Froch said after a press conference in Manhattan to promote his Oct. 29 fight against Andre Ward. “He’ll give Bute problems, but Bute will ultimately win a points decision.”
Froch figures Johnson, 42, would’ve beaten Bute had they squared off several years ago. After facing an aged Johnson less than two months ago, though, the WBC super middleweight champ cannot envision the Romanian-born, Quebec-based Bute losing to “The Road Warrior.”
Bute, a brutal body puncher, is 31, three years younger than Froch.
“A few years ago, you know Johnson would’ve probably walked through him, took him into the trenches and got a decision against him, maybe even stopped him,” Froch said. “Because he punches hard, Johnson does. But I just think at 42, he fades later on. I noticed that in my fight. To be totally honest, he faded in rounds 10, 11 and 12. But that was partly due to the fact that I was hitting him with a lot of shots.”
Bute (29-0, 24 KOs) and Johnson (51-15-2, 35 KOs) will meet in a 12-round fight for Bute’s IBF super middleweight title. The fight, which Showtime will televise, will be held either at Bell Centre in Montreal or Pepsi Coliseum in Quebec City.
Keith Idec covers boxing for The Record and Herald News, of Woodland Park, NJ., and BoxingScene.com.