Carl Froch Vows: Bute Will Be One of My Best Fights!

Carl Froch insists he will go into his showdown with Lucian Bute in the prime of his career, despite the fact he is approaching his 35th birthday. The Nottingham fighter will be hoping to bounce back from his defeat to Andre Ward in the Super Six final when he takes on the unbeaten Romanian on May 26 in a bout that will be screened live on Sky Sports HD.

Froch has now been defeated twice in the past two years - losing out to both Mikkel Kessler and Ward in unanimous decisions. But the former WBC super-middleweight world champion, who will be challenging for Bute's IBF title in May, has brushed off suggestions that he is past his best.

"It is a massive fight for me. I'm 35 in July, but I don't think age has much of a bearing if you look after yourself between fights which I do," Froch told Sky Sports.

"You have to concentrate and the recovery takes a bit longer so it probably feels harder, but you're probably doing the same work but it feels a bit harder, so mentally you have to dig in a bit more. I think this fight against Bute has the makings of a real, real showdown. Probably one of my best fights.

"When I fight I'm in there to entertain, I'm looking for the finish, looking for the knockout. I'm not ducking and holding, I'm looking at putting on a real good show. And I think against Lucian Bute, he boxes and moves, he can punch a bit, I think this fight against Bute has the makings of a real, real showdown. Probably one of my best fights."