By Luke Furman
Former champion Lucian Bute will remain on course for a 2013 rematch with IBF super middleweight champion Carl Froch. Both boxers took interim fights in the las few weeks. Bute won a tough decision over Denis Grachev, and last Saturday in Nottingham Froch knocked out Yusaf Mack in three rounds. This past May, Froch stopped Bute in five rounds but the rematch will head to the challenger's turf of Montreal.
Bute's trainer felt Mack was drained, after dropping down from light heavyweight for a shot at Froch.
"Mack was not in the best shape for this fight. He had to lose weight to make the limit of 168 pounds and it showed," said Stephan Larouche, the coach of Bute. "Carl Froch is very strong physically. But technically he is not the best. He has flaws that can be used against him."
Bute is not sure when the rematch will happen next year, but he expects it to take place.
"I've always said that I want to face Carl Froch. As a boxer, this is something I definitely want to do. Now, we'll see. Will I face him in the spring? In the fall? We'll see. What is certain is that nothing has changed in my head. I know I can do better than I did in May. I know I'm better than that, I have the tools to make a good fight. So it is certain that I will get the chance to show it," Bute said.
Luke Furman covers boxing for bokser.org
