CARL FROCH BATTERS BUTE TO BECOME THREE TIME WORLD CHAMPION
By Ronnie Nathanielsz
PhilBoxing.com
Sun, 27 May 2012
Britain?s 34 year old Carl Froch battered Canada?s Lucien Bute to win the IBF super middleweight title before a joyous hometown crowd at the Capital FM Arena in Nottingham, England, Sunday.
Froch who was a clear underdog had far too much power for Bute whom he savaged in the third round and had the defending champion in deep trouble before being saved by the bell in round four.
Froch continued to hammer Bute at the start of the fifth before Bute?s cornermen jumped in to save him from further punishment as referee Earl Brown was giving Bute a standing eight count.
It was Bute?s tenth defense of the title he won in 2007 but it was only his second defense outside his adopted country, Canada while Froch was fighting for the first time since losing a twelve round unanimous decision in the finals of the Showtime Super Six tournament to the classy American Andre Ward on December 17, 2011.
Froch won the vacant WBC title with a twelve round unanimous decision over Jean Pascal on December 6, 2008 but lost in his third title defense by a twelve round unanimous decision to Mikkel Kessler on April 24, 2010 before regaining the title with a twelve round unanimous decision over Arthur Abraham on November 27, 2010.
Froch told BBC Sports in a post fight interview "A lot of people wrote me off. The bookies got it wrong, and a lot of people in Nottingham have won some money tonight.?
He said "I could not afford to be lazy and flat-footed. Big respect to Lucian, he can punch, and he hit me with some good shots in there. But I came back."
BBC Sport believes that Froch's victory cements his place in the pantheon of British greats and one of the greatest 168lb fighters in history.
Bute had a rematch clause in his contract in case of a defeat but given the one-sided nature of the fight, it is doubtful whether he will want to face Froch again, even on home turf.
After the bout Froch announced he had considered retiring if he lost but BBC Sports reported that the stunning nature of his performance suggests he still has plenty of options.
Should Bute choose not to take the rematch, a meeting with Denmark's Mikkel Kessler, who beat Froch in April 2010 would fit the bill, while the Englishman's ultimate goal is a second fight with Ward in Las Vegas.
Click here to view a list of other articles written by Ronnie Nathanielsz.
Recent PhilBoxing.com In-House articles:
Carlos De Leon Castro Stays Perfect with Explosive TKO Win in Orlando on DAZN
Thu, 06 Nov 2025Donaire in historic bid
By Joaquin Henson, Thu, 06 Nov 2025BROADCAST DETAILS ANNOUNCED FOR CMH2: BADOU JACK VS. NOEL MIKAELIAN
Thu, 06 Nov 2025Top prospect Marco Romero A victim of dramatic changes in Today’s professional boxing world
Thu, 06 Nov 2025Closing of registration on Nov. 15 for SDSPPO TWG-PAGPTD Run in Tandag
By Lito delos Reyes, Thu, 06 Nov 2025Rafael Espinoza-Arnold Khegai & Tenshin Nasukawa-Takuma Inoue Blockbuster Cards to Stream LIVE on Top Rank Classics FAST Channel
Thu, 06 Nov 2025JUSTIN LACEY-PIERCE OUTLASTS COURTNEY PENNINGTON IN DETROIT
Wed, 05 Nov 2025The José Sulaimán Boxers’ Fund continues supporting fighters worldwide
By Gabriel F. Cordero, Wed, 05 Nov 2025NBA Daily: Sans Injured Young, Hawks Still Dominate Magic 127-112
By Reylan Loberternos, Wed, 05 Nov 2025Kamatyas FIDE Rapid chess on Nov 8
By Marlon Bernardino, Wed, 05 Nov 2025WBC lifts the suspension imposed on Ryan Garcia
By Gabriel F. Cordero, Wed, 05 Nov 2025Siargao pug bags silver in Batang Pinoy
By Lito delos Reyes, Wed, 05 Nov 2025Marcial-Colmenares Middleweight Bout Steals Show at Thrilla in Manila 50th Year (Part 2 of 2)
By Teodoro Medina Reynoso, Wed, 05 Nov 2025Brown vs. Seldin for the WBA Super Lightweight Interim World Title
Wed, 05 Nov 2025FRANCIS LAFRENIÈRE MAKES COMEBACK NOV 29
Wed, 05 Nov 2025