I like Carl Froch, because he is what you want out of a professional prize fighter.
He only fights top notch competition and win/lose he is throwing hands. He became a name on the boxing scene when he came from behind to KO Jermain Taylor and since then he has been in nothing but exciting fights.
Even though Lucian Bute was coming to his hometown of Nottingham, England, he was still a underdog because he was coming off a loss to Andre Ward (more on him later).
Bute was undefeated coming in, but was fighting a perception that he has been protected and only fought in his hometown.
I give him credit for going to England when he didn’t have to, but it was a terrible decision. He had a horrible game plan, he decided to slug it out it Froch and that was a mistake.
Froch has an iron chin and was able to take Bute punches much better than But was able to take Froch’s punches. In the 3rd round Froch hurt Bute and then it was just a seek and destroy mission.
Bute had to be saved by the bell in the 4th round as Froch battered him against the ropes and then in the 5th round he backed up Bute against the ropes again and just punished him. At one point Bute eyes rolled in the back of his head from a punch.
The ref appeared to stop the fight and the Froch team started to celebrate, but then the ref started to give Bute a count. It didn’t matter thankfully because Bute’s corner threw in the towel (not sure what the rules are in England, but in some states regardless of Bute’s corning throwing in the towel, Froch could have been DQed).
Bute has a rematch clause for a fight in Montreal. It would be a huge money fight, so I am pretty sure he will exercise that clause. I don’t know if Bute was exposed as much as had a bad night and bad gameplan. With time to regroup I do give him a shot in the rematch.
Reporters on the scene started to sing the praises of Andrew Ward since he beat Froch pretty convincingly, but here is the problem with Ward.
He beats opponents by fighting ugly and little to no offense. He holds, grabs and muffles his opponents offense. It gets the W, but it isn’t very fan friendly which is why he has zero fan base and Froch and Bute are selling out crowds.
Just something to consider before you anoint Ward the next big thing.
But, tonight it is about Froch and to the victor go the spoils.
Pics: Rachael Cordingley, Boxer Carl Froch’s Wife