Al Bello - Getty Images
Carl Froch has been named the mandatory challenger for Lucian Bute's IBF super middleweight title. (Photo by Al Bello/Getty Images)
In a bit of a surprise twist, the IBF has named Carl Froch its mandatory challenger to the 168-pound title held by Lucian Bute, which means that once again, talks for a Bute vs Froch showdown in April will likely resume.
Bute (30-0, 24 KO) is currently targeting an April 14 date, which had been discussed with Froch's team, but negotiations fell through. They went from negotiating a two-fight deal to a normal, one-fight deal, and then Froch's side decided to put off the fight for the time being. Bute has had no significant discussions for an opponent other than Froch.
Froch (28-2, 20 KO) was last known to be looking at a May 5 date at home in Nottingham, against either Librado Andrade or Noe Gonzalez.
Whether or not being named mandatory challenger changes Froch's desire to fight next at home in the UK is unknown, but InterBox's David Messier says it may be possible to get Bute to go on the road to defend his title against Froch. Bute has always treated mandatory challenges seriously in the past, and the IBF allows for nine months without a mandatory title fight. Bute last fought one of those in July of 2011, against Jean Paul Mendy in Bute's native Romania.
The two sides have 60 days to agree to a fight, and there is a chance the fight could be pushed back to late May if that satisfies one or both parties. To date, Showtime has still shown no interest in carrying the bout, which is bizarre, but the teams were willing to go without them last time that became a potential roadblock.
This news certainly doesn't mean the fight will happen. Bute could request a waiver and pay a $20,000 fee to put off a Froch fight and take a different fight, while still keeping his belt, and that may very well happen, but it's an interesting development about what would be a very interesting fight, and we'll have more as soon as more comes up.
0 recs | 9 comments
Boxing makes no sense
but sometimes it works out for the best.
I’m stunned by this.
Lee Payton - February 8, 2012
A bit surprised by the move by the IBF. But at the same time it’s better for Bute because he wil be able to make, at the same time, a fight without Showtime and with the mandatory challenger. And then, he’ll be free from his obligations with the IBF for another year.
MontrealBoxing - February 9, 2012
I really don’t get this – at all. Clearly they’re planning on holding out for a Bute-Ward fight, but it’s one that neither fighter has shown any genuine enthusiasm for. Really, SHO are stuck in a position where neither fighter needs them, so they can’t force the match up: Bute will still earn a fortune fighting without SHO’s backing because of ticket sales and PPVs in Canada, while Ward can just as easily take himself over to HBO where he’ll be welcomed with open arms. Espinoza might be wise to realise that Bute-Froch presents a very attractive fight that can always open further doors down the line.
Oli Goldstein - February 9, 2012
You’d think, but I don’t even know if that’s all that clear. They apparently were willing to televise Bute-Dirrell instead, but then that was before Dirrell ditched Haymon.
Scott Christ - February 9, 2012
I beg to differ, Bute has been repeatedly saying he wants to fight the winner of the Super Six and after Ward won, he said he was perfectly willing to go to the US, thus considerably reducing his profit.
Radu - February 9, 2012
Makes no sense to me either
One would think they’d want a fight between two exciting fighters who, at worst, are both top 5 in their division and, at best, are both top 20 pound for pound, both of whom are guys the network has made an investment in.
Brickhaus - February 9, 2012 via mobile
There is a lot of noise being made in Montreal, right now, by the fact that Showtime suggested Jean Pascal and that Interbox wasn’t really interested even if fans in Quebec have been waiting for it for too long.
The short list was Hopkins, Ward, Dirrell and Pascal.
MontrealBoxing - February 9, 2012
Dirrell makes so much less sense than Froch
And frankly, Hopkins doesn’t make much sense either.
Brickhaus - February 9, 2012 via mobile
Correction: the list was from when Bute signed his contract in 2010 and contain at least 20 names. Not the same thing.
MontrealBoxing - February 10, 2012
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