Froch set for Bute in London

Setanta Sports Ciaran Baynes5th June, 2009

Carl Froch believes he will next meet Lucien Bute at the O2 Arena on September 5, if he cannot fight Bernard Hopkins.

The Cobra's next bout will be shown by Showtime in the United States after his sensational stoppage win over Jermain Taylor in April.

A meeting with Montreal-based IBF champion Lucien Bute would give Froch plenty of exposure and, with Mikkel Kessler's inactivity, a good claim to be the number one 168lb fighter in the world.

However in an ideal world he would want to fight Hopkins, who despite being 43 is coming off an incredible win over Kelly Pavlik.

"We're looking for the 5th September and It will be Lucien Bute or Bernard Hopkins - probably Lucien Bute," Froch told BBC East Midlands.

"If thats a fight that can be made then that's the one I'll go for because that would be very good financially and it would get my name

in the headlines in Las Vegas."

Despite Bute's tremendous local support in Montreal, economics rule that a fight would take place in England and the British weather means the WBC champion will not realise his dream yet of fighting at Nottingham Forest's City Ground.

"If it's Bute it will be in England," Froch added. "Whether it will be in the Nottingham Trent Arena I don't know - it might not have the capacity.

"I'd love to have it in the City Ground but in September with the British weather, you've got no chance.

"If it's England it will be the O2 Arena in London, if it's Hopkins it will be Las Vegas."

-->