By Scott Gilfoid: Former IBF super middleweight champion Lucian Bute (30-1, 24 KO’s) is in a must win situation next Saturday night against the tough and hard hitting Russian Denis Grachev (12-0-1, 8 KO’s) at the Bell Centre, in Montreal, Canada.

A loss for Bute will make it all but impossible for him to get his much desired rematch against IBF 168 lb champion Carl Froch, who pulled off an upset win over Bute last May in Nottingham, UK. Bute wants to avenge that defeat but first he has to get over the considerable hurtle of Grachev, a fighter with better power than Froch and about the same slow hand speed.

Bute needs this victory because a loss here would likely sink Bute’s career completely. As it is a lot of boxing fans think Bute is a shot fighter after his performance against Froch in Nottingham. It’s understandable because Bute looked nothing like his former self. He did the opposite of what he usually does when he fights. Instead of moving, Bute stood in one place for five rounds. Instead of staying in the center of the ring, Bute fought with his back against the ropes for the entire five rounds. Instead of looking to elude Froch’s pressure like Bute does against primitive sluggers, Bute stood and tried to punch it out with him and paid the ultimate sacrifice.

Bute can’t do this with Grachev because he hits too hard and there’s too much of a chance that he’ll land a big KO shot against Bute. This is why this fight is so valuable for Bute, because it’ll get him ready for Froch by keeping Bute on his toes and not looking to stand and trade like he did last time he fought.

This is going to be hometown advantage for Bute, so that should help him in a big way because he fights remarkably well when he’s got the crowd on his side.