By Scott Gilfoid: Andre Dirrell (19-1, 13 KO’s) says he’ll be back in the ring in late November against a top 20 contender, although not a dangerous fighter because this is a tune-up fight for the young talent.

Dirrell will be seeing action for the first time since being fouled by Arthur Abraham last year in March. The time off hasn’t hurt Dirrell’s skills, though, because he’s been looking incredibly sharp in recent sparring with top fighters.

Dirrell was supposed to have been back in the ring this month but there was a delay because his management was trying to find a suitable television spot for him. Late November is the earliest date available to him.

After Dirrell takes care of his tune-up opponent next month, Dirrell plans on going after IBF super middleweight champion Lucian Bute, saying this to eastsideboxing.com’s On the Ropes Boxing Radio Program: “My first target, and I hear he’s even targettting me, but my first target would be Bute. The IBF championshio, I’d love to get a ahot and fight Bute…If he changes his mind..then I’ll probably think of a few words to put in his head to get him to face me. I really want him.”

I think Bute is made for Dirrell. Everything that Bute does, Dirrell does a heck of a lot better. This could be a massacre fight for Dirrell. It would be Bute’s slower hand speed vs. the blazing fast quickness of Dirrell. The only thing Bute has going for him is his uppercut, and believe he won’t be able to lay finger on Dirrell with that punch. They don’t call Dirrell “The Matrix” for nothing. Bute would be nowhere without his uppercut, and that’s really his main weapon. Without that landing, Bute will be dominated by Dirrell.

Dirrell wants the Bute fight early next year, which is definitely doable if Bute can win his next fight on November 5th against Glen Johnson. Dirrell doesn’t have to worry about Andre Ward, because he already said that Bute needs to prove himself against Dirrell and fighters like Arthur Abraham before he’ll consider a fight with him. And Carl Froch will have been beaten by Ward in the Super Six tourney, so he won’t be an option for Bute.