By Scott Gilfoid: Former WBC super middleweight champion Carl Froch (28-2, 20 KO’s) is about to sign a two-fight deal to fight IBF super middleweight champion Lucian Bute (29-0, 24 KO’s) in a contract where only the first fight is guaranteed and that’s the one that takes place in Montreal, Canada where Bute fights.

It’s a huge advantage for Bute, but Froch no longer has any bargaining power after getting whipped by WBA super middleweight champion Andre Ward last month. Froch is now just normal run of the mill contender trying to hustle fights and unfortunately when you’re not the champion you got to take what’s offered.

Froch’s promoter Eddie Hearn says he’s a little undecided to take the Bute deal or take fight in Nottingham against someone else. Hearn told the Press Association “It’s just whether we do that [agree to the two-fight deal with Bute] or we do a big fight in Nottingham at the end of April, a homecoming. Which route do we go for?”

Let me be the expert on this. I think I know Froch’s style pretty well and know his limitations. I’m also quite familiar with Bute as well having seen most of his fights in the past four years, and I must say I think it’s a stupid idea to fight Bute in Canada, whether that be 2nd fight or 1st fight. There’s too much risk involved because even if you knock the guy out, you still might lose. And forget all about winning a decision; that’s not going to happen.

Bute will be hitting and running all night long and even if Froch did get the better of him, do you really think Froch will get the decision in Canada? It’s not worth taking the fight with Bute unless it’ a neutral venue. We saw what happened with Librado Andrade in Canada in his first fight with Bute. Do you want that to happen to Froch as well? Besides all that, Froch doesn’t have the kind of style that can cope with a hit and run fighter like Bute.

The kinds of fighters that do well against Bute are the Anthony Dirrell, Andre Dirrell and Andre Ward. Those guys would nullify Bute’s hit and run game real quick by hitting him first with lightning shots when he comes in to throw one of his uppercuts and then run. You need speedy guys like the Dirrells and Ward to take care of Bute and send him into the contender ranks where he belongs. He can then feel okay about facing opposition as a contender for as long as he likes and no one will complain any more.

Froch is much better off staying in Nottingham for a tune-up fight and then wait on a rematch with Mikkel Kessler after he beats WBO super middleweight champion Robert Stieglitz in April. Kessler is a far better fight and a winnable one. At least Kessler doesn’t hit and run like Bute, and you don’t have to worry about the judging and/or the referee as much in Denmark fighting Kessler.