By Scott Gilfoid: In what could be read as a sign of worry on former WBC super middleweight champion Carl Froch’s part, he says he’s already starting sparring to get ready for his May 26th fight against IBF super middleweight champion Lucian Bute (30-0, 24 KO’s) at the Nottingham Arena, Nottingham, Nottinghamshire, United Kingdom.

Froch, 34, said on Ringside that he usually start his sparring until the 5th week of training camp, but he’s getting off to an early start for this one.

I read that as worry eating away at Froch and getting him to break from his normal routine to try and drive away that worry. I guess I kind of don’t blame him. Froch is really up against it in his fight against the talented Bute, and he needs to use any trick in the book to try and find an extra gear to use to beat Bute. Getting off to an early start in sparring might help, but I doubt it. Froch could end up suffering an injury or leaving his best in the gym during training camp, and have nothing left for the actual fight. You know that happens all the time. You get a guy that’s worrying himself to death about a big fight coming up, and decides to overdo everything to try and get in better condition than his body can handle. He then end up drained and washed out when it comes to the actual fight, and then gets royally spanked. Do I see that happening here? It could be. Froch doesn’t need an early start on sparring.

Froch needs an entire revamp of his fighting style for this bout. He’s got to change things all around completely if he wants to beat Bute.

Here are the things that Froch needs to do to have a sliver of a chance to beat Bute on May 26th:

* Keep his guard up to protect his head instead of letting his arms dangle uselessly by his sides.

* Use his jab a lot more to take advantage of his reach.

* Rough up Bute on the inside, maybe throw him around a little. Don’t be afraid to go primitive on him.

* Be prepared to turn up the gas for specific spots and keep the pressure on during one minute stretches.

* Above all, don’t be predictable. Froch is way too predictable.

Since Froch doesn’t have the hand speed that Andre Dirrell, his brother Anthony or Andre Ward has, Froch has got to set traps, and go after Bute in waves. He’s got to lull him in by playing possum and then open up the valve completely on him when he’s not suspecting it and keep it open for a while.