FROCH VS. BUTE HEADING TO SKY SPORTS

IBF World title fight live from Nottingham on May 26

Matchroom Sport and Sky Sports are delighted to announce that Carl Froch’s IBF super middleweight World title challenge against Lucian Bute on May 26 will be live on Sky Sports 1HD.

Froch faces the undefeated champion in a marquee night of boxing at Nottingham’s Capital FM Arena, with The Cobra gunning to become a three-time World champion in his first fight in his hometown since beating Andre Dirrell in October 2009.

Bute puts his title on the line in the biggest test of his career to date and fight fans will be able to see all the action unfold live on Sky Sports. Froch and Bute’s blockbuster is ably supported by an undercard featuring undefeated Commonwealth super bantamweight king Carl Frampton, Erick ‘The Eagle’ Ochieng defending his English light middleweight title against Nottingham’s AA Lowe, Bute’s fellow Canadian and IBF Inter-Continental light welterweight champion Pier Olivier Cote making his UK debut and exciting unbeaten stars John Ryder, Ryan Aston and Team GB star Scotty Cardle also featuring, and Froch’s promoter Eddie Hearn says that the deal is a winner for boxing fans.

“I’m delighted for fight fans that this blockbusting night for British boxing will be broadcast by Sky Sports,” said Hearn. “The fight will be aired live in over 20 countries and is one of the most anticipated match-ups of the year, finishing off a stunning month of boxing action on Sky and continues Matchroom Sport’s big fight strategy for the 2012 and beyond.”

Barney Francis, managing director of Sky Sports said: “Froch vs. Bute live from the Capital FM Arena in Nottingham in front of Carl’s hometown fans promises to be one of the fights of the year, and it’s part of a great month of boxing on Sky Sports that includes Amir Khan’s rematch with Lamont Peterson, British heavyweight David Price’s clash with Sam Sexton and the latest in the Prizefighter series from Ireland.”

Tickets for Froch’s IBF World super middleweight title challenge to Bute are on sale now priced £80 and £150 from the Capital FM Arena Nottingham website http://www.capitalfmarena.com/  and on 08444 124624 – £40, £60, £100 and £200 tickets have sold-out, as have the VIP packages priced at £300.

FRAMPTON LANDS CHIEF SUPPORT SLOT ON FROCH BILL

Global exposure for Belfast super bantamweight star – Ochieng defends English title – Cote makes UK bow



Carl Frampton will provide the chief support on the undercard of Carl Froch’s IBF World super middleweight title challenge to Lucian Bute in Nottingham on May 26.



The Commonwealth super bantamweight champion will fight at the Capital FM Arena in front of a huge global audience with the event aired by EPIX in the United States and live in more than 20 countries across the world, including the UK, Canada, Spain, Germany, Russia, Japan and in Scandinavia.



The unbeaten 25 year old defended his Commonwealth title for the second time in Sheffield on March 17 with a second round knockout of Ghanaian Prosper Ankrah, following his explosive win over Kris Hughes at York Hall, Bethnal Green in January with a knockout of the year contending right hand in the seventh.



It’s a stacked undercard of young talent with Islington’s Erick ‘The Eagle’ Ochieng defending his English light middleweight title against Nottingham’s AA Lowe, who landed the shot at Ochieng after beating fellow Nottinghamshire fighter Terry Maughan with a fourth round stoppage to claim the British Masters title.



International flavour is added by Bute’s fellow Canadian Pier Olivier Cote and the IBF Inter-Continental light welterweight champion will face Wolverhampton’s Mark Lloyd as Cote fights for the first time in the UK.



Islington’s exciting middleweight star John Ryder is looking to move to 11-0 and faces a tough night against Yorkshire’s Luke Robinson, and fellow Matchroom Sport fighter Ryan Aston also fights on the bill.



Team GB star Scotty Cardle will make his third pro outing and local fighters Leigh Wood and Adnan Amar will also taste the action on a huge night of top class action in their city.



“It’s a great line-up and another chance for Carl Frampton to get massive exposure,” said promoter Eddie Hearn. “The unbeaten super bantamweight star heads an exciting undercard group alongside Erick Ochieng, Pier Olivier Cote, John Ryder, Ryan Aston and Scotty Cardle, who will provide plenty of entertainment to a global TV audience before the mouth-watering main event.”



Tickets for Froch’s IBF World super middleweight title challenge to Bute are on sale now priced £80 and £150 from the Capital FM Arena Nottingham website http://www.capitalfmarena.com/ and on 08444 124624 – £40, £60, £100 and £200 tickets have sold-out, as have the VIP packages priced at £300.