FROCH ROARED TO THE SCALES AHEAD OF BUTE SHOWDOWN

Duo greeted by mass of fans at the official weigh-in for IBF Title clash

Carl Froch and Lucian Bute weighed-in for their IBF super middleweight World title fight in front of the Capital FM Arena live on Sky Sports News.

The pair will clash for the belt at midnight in the Arena tomorrow night, and in blazing sunshine in front of a throng of Froch and Bute fans, both made the weight for the highly anticipated clash.

Undefeated champion Bute tipped the scales at 11st 13lb 12oz after hometown hero Froch came in at 11st 13lb 5oz. Both men were well supported in the shadow of the venue for the fight, which has finally arrived for both men.

“I’m buzzing now, that was a great reception and I want to thank the fans for turning out in force,” said Froch. “It’s a huge night for me, the biggest in my career – back in front of my people with this guy thinking he can come here and beat me – that’s just not happening.

“I’m on the edge of super stardom here – the chance to become a three-time World champion in Nottingham. I cannot let that go and I will pour every ounce of energy into taking that belt off him.”

The first bell for tomorrow night’s action is at 6.30pm, with Froch and Bute fighting at midnight.

Less than 100 tickets remain for the fight – they will be available to purchase at the Capital FM Arena Box Office tomorrow.

Official weights:

LUCIAN BUTE (11st 13lb 12oz) v CARL FROCH (11st 13lb 5oz)

CARL FRAMPTON (8st 9lb 8oz) v RAUL HIRALES (8st 9lb 7oz)

PIER-OLIVER COTE (10st 2lb 4oz) v MARK LLOYD (10st 3lb 9oz)

ERICK OCHIENG (10st 12lb 9oz) v AA LOWE (10st 12lb 8oz)

JOHN RYDER (11st 6lb 4oz) v LUKE ROBINSON (11st 8lb 7oz)

RYAN ASTON (11st 7lb 14oz) v PAUL SAMUELS (11st 4lb 1oz)  

ADNAN AMAR (11st 4lb 3oz) v TERRY CARRUTHERS (11st 3lb 6oz)

FROCH TELLS FIGHT FANS: FRAMPTON IS A FUTURE WORLD CHAMP

The Cobra urges Nottingham fans to back Belfast star in chief support bout

Carl Froch believes Carl Frampton is a World champion in waiting – and has backed the super bantamweight star to wow the Froch Army on Saturday night in the Capital FM Arena, live on Sky Sports HD1 and in 3D.

Frampton fights for the vacant IBF Inter-Continental title against fellow unbeaten young gun Raul Hirales from Mexico as the chief support to Froch’s IBF World super middleweight title challenge to Lucian Bute, and The Cobra believes Frampton can be a big hit with the fans.

“In a way it’s a shame my fight is right after Frampton’s as I love watching that kid fight,” said Froch. “He’s got bags of skill, is as tough and an Ox and he can really bang. I’ve seen him at close quarters a few times now and everyone he’s faced has just not been able to live with him. I know Barry McGuigan (Frampton’s manager) rates him very highly and he knows a thing or two about boxing.

“Obviously it’s a huge night in my career but Frampton is the future and even though he’s a Belfast lad, I think my fans will love the way he boxes and I hope they get behind him when he fights because they can say they were there early in his career when he goes all the way to the top – which I really believe he will.”

Frampton is 13-0 with nine wins inside the distance and the Commonwealth champion looks set to fight for major honours later in the year. The 25 year old is on a collision course with European champ Kiko Martinez and he believes a win in his toughest test to date on Saturday will seal the deal.

“A good win here and it could lead to a good ranking in the IBF and then you can start plotting a route to the World title,” said Frampton. “There are guys out there on the World stage that I am not yet ready for, but there's not many in that category, only a handful. I believe I'm the best in Britain and in Europe and I want to get the chance to prove that.

“It means a lot that Carl rates me – I’m a huge fan of his and there is so much to admire about him, both the way he boxes and his approach to the sport in general. He only fights the best and his record reads like a who’s who of the best boxers in the World. That must be the blueprint for all fighters and it’s certainly the route I want to take.

“I know Carl’s fans really got behind Kell Brook when he was the chief support for his Super Six Final in Atlantic City and I hope that they like the look of me and give me a great reception. I can assure them I will pay them back in the ring.

“Hirales comes to fight and he meets you head on which is what I want to face, someone to come and fight me – I don't feel like anyone has actually done that so far and it's frustrating because I haven't been able to show my best.”

Extremely limited tickets for Froch’s IBF World super middleweight title challenge to Bute with Frampton vs. Hirales as chief support are on sale now priced £60, £100 and £150 from the Capital FM Arena Nottingham website www.capitalfmarena.com and on 08444 124624. £40, £80, £200 and £300 tickets are now all sold-out.

CARL FROCH REPRESENTS 888POKER.COM

Online gaming giant backs Froch’s IBF World title clash

Carl Froch is personally representing 888poker.com – and fans can play The Cobra online ahead of his IBF World title fight with Lucian Bute on May 26.

888poker.com are also backing the huge night of boxing at the Capital FM Arena in Nottingham as Froch aims to take Bute’s belt and become a three-time World champion, with the fight broadcast live on Sky Sports in the UK and shown in over 30 countries worldwide.

In the build up to the fight, Froch will play in three online knock-out format poker tournaments at 888poker.com, with the first at 8pm on May 10, followed by two more on May 17 and 22 at the same time.  The person who knocks Froch out in each of the tournaments will win ringside tickets to the IBF World title fight.

888poker have backed some of the biggest nights of boxing live on Sky Sports this season, including Kell Brook’s blockbusting welterweight showdown with Matthew Hatton that smashed TV boxing viewing figure records on Sky Sports, and the 34 year old says it is great that the online gaming giant are teaming up with him as he takes on the unbeaten champ from Montreal.

“I’m delighted to be representing 888poker,” said Froch. “They have supported a lot of great boxing shows this season and I hope to bring the boxing year to a close with a great win over Bute. I’m a keen poker player and I take my game pretty seriously, so I’m looking forward to playing the fans online at 888poker.com and maybe Shane Warne and I can have a little bit of an Ashes game too!”

Chief support on the night comes from Belfast’s unbeaten Commonwealth super bantamweight champion Carl Frampton who faces Raul Hirales for the vacant IBF Inter Continental super bantamweight title. Erick Ochieng defends 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.

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 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 FACES HIRALES FOR IBF INTER CONTINENTAL STRAP ON MAY 26

Unbeaten Mexican travels to Nottingham to face the Jackal

Carl Frampton will face Raul Hirales for the vacant IBF Inter Continental super bantamweight title at the Capital FM Arena in Nottingham on May 26.

Frampton provides the chief support live on Sky Sports in the UK and broadcast in over 30 countries ahead of Carl Froch’s IBF super middleweight world title clash with Lucian Bute. The unbeaten Belfast star is aiming to add the Inter Continental strap to his Commonwealth belt and faces his toughest fight in the pro ranks to date as the Mexican puts his unbeaten record on the line too.

Hirales has eight knockouts to his name from 16 wins and a draw, and as Frampton eyes a winter date with Kiko Martinez in Belfast, his manager Barry McGuigan believes the 28 year old Mexican is the step up Carl needs as he aims for a World title shot – and leaves domestic rivals Scott Quigg and Rendall Munroe behind.

“You cannot get tougher than an unbeaten Mexican prospect, it’s a great challenge and one Carl needs and is excited about,” said Frampton’s manager Barry McGuigan. “Hirales has beaten three prospects already and has eight KOs on his record so we’re up against it but it’s a great opportunity for Carl on a huge global platform. We want to meet Kiko Martinez in Belfast in September and we’re moving on from Scott Quigg and Rendall Munroe now as we’re annoyed that they are fighting each other and not Carl.”

“We wanted a big step up in class and we've got it,” added Frampton’s promoter Eddie Hearn. “Hirales is a tough, unbeaten and highly rated Mexican and we hope he can provide a stern test for Carl. Victory here will set up a Kiko Martinez fight for September and from there we want to be in a position to challenge current IBF Champ Jeffrey Mathebula for the title.”

Frampton is part of a huge night of boxing in Nottingham with Froch’s mission to become at three-time World champion at the expense of Bute coming after Erick Ochieng defends 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.

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 www.capitalfmarena.com and on 08444 124624 – £40, £60, £100 and £200 tickets have sold-out, as have the VIP packages priced at £300.