Stephen “Breadman” Edwards: I predict [IBF super middleweight champion Lucien] Bute in a really hard-fought decision. Carl Froch has wear-n-tear on his tires and Bute is the quicker more judge-friendly puncher. But this fight will be rough down the stretch for Bute if it gets that far.
John McCormick: I’m going out on a limb here and predict that Bute stops Froch in the later rounds after a rough early going. Froch will look very good in the early rounds but Bute’s punching power will eventually take its toll on Froch and he will be finished off in the championship rounds.
Greg Leon: Froch by close decision: Bute will be in the fight from start to finish, but unless one of his signature left uppercuts ends the fight, I like Froch by a very close decision.
Scott Shaffer: Froch is way more battle-tested than Bute due to his participation in the Super Six tournament. That plus the home field advantage leads me to take Froch by late stoppage.
Doveed Linder: Froch is Bute’s first tough test since he established himself as the best super middleweight outside of the Super Six (all due respect to Glen Johnson, it just wasn’t his night). Everybody still remembers Bute’s near-KO experience i n his first fith vs. Librado Andrade and Bute still has to prove that he can hold his own when push comes to shove. Bute is a very skilled boxer/puncher and I believe that he has improved since his first fight with Andrade. I pick him to beat Froch via unanimous decision.
Rob Soucy: Bute is the more complete fighter but Froch is at home. There are many questions surrounding this battle between arguably two of the best three fighters at 168 lbs. Can Froch handle Bute’s crippling body attack? Can Bute win a close decision in England? Froch seems to have the better chin but Bute is probably the harder puncher! Both fighters are always extremely well conditioned and mentally tough. Bute doesn’t know how to lose while Froch has never lost at home. This fight is almost too close to call but the prediction here is that Bute remains undefeated via controversial split decision.
Michael Walters: I think Froch may have few more good performances left in him. I just can’t get the image of Bute on the canvas against Andrade out of my head. I’ll say Froch by late round stoppage in a fight he’s losing up until that point.
