Ringside presenter and commentator Adam Smith gives his views on the big fight in Nottingham.
Adam Smith discusses Saturday night's big fight
I caught up with Sky Sports' 'Mr Boxing' at Wednesday's final press conference in Nottingham for the IBF super-middleweight title fight between Carl Froch and reigning champion Lucian Bute.
Here's what Adam Smith had to say...
"It's a fabulous fight and I love these type of fights when you get two of the elilte men in the world sharing a ring, there's no trash talking and it's good gladiatorial combat. It should be a smashing fight because of that.
"I think Lucian Bute starts favourite, I think he's skilful, I think he's an awkward southpaw, never been beaten as a pro but he was knocked out as an amateur, and was also in trouble against Librado Andrade.
"There's a slight question mark over his chin, and he can be hit - he's not a Joe Calzaghe slick southpaw, but he's very good, he hits hard himself, he's fresher.
"Carl, experienced, seasoned, travelled. How much have the fights taken out of him? I think he was beaten by Andre Ward more emphatically then he would admit, but he knows the right guy won that night.
"But Ward is a better fighter than Bute, Ward is a potential superstar and I don't know why the Americans haven't got hold of him and turned him into something very big.
"But, Carl was slow out of the blocks that night. He can't afford to be slow out of the blocks on Saturday, I don't think he will be with this crowd.
"I think it's a fascinating fight, not one I'd put my house on. I think Carl can win, he can win by utilising his jab more than he did against Ward, I think he can start troubling Bute like he did against Abraham with the jab.
"But he needs to follow it up with aggression. You won't test his chin, you won't test his heart, but you've got to watch the body shots against Bute because he's had a hard, hard career, much harder than Bute. So you never know, the wheels could come off. I don't think they will.
"I think it will be a close fight on points, my heart says Froch, my head says Bute at the moment, but I've got a funny feeling. He's speaking with passion, Carl. He looks terrific, he's got a gleam to him, I thought he looked really well today.
"Bute's not been tested like he will be on Saturday night - I think it will tell us more about Bute than it will about Carl Froch. It's a pickem.
"He's a classy individual, a classy guy in the ring. He's come here with a big team, he wants to make a statement. It's going to be really hard for Carl, he's going to have to go through walls, a bit like Ricky Hatton did against Kostya Tszyu.
"Carl could pull it off, and he deserves it more than anyone in boxing, he deserves a homecoming like this. Boxing is a cruel business, undeserving in many ways, and I think the smart money will still be on Bute, but as I say I think Carl can pull it off and let's find out on Saturday night.
"It's a really tough call which makes it such a great fight."
