Froch and Bute Weigh-in Under

Carl Froch and Lucian Bute both came in under the 12st limit on the eve of their super-middleweight title fight.

In front of a rowdy audience in sweltering Nottingham, Froch made the weight at 11st 13lb 5oz while IBF champion Bute tipped the scales just seven ounces heavier.

The unbeaten Romanian can expect a hostile atmosphere when he steps into the ring with hometown fighter Froch at the Capital FM Arena on Saturday night.

But the challenger's fans were outsung - if not outnumbered - at the weigh-in as a group of supporters welcomed Bute for what is just a second title defence outside his adopted home in Canada.

Froch told Sky Sports News it would be a different story come Saturday, saying: "My fans will definitely bring the best out in me - it lifts you, and every time you land with your shots you're rewarded for your success.

"On the flip side if Bute has any success, which I don't want him to, it'll be absolutely silent apart from his few fans, so he'll be drowned out and feeling the pressure.

"He's never been there - he's boxed in front of big crowds, but they're always on his side. To be against it is a totally different story."

Frampton Set to Defend Title

Carl Frampton will feature on the undercard when Carl Froch takes on IBF super-middleweight champion Lucien Bute on May 26.

Frampton is set to defend his Commonwealth super-bantamweight title for the third time against an as-yet unnamed opponent at the Capital FM Arena in Nottingham.

The unbeaten British number three will be keen to impress with top domestic duo Scott Quigg and Rendall Munroe teeing off on June 16.

Frampton will be hoping to face the winner of that match-up, although neither fighter expressed an interest in the Barry McGuigan-managed Frampton on a recent episode of Ringside.

The undercard will also feature Engllish light-middleweight champion Erick Ochieng as well as Matchroom prospects John Ryder and Scott Cardle.

"It's a great line-up and another chance for Carl Frampton to get massive exposure," said promoter Eddie Hearn.

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Froch Gets Home Fight Night

Nottingham's Carl Froch is to fight in his home town for the first time in three years after getting a shot at the IBF world super-middleweight title.

The 34-year-old boxer has been lined up to face Canadian-based Romanian Lucian Bute at the Capital FM Arena on 26 May.

Froch has not fought in Nottingham since 2009, when he handed American Andre Dirrell a first career defeat.

He has since fought in Denmark, Finland and the United States, where he reached the final of the Super Six tournament.

But, having lost his WBC belt to Andre Ward in December, he now has a crack at the IBF version against the unbeaten Bute, in front of his own supporters, on a bill engineered by his new promoter Eddie Hearn.

"It's a dream come true to get this opportunity to become a three-time world champion in my home town of Nottingham," said Froch, excited at finally returning to the scene of his first WBC title victory, against Jean Pascal in December 2008.

"The Super Six was an incredible journey for me but I missed fighting in the UK."

"It was important I made that happen - and for it to be for a world title is the icing on the cake."

Promoter Hearn said: "I have to respect Lucian and his team for agreeing to enter the lion's den and face Carl in his home town, but am fully confident that Carl can become a world champion again."

Canadian-based Romanian Bute, who has defended his IBF title nine times since defeating Colombian Alejandro Berrio in 2007, is undefeated in 30 bouts. But it will be the first time he has boxed outside either North America or Romania during his professional career.

"It's my goal to fight the best boxers in the super middleweight division," said the Montreal-based fighter. "Carl Froch belongs in the elite of the super-middleweight division and it will be a great fight.

"I am very confident and it will not faze me fighting in enemy territory."

Froch in Mandatory Bute Bout

Carl Froch has been made mandatory challenger to IBF super-middleweight world champion Lucian Bute and the bout could well take place in Nottingham.

Froch, who lost to Andre Ward in the Super Six final in December, is eager for his next fight to be at home.

The 34-year-old's promoter Eddie Hearn is hopeful talks with Bute's team will lead to a home and away double-header.

The Nottingham Arena has been booked for 5 May and Hearn said "positive discussions have been ongoing".

Hearn said he hoped Bute will agree to fight in the city, with Froch heading to Bute's home country, Canada, later in the year.

"It is Carl's dream to have his next fight in the UK and that is something very important to both of us," Hearn added on the Matchroom Boxing website.

"I believe we can bring Lucian here in May and we will be happy to give him the rematch in Canada once Carl has taken the IBF title from him."

Froch first won the WBC super-middleweight title at the Nottingham Arena in December 2008 when he won a unanimous points decision against another Canadian, Jean Pascal, after a thrilling 12-round battle.

He retained the title at the same venue 10 months later with a split-decision victory over Andre Dirrell of the USA, but none of his four fights since then have taken place in the UK.

The last, against Ward, was staged in Atlantic City and Froch suffered only the second defeat of his 28-fight professional career.

Cleverly Seeking Froch

WBO light-heavyweight champion Nathan Cleverly is considering a summer fight with former WBC super-middleweight champion Carl Froch in Cardiff.

Unbeaten Cleverly must first beat American Tommy Karpency at Cardiff's Motorpoint Arena on 25 February.

Promoter Frank Warren has said he then wants to stage a June open air fight at the Cardiff City Stadium.

"Frank's got big plans for me and to fight at Cardiff City's ground would be a dream," said Cleverly.

"I'm still only 24 and time is on my side to achieve a lot of things.

"I know the big super-fights will come, I've just got to keep putting on good displays and we are progressively getting there.

"In the meantime I can't be complacent by taking my eye off the ball and let Karpency upset the plans."

Warren said former two-time WBC super-middleweight champion Froch would be an ideal opponent for Cleverly at Cardiff City Stadium.

Froch, who lost his WBC and WBA super-middleweight titles to Andre Ward last December, expressed a desire last year to step up a weight and fight Cleverly.

Cleverly has said he would be open to a future bout against the Nottingham fighter.

"I would like to see Nathan fight again in early June at Cardiff City's ground in a big open-air show," said Warren.

"If Carl Froch wants to step up a weight and fight him then I'd take that fight in a heartbeat, he's made for Nathan.

"Then I'd be looking for Nathan to have a unification fight, hopefully in September against one of the other title holders."

Before any possible summer bout against Froch or a future unification fight against WBC champion Bernard Hopkins or WBA title-holder Beibut Shumenov, Cleverly defends his title for a third time against Karpency at Cardiff's Motorpoint Arena.

The fight on 25 February against the 25-year-old American will be Cleverly's first in Wales since he defeated Joey Vegas on points at the Millennium Stadium in November 2007.

A one-time WBO Inter-Continental light heavyweight title challenger, Karpency has 21 wins from 24 fights, including 14 knock-outs.

Karpency lost to Karo Murat for the WBO inter-continental light heavyweight belt in May 2010 and has fought only once since then.

"I saw Karo Murat's fight against Karpency when I was preparing for my fight against Murat and I saw that he's a southpaw, tough, rugged and strong," said Cleverly.

"He'll come to have a fight with me, but I'll break him down and look good doing it."