IBF Champion Carl Froch to Take on Yusaf Mack, Awaits Lucian Bute Rematch

Carl Froch (29-2 21 KOs) has decided on an opponent for the first defense of his IBF super middleweight crown according to multiple news outlets. On November 17, Froch will take on Philadelphia’s Yusaf Mack (31-4-2 17 KOs), a former light heavyweight title challenger. The fight will take place in Froch’s native Nottingham at the Capital FM Arena. 

Froch is coming off one of the biggest wins of his career—a five round destruction of Lucian Bute. Coming into the Bute fight, Froch was the underdog and was given little chance of winning after his lackluster performance against Andre Ward in the final of the Super Six Classic.

Froch had been written off by most after that showing, but bounced back and looked better than he had in years against Bute. 

Yusaf Mack will be the first soft-touch Froch has had in years. Take one look at Froch’s record and you will see he fought a murders row of the super middleweight division.

Over the last four years, Froch has fought and beat former world champions Jean Pascal, Jermain Taylor, Andre Dirrell, Glen Johnson, Arthur Abraham and Lucian Bute.  Froch’s only two career losses are to Mikkel Kessler and Andre Ward, who is considered one of the best pound-for-pound fighters in the world. 

Carl Froch deserves a showcase fight at this point in his career and I, for one, have no problem with him taking on Mack. 

Yusaf Mack, 32, is not a bad fighter although he has been stopped in each of his four losses. He has been a fringe contender in the light heavyweight division for years and has held a handful of regional titles.   

Look for Carl Froch to put Mack away in impressive fashion somewhere around Round 6. If Lucian Bute handles his business on November 3, we will see the rematch between him and Froch.

If Bute is unsuccessful, I expect Froch to go after Kelly Pavlik, Arthur Abraham or a rematch with Kessler.