by Johnny Walker
After suffering a horrendous beating at the hands of Carl Froch in Nottingham, England, Romanian-Canadian super middleweight star Lucian Bute will return to the friendly confines of the Bell Centre in Montreal, Quebec, this November 3 in an attempt to get his career back on track.
To his credit, Bute hasn’t chosen an easy comeback fight — he’ll take on undefeated Russian Denis Grachev, a former kickboxing champion who last time out upset the highly touted Ismayl Sillakh via an 8th round TKO.
“Grachev is the best available boxer that Lucian can fight,” stated InterBox President Jean Bedard. “I would like to thank Mark Dion, Denis Grachev’s Manager, for agreeing to take this fight. So far the entire Team has been very professional.”
The fight will be contested at a catchweight of 170 pounds. Grachev’s NABF Light Heavyweight belt will be on the line.
As for Bute, he says he is anxious to get back in his home arena–where he has superstar status–after the Froch fiasco.
“I am very happy that this fight is signed,” says the Quebec-based fighter.
“I can’t wait to see my fans again and to fight in front of them at the Montreal Bell Centre. This fight will be the first step of my goal to reconquer the IBF Super Middleweight belt.”