:format(webp)/cdn.vox-cdn.com/photo_images/7106911/145276796.jpg)
Former IBF super middleweight titlist Lucian Bute is planning to return on November 3, facing Denis Grachev in Montreal.
Bute (30-1, 24 KO) is coming off of a devastating, one-sided loss to Carl Froch on May 26. Bute was stopped in five in Nottingham, a humbling defeat that he's handled with true class. Grachev (12-0-1, 8 KO) last fought on April 27 on ESPN Friday Night Fights, and on that night scored a pretty big upset when he came off the canvas to rally and finish off heavily hyped Ismayl Sillakh in the eighth round.
Bute, 32, plans to rematch Froch next year, which is his contractual right, and both sides have agreed to do that if they win interim bouts. Froch is also planning to fight in November. The 29-year-old Grachev may not be the biggest name or have the most convincing record, but he did stop Sillakh, and he can punch. Bute has not shown the best chin, particularly against Froch, and if Grachev lands some bombs, all bets are off right now.
Honestly, I think it's a pretty good fight for Bute to test where he's really at right now, mentally and physically, and I also am happy that Grachev beating Sillakh will get him another major opportunity, which it should.