IBF super middleweight champion Lucian Bute (29-0, 24 KOs) has signed to face veteran Glen Johnson (51-15-2, 35 KOs) at either the Bell Centre in Montreal or Pepsi Coliseum in Quebec City on Nov. 5.
In recent weeks, Bute made efforts to secure bouts against Mikkel Kessler and Kelly Pavlik with both potential opponents eventually pulling their names from consideration.
While Johnson has lost three of his last five, his name value and always solid work ethic bring a much-needed shot of legitimacy to Bute’s resume, which has been under attack by critics over the last several fights.
Bute last fought in July, scoring a KO 4 victory over France’s Jean Paul Mendy.
Johnson, in a semifinal bout for Showtime’s World Boxing Classic, dropped a majority decision to Carl Froch.
