Carl Froch has not ruled out fighting dirty in order to overcome Lucian Bute in their IBF super-middleweight showdown.

The 34-year-old will become a three-time world champion with victory over the Romanian-born Canadian in Nottingham tonight.

Froch believes that Bute, who is making the 10th defence of his strap, may try to box him at range, but said that he is confident that he has the power to hurt him.

"He'll try and box and keep me at range and counter-punch, like most southpaws do," Froch told BBC Sport.

"If he's successful for four or five rounds then I'm going to have to rough him up, stick the head in and get the elbows going.

"Let's not forget, Lucian Bute has been knocked out cold as an amateur and he was saved by the referee against Andrade."

Froch lost his last fight to Andre Ward in December.