LIKE most of the boxing fans in the country, I watched Carl Froch and George Groves on Saturday and thought it was a great fight.

I have to admit I backed Froch to win in the eighth so I was quids in. I just thought he’d have too much power and experience in the second half of the fight, and that’s how it proved.

I was delighted he came out on top to be honest. Froch has always been a warrior and I just laughed when people were writing him off in the build up to the fight.

There was loads of talk about him being finished or past his best, but you don’t become a world champion for nothing and when things get really tough in the latter stages of a big fight, it’s that warrior spirit and knowhow that pulls you through.

In many ways, Froch’s situation was the same as the one I’ll be in when I defend my world title against Paul Butler on Saturday.

I know some people are looking at the two of us and saying, ‘Well Butler’s only 25 and Stuey is in his 30s now so I’m going with the younger man to win’. That’s fine, but it won’t happen.

I might be 34, but I’m in absolute peak condition and it’s not like I have loads of miles on the clock. I’m relishing the chance to defend my title and I’ve been there and done it in the heat of a world-title battle.

Butler can say what he likes, but he’s totally unproven at this sort of level, whereas I stood up to be counted against Malinga and came out on top.

Froch proved that you don’t lose your fighting ability just because you’ve turned 30, and I’ll reinforce the point this weekend. The great champions win again and again – and that’s exactly what I’m planning to do.

**

THE other similarity between this weekend’s fight and the one between Froch and Groves is that there’s been a fair bit of needle in the build-up.

I don’t normally like to get involved in some of the verbals that often go on before a fight, but I don’t mind admitting that Butler has got under my skin.

He’s a cocky little upstart who’s talking like he’s Floyd Mayweather, but his record is nowhere near what’s needed at this level. He’s beaten absolutely nobody and yet he’s full of what he’s supposedly going to do to me.

That’s fine. I couldn’t care less what him and his hangers-on say because I’ll be bringing the world title belt into the ring with me and that tells you all you need to know about what I’m capable of.

The final press conference is on Thursday, and I’m sure they’ll be trying to wind me up again, but I’ll just sit back and have a little chuckle. Then I’ll take even more pleasure in knocking Butler out.

Seriously, there’s no way this fight ends any other way apart from me winning. I’ve never wanted to shut somebody up so much, and that’s what’s going to happen.

**

I’VE finished with my training now, and everything has gone perfectly to plan. This is my third world title fight and I’ve kept things pretty much the same every time. If things have worked twice before, why would I want to change them?

Mick (Marsden, trainer) is happy with the preparations and it’s a case of ticking over until fight night now.

In many ways, the next couple of days are the hardest. In the week leading up to a big fight, you’re like a coiled spring, but you have to keep things on a level because you don’t want to waste a load of energy before you even get in the ring.

There’ll be a bit of press and promotional work to do, and I suppose that fills in the time until Saturday rolls around. I could have fought a few weeks ago to be honest, but come this weekend, I’ll be in peak condition.

**

YOU never want to look too far ahead in this game, but there’s inevitably been talk of what might happen next after Jamie McDonnell won the WBA title at the weekend.

I was listening to him after the fight and he mentioned me pretty much as soon as he got out of the ring. I don’t think it’s a secret that I’ve previously said I’d like to fight him again.

Boxing being boxing, there’ll be a load of hoops that have to be jumped through, but once I’ve taken care of business at the weekend, I’d love to think there could be an all-British unification bout on the cards. That would be another huge night for British boxing.

For now though, all I’m worried about is beating Butler. And making sure that the North-East still has a world champion come Sunday morning.

* Tickets for Saturday's show are priced at £40, £60, £75, £150 and £200 (VIP) and are available via the box office (0844 493 6666 - VIP Packages 0114 2434443) or from dennishobson.com