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MONTREAL -- Lucian Bute and his suspect chin are set to return to the boxing ring for the first time since being sent crashing to the canvas by Carl Froch in May. J.J. Watt Authentic Jersey . The previously undefeated fighter from Montreal will face unheralded Russian Denis Grachev (12-0-1) at the Bell Centre on Saturday night. The 12-round bout could be a first step in restoring Butes tarnished reputation. A win will set up a rematch on home soil with Froch, tentatively set for March 31. "The only opponent in my head is Grachev," Bute (30-1) said Tuesday after a workout at the InterBox gym. "This is a very important fight. "I defended my title 10 times but this is the most important fight." The 32-year-old was considered among the worlds top two or three super-middleweights before travelling to Frochs hometown of Sheffield, England, to make the 10th defence of the International Boxing Federation title he had held since 2007. He got an exemption from his contract with the U.S. specialty channel Showtime, which wasnt interested in the bout, to face Froch and quiet detractors who said he never faced top contenders and would only fight in friendly environments in Quebec or his native Romania. The doubters had a field day when the brawling Froch pounded Bute senseless in five rounds to take the title. Suddenly, the one-punch knockdown and near knockout he suffered a few years ago from Librado Andrade looked more like an omen than an accident. Suddenly, Butes chin and heart were being questioned. "People ask how it happened, but it doesnt matter," he said. "The damage is done and now were looking forward. "Well learn from it." Bute took a month off after the loss before getting back to work. In training, the southpaw with the deadly left uppercut looked his old quick-handed self and was perhaps more business-like in his approach than before recent bouts. "Hes going to get hit again and hes going to have two choices -- retaliate and get into the war or say Its too hard for me, " said Butes trainer Stephan Larouche. "But hes ready for this. "Hes against the wall and he feels it. And (Grachev) is a guy who is going to test him." The 30-year-old Grachev, a former kick-boxer based in San Diego, was on no ones radar until his April bout against previously unbeaten Ismayl Sillakh. The Russian was knocked down in the third round but got up to floor Sillakh and end the fight in the eighth to claim the minor NABF light heavyweight title. That belt will be on the line against Bute, although at a catch-weight of 170 pounds. "Ill put a lot of pressure on Bute and he wont be able to handle it," said Grachev. "Thats my style, I cant fight different. "Froch spoiled my goal. I like to fight undefeated guys. But Bute is a strong fighter. I like fighting him. I think Im going to win. I would like to visit England and fight Carl Froch. I think this will be a big step for my career." The bout is to be aired in the U.S. on Wealth TV and on pay-per-view in Canada. Froch has his first title defence in two weeks against Yusaf Mack, but what may stand in the way of a rematch with Bute is another Montreal fighter. Adonis Stevenson won an elimination bout Oct. 12 that makes him the mandatory challenger to Froch. The IBF would need to grant an exemption to let Froch fight Bute first. Stevensons promoter Yvon Michel opposes an exemption. The undercard also has some interesting bouts. The 10-round co-feature has veteran Renan St. Juste (23-3-1) of Repentigny, Que., against American Allan Green (31-4). Green was once a top contender at both super-middleweight and light heavyweight but is coming off a loss to Mikkel Kessler, the former WBC champion who beat Froch in 2010. Super-bantamweight Sebastien Gauthier (22-3) takes on former IBF champion Rodrigo Guerrero (17-4). And Mikael Zewski (16-0), a 23-year-old light middleweight from Trois-Rivieres, Que., who was overlooked by Quebec-based promoters and fights out of Las Vegas, faces Mexican Cesar Chavez (20-2). Garrett Graham Jersey . Will Venable tripled and scored in the first, then doubled in the go-ahead run in the fifth inning to back the 37-year-old Suppan and help the Padres to a 3-1 win against the Colorado Rockies on Tuesday night. Bradie James Jersey . As the Blue Jays were struggling in a 12-0 loss to the Baltimore Orioles on Tuesday, rain began to fall on some of the fans when the retractable roof did not close in time during the middle innings. http://www.houstontexansgears.com/owen-daniels-jersey/ . After a wacky stretch in which Baltimore twice turned potential pickoffs into stolen bases, Hammel and the Orioles were on their way to an 8-2 rout of the Kansas City Royals on Friday night. Duane Brown Jersey . Brandon Crawford hit a grand slam and drove in five runs, Lincecum threw seven sharp innings and the NL West-leading San Francisco Giants beat the Philadelphia Phillies 7-2 on Friday night. J.J. Watt Red Jersey . -- Roy Oswalt threw one curveball clocked at 57 mph.DUBLIN, Ireland -- Shane Long gave Ireland a morale-boosting 1-0 victory over Bosnia-Herzegovina ahead of the European Championship on Saturday but midfielder Keith Fahey was ruled out of the tournament through injury. Fahey has been struggling with a groin problem since he joined the squad and he pulled up in the friendly on Saturday. After scans, coach Giovanni Trapattoni decided to replace Fahey with Pauul Green, who is without a club since being released by Derby this month. Antonio Smith Jersey. The deadlock in the match was broken by Long, a second-half substitute, heading home from Aiden McGeadys cross in the 78th minute. The victory extended Trapattonis sides unbeaten run to 13 games. Ireland opens its Euro 2012 campaign against Croatia on June 10 before also playing Spain and Italy in Group C. ' ' '