Lucian Bute has warned James DeGale that he is a changed fighter from the one who lost so convincingly to Carl Froch in 2012.

The Romanian remains a popular figure in Quebec and at the Centre Videotron on Saturday be heavily supported as DeGale's first challenger since he became the IBF super-middleweight champion.

When he was widely considered at his peak - and when he was undefeated and also held the IBF title - Bute was stopped in five rounds by Froch in the finest performance of the latter's career.

In January 2014 he looked in decline after losing again, but he then had a break from the sport, returning in August this year with Howard Grant as his new trainer, and he is convinced he has improved as a consequence.

"I'm sure this break helped me a lot," Bute said. "When I look back, it was not good for me to accept fights with some injuries. Boxing is tough, you need to be 100 percent healthy.

"(I spent my time away from the sport) just thinking about me. Before, when I became champion in 2007, I had no life. Every year, two or three fights. It was difficult for my body, to be in training camp for six years.

"This break helped me a lot, (to) enjoy my family, my friends, and now I've got some changes in my team, and I'm looking forward.

"I'm more confident, more focused in my head, determined. My new training gives me fresh energy. We changed some things in my boxing style, to be more aggressive, throw more combinations, and I feel the difference."

Bute had the air of an intimidated man amid the intense atmosphere he faced when fighting Froch in the Englishman's home town of Nottingham and he believes DeGale will be at a similar disadvantage.

"Twenty thousand people behind me is not easy for him, I'm sure the pressure's on his shoulders," he said. "He's the champion, he has the belt. I know this because I felt it when I came to England.

"It's different styles. Carl Froch was a more aggressive, more tough fighter, and James DeGale is more talented, has more speed, moves a lot, sometimes he changes orthodox to southpaw, and he's an Olympic champion, a world champion. He's a good fighter.

"Like I said, the pressure's on him, he's the world champion. Everything's on my side. He has everything to lose."