Bute didn't really let his punches go, he hold back so Froch will step forward and try to counter Carl while stepping in. At least that's what Bute said an the post fight press conferences, he said maybe he waited to much, trying to counter him and ending up in the ropes. Froch also said Bute's power is not shabby in the after fight press conf.
Let's be honest here, Bute is not Tatevosyan so you could say ... Dude that's all that Bute had, and the rematch will be a piece of cake for Froch. I believe Bute is better than this... How much better we'll never know if the rematch won't happen. So I'm grateful for the rematch as a Bute fan because I wanna see his best even if that means another defeat to Froch.
He got beat up all right, but I respect him for going through with the rematch. If he's better prepared perhaps he can redeem himself.
If bute had let his fists go and not supposedly held back then he would have been stopped quicker. Froch put bute on the ropes by hitting him hard on the chin, it is easy to say he waited too long blah blah, when it is fact that when you are getting punched really hard and plentiful it has an effect on your own output.