Bute had not time to balloon-up this time around, he trained for Bolonti fight with Roach that got channeled because a injury, than fast after fought DiLuisa, and right after got in training camp for Degale. He also is now injury free. So physically Bute is in perfect shape.
Bute used his right a lot in the Glen Johnson fight and it was a hard shot too and Johnson was definitely feeling the weight of them even though he wasn't in any danger of going down from them. Bute looked intimidated during his ring walk against Froch. I know he had some problems in training too which probably didn't help him in that regard but I think the crowd and the occasion fighting away from home got to him. Him freezing after getting hit is a big concern for me. That's him questioning himself again and it could prove very costly against a fast, unpredictable puncher like DeGale whose punches are hard to see coming. I'm not writing Bute off. I've been a fan of his for a long time and I know what he's capable of when confident and firing on all cylinders. If he's got his confidence back he can pull this off. Problem is I'm very sceptical as to whether he has or ever will be able to do that.