Matchroom Sport can confirm that the IBF have made Carl Froch the mandatory challenger to face champion Lucian Bute for his super-middleweight title.
The former two-time WBC champion had been linked to a “home and away” clash with Bute and now the 34 year-old looks set to challenge the Canadian for the title after the IBF installed him as the number one contender for the belt.
Froch’s promoter Eddie Hearn confirmed that he has been in constant and constructive talks with Bute’s Interbox team since Froch completed his Super Six Boxing Classic journey in the final against Andre Ward in December, and he hopes that the projected two-legged contests between the pair could begin in Froch’s hometown of Nottingham in May.
“I’m delighted that Carl has been installed as the mandatory for Lucien Bute’s next bout,” said Hearn.
“Positive discussions have been ongoing with Interbox since the Super Six final and we hope to get this fight made. It is Carl’s dream to have his next fight in the UK and that is something very important to both of us. After recent discussions, I believe we can bring Lucian here in May and we will be happy to give him the rematch in Canada once Carl has taken the IBF title from him.”
February 9, 2012
