The BBC reports today that once again, a rematch between Carl Froch and Mikkel Kessler is close to a done deal, and Froch truly is prepared to give up his IBF super middleweight title if he has to do so. The fight would be held in May in London.

Froch (30-2, 22 KO) has made no secret of the fact that his preferred fight is a second go at Kessler (46-2, 35 KO), though his team has also negotiated recently with Adonis Stevenson, the IBF mandatory challenger, perhaps to gain some leverage in negotiations with the Dane, who holds the WBA "regular" title.

The IBF has stated that Froch-Kessler II can be for the title, with Stevenson being pushed aside for the time being, due to it technically being a unification bout. So Froch's willingness to give up his title might be nothing more than proving how serious he is about making the fight with Kessler, who defeated him in a hard-fought decision back in 2010, the first loss of Froch's pro career.

As for Froch-Stevenson, a purse bid is due on that fight on January 15.