Carl Froch vs Thomas Oosthuizen: Fight Looking Likely, Reportedly Close to Finalized

Carl Froch looks likely to defend his IBF super middleweight title this fall against South Africa's Thomas Oosthuizen, as Sky Sports reports that negotiations are nearly complete for the bout, which would probably take place in November.

The initial idea was apparently to bring Mikkel Kessler to Nottingham for a rematch with Froch (29-2, 21 KO), but money appears to have stalled that idea. Former middleweight champion Kelly Pavlik, who has looked fairly ordinary in three comeback bouts this year at 168 pounds, was also spoken with, and that didn't come to anything serious either.

So that means Oosthuizen (20-0-1, 13 KO) appears to be getting the final call. It's a good fight, really, pitting the No. 2 super middleweight against a guy who is back-end top ten or so, and it's a big step and test for Oosthuizen, who is very solid.

Oosthuizen, 24, just fought this past Thursday, easily outpointing Rowland Bryant in New York. Overall, he's fought three times in 2012, also beating Serge Yannick and Marcus Johnson. Froch, 35, has fought just once this year, but it was a big one, as he dominated and stopped Lucian Bute in Nottingham in May to claim the IBF title.