Carl Froch vs Adonis Stevenson could be announced Friday, Kessler out

Carl Froch reportedly won't be facing Mikkel Kessler next after all, as promoter Eddie Hearn says that the sides could not reach an agreement, and he won't be facing Lucian Bute, either. According to a report at BoxingScene.com, both sides have confirmed that Froch is negotiating a deal to fight IBF mandatory challenger Adonis Stevenson in the United Kingdom in April or May.

The BoxingScene.com report says that Yvon Michel, Stevenson's promoter, is preparing to announce the fight on Friday with a press conference.

Froch (30-2, 22 KO) was first expected to rematch Bute this spring, as the former IBF titlist had a rematch clause in his contract. But Bute has chosen to waive that for the time being, allowing Froch to take another fight. The Nottingham native wanted to avenge his 2010 loss to Mikkel Kessler, and the fight was reportedly close to done at one point, but now that is off the table, too.

That leaves Stevenson (19-1, 16 KO), a big-punching Haitian-Canadian who won the right to a title shot via his eliminator victory against Don George on October 12 in Montreal.

Froch and Stevenson, both 35, figure to make for a hard-hitting matchup, and with Bute and Kessler both out, it's about as good a fight as Froch can make at this point. Stevenson has done what was asked of him to get the title shot, so he's earned it in boxing terms.

What's your take on this one? Will Froch dominate, or does Stevenson have more than just a puncher's chance against the iron-chinned Englishman?