By Mark Vester

According to promoter Mick Hennessey, newly crowned WBC super middleweight champion Carl "The Cobra" Froch is likely to make his first defense in April. Froch captured the vacant title last Saturday at the Trent FM Arena in Nottingham after winning a twelve round decision over fellow unbeaten Jean Pascal. The high-contact fight had action from start to finish. Most view the battle as a sure contender for "fight of the year" honors.

Froch's mandatory is former undisputed middleweight champion Jermain Taylor. Hennessey says that his fighter wants to make the first defense against Taylor, but doesn't think Jermain will sign for the fight. He says Taylor's people are trying to line up unbeaten IBF champion Lucien Bute of Canada.

"Taylor's now Carl's mandatory challenger but it looks like he's already looking for the exit signs. He's already looking to fight IBF champion Lucien Bute in his next fight. Carl's the most exciting fighter in world boxing and he didn't have to take risks like that. What he's done is going to make him a marquee star because not only did he beat a brilliant challenger, he beat him in style," Hennessey told The Telegraph.

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