By Rick Reeno

Promoter Yvon Michel has advised BoxingScene.com that he might pursue a fight between Adonis Stevenson (18-1, 15KOs) and Thomas Oosthuizen (19-0-1, 13KOs), the IBO champion at super middleweight. Michel is looking to match Stevenson against the highest available contender in the IBF's top ten, and Oosthuizen is a likely candidate.

Stevenson is sitting at number two in the IBF's rankings, with Oosthuizen in the number seven position - although he's expected to move up a few notches with the Librado Andrade, ranked at six, being upset a few weeks ago.

Michel would like to have Stevenson and Oosthuizen fight each other for the number one position, which is currently vacant. The winner would become the mandatory challenger to Lucian Bute, who defends the title against Carl Froch on May 26th in Nottingham.

"If [Oosthuizen] wants to fight for a world championship, then maybe we can have Adonis, who is ranked at number two, fight him for the number one position. But at this point it is still speculation and we still have some bridges to cross. No matter if it will be Oosthuizen or not, we are looking to be fighting for the number one position against whoever will be available," Michel told BoxingScene.com.

There is some discussion with having Stevenson in the co-feature position to a Showtime televised card with one of Michel's other fighters, Jean Pascal, challenging IBF light heavyweight champion Tavoris Cloud in the main event. That card will take place on either July 7th or August 11th, in Canada. Stevenson's participation in a televised co-feature is far from a done deal, says Michel.

Tags: Thomas Oosthuizen , Adonis Stevenson