By Edward Chaykovsky

According to reporter Jean-Luc Legendre of RDS, Carl Froch, ranked at number five, is now the mandatory challenger to IBF super middleweight Lucian Bute. IBF president Daryl J. Peoples has confirmed the information. Promoters InterBox and Eddie Hearn have 60 days to reach an agreement before a purse bid is ordered.

Froch became the mandatory based on the two top positions being vacant - and the next two contenders, Edwin Rodriguez and Arthur Abraham - are already booked for other fights.

Interbox is very happy with the news, because their company is pressing to make a fight with Froch. However, Showtime is not very high on the fight and Bute is still contractually obligated to the network for at least one fight. The two sides may still hold the fight without a U.S. network being involved.

There is the option of requesting a waiver from the IBF to face another opponent, together with a fee amount of $20,000. Bute has to make a mandatory defense every nine months and the mandatory with Froch is due by April. Froch is returning on May 5th in Nottingham and Bute is looking to fight on April 14th in Montreal.

According to InterBox's communications manager David Messier, the possibility of Bute facing Froch in England should not be ruled out.

"It is also possible that Lucian may want to fight in England," said Messier.