Froch, Brook Split Site Doubleheader Targeted For 3/28

By Terence Dooley

 

Carl Froch’s resolute desire to fight in Las Vegas could potentially land him a March 28 date against Julio Cesar Chavez Junior. BoxingScene understands that the fight could be nailed down soon and that Kell Brook’s mooted maiden IBF welterweight defence at Sheffield’s Motorpoint Arena has been moved to the same night to accommodate a possible U.K./U.S. Sky PPV marathon.

 

Brook, 33-0 (22), will fight for the first time since badly injuring his leg in a stabbing incident during a family holiday in September. The 28-year-old will make a voluntary defence of the belt he won by out-pointing Shawn Porter in August against a Top Fifteen ranked contender, as per the IBF’s voluntary rules.

 

Froch, 33-2 (24), has an IBF mandatory against London’s James DeGale on his plate; the negotiating period is underway and is due to close at the end of this month.  However, the Nottingham-based WBA and IBF Super middleweight titlist can apply for an exemption in order to keep his title and take on Chavez, 48-1-1 (32 and with one NC).  Lindsay Tucker, the IBF’s Championship Chairman, explained the Exception to Regulation process and timescale to BoxingScene on Sunday evening. 

 

“In order to fight anyone else, he must request an Exception to Regulation,” explained Tucker. “The IBF President would then give DeGale 73 hours to object.  The IBF Board of Directors would then review the request and the objection, and then vote on whether to grant or deny the Exception.  The Exception process takes at least 10 days.”

 

More than any other fighter, Froch deserves the opportunity to secure his dream fight as he has been more than a worthy champion.  It would be hard on DeGale if an exception was granted, but no one could begrudge Froch if he decided he wanted to go for Chavez instead.  DeGale, 20-1 (14), has time on his side, he is 28, and will get his shot at some point in 2015 even if an exemption is ratified by the governing body. 

 

As for Brook, he will be notified of his mandatory obligations and timescale on March 15, which should allow him to squeeze in a voluntary a few weeks later as long as the IBF allow him some well-deserved wiggle room following the traumatic events that prevented him from defending his title at an earlier date.

 

“Kell Brook can fight anyone in the top 15 in an optional defence of the title up until March 15, 2015,” added Tucker. “On March 16, 2015, he will be notified to fight mandatory challenger Dan Ion.”

 

If Froch-Chavez is secured, it will be a fitting reward for Froch’s determination.  It will also be a testament to the negotiating skills of Eddie Hearn, Froch’s promoter, who has had to deal with Al Haymon, Team Chavez and the lingering issue of Bob Arum’s contract dispute with Chavez.  There have been a lot of irons in the fire for this one, so a lot of work must have gone into securing Froch’s dream.  Now the spade work’s done, the pre-fight "Will they, won't they" longueur can end and all that remains is prospect of the fight itself, which should be a good styles mix.

 

Still, some U.K. fans have derided the match-up, arguing that Froch should fight Gennady Golovkin instead despite the fact that making an all-European fight in Vegas is harder than securing a match-up between a visiting fighter and a U.S. or Mexico-based name.  Throw in the fact that Chavez has boxed on HBO PPV—when he lost the WBC 160lb belt via a decision defeat to Sergio Martinez in 2012—as well as posting HBO's strongest figures in 2013 after Nielsen Ratings revealed that 1.4 million watched his first fight with Brian Vera and it is clear to see why the 28-year-old with the world famous surname fits the Las Vegas bill.