By Mesuli Zifo
Unbeaten super middleweight star Thomas “Tommy Gun” Oosthuizen has emerged as a frontrunner to face IBF champion Carl Froch in Nottingham, England in November.
Although no date has been finalized as yet with November 3rd or 10th in play, the camps of the two fighters are nearing reaching an agreement for the Cobra to stake his newly won IBF crown against the South African.
However the deal is subject to Oosthuizen winning his IBO title defence against American Rowland Bryant at Roseland Ballroom in New York, US, on August 2.
Oosthuizen’s promoter Rodney Berman of Golden Gloves Promotions (GGP) confirmed to BoxingScene.com that talks with the Froch camp have taken a turn for the best with the two camps agreeing on almost every term on the table.
“I have been negotiating with Barry Hearn (Froch’s promoter) for a while now and I must say I am happy with the terms on the table,” Berman said to BoxingScene.com.
One of the terms is for Hearn to acquire a stake on Oosthuizen’s next fight should he beat Froch.
Froch who shocked Lucian Bute with a fifth round stoppage to capture the crown in May in Nottingham has a rematch clause to honour to the Romanian-born Canadian.
However, according to Berman, Oosthuizen will assume the rematch obligations to Bute should he beat Froch.
“Oosthuizen’s next title defence would have to be against Bute in Canada if he beats Froch and we have no problem with that,” Berman added.
The 24-year-old unbeaten lanky southpaw will, however, need to beat Bryant to set the wheels in motion for the Froch clash.
Berman said Oosthuizen (19-0-1, 13 KOs) was unfazed by the added pressure of having to win against Bryant in light of the potential clash against Froch.
“I am keeping Tommy informed about all the developments as he is already in US preparing for Bryant,” Berman said.
“If anything the new developments will give him an added motivation to leave nothing to chance against Bryant.”
