By Edward Chaykovsky
Olympic gold medal winner James DeGale is waiting to get an answer from his domestic rival, IBF super middleweight champion Carl Froch. The IBF has given Froch until the end of the month to reach and agreement with DeGale for a mandatory fight or a their contest will head to a purse bid. It's looking more likely that Froch will vacate his belt and go in another direction.
According to DeGale's trainer Jim McDonnell, several possible fight options have been mentioned to them - if Froch vacates - and they include former champion Mikkel Kessler, Liverpool's Rocky Fielding, or even Andre Dirrell. Froch has been inactive since knocking out George Groves in front of 80,000 at Wembley last May. Talks are ongoing for Froch to fight Julio Cesar Chavez Jr. in Las Vegas.
"I've heard Rocky Fielding's name mentioned because he's ranked No.9 with the IBF, and the other one I've heard is Andre Dirrell," McDonnell was quoted by scribe Nick Parkinson. "I've also heard Mikkel Kessler's name mentioned, but he's not even ranked with the IBF. It doesn't matter who is in the other corner at the moment, James will just get on with his training until it is sorted out.
"James wants that fight with Froch more than any other; it's a really big fight that will capture the British public's imagination, but only Carl Froch knows what decision he will make. We are all guessing at what might happen at the moment. But the clock is ticking."