By Phil D. Jay
IBO super-middleweight champion Thomas Oosthuizen will continue his career in the US after turning down an opportunity to face IBF title holder Carl Froch in Nottingham in November.
The 24 year-old made the fifth defence of his world title last week with a unanimous victory over Rowland Bryant at the Roseland Ballroom in New York and was a strong favourite to step up and face the ‘Cobra’ in his hometown.
"We've turned down that fight," manager Brian Mitchell told Sowetanlive.co.za.
"It is proper that Lou DiBella will feature him on Shobox. The American boxing public just loves Tommy.”
Oosthuizen is now booked in to fight on a ShoBox card on October 5th as the South African continues his development in America. ‘Tommy Gun’ is now undefeated in 21 outings with 13 stoppages and is rarely involved in a dull fight, which is what made him an attractive proposition to Froch’s promoter Eddie Hearn.
Froch, 35, now remains in the hunt for a high-profile foe and after dismantling previously undefeated world champion Lucian Bute in his last fight, it is no wonder fighters are reluctant to accept a fight in the three-time world title holder’s backyard.
Phil D. Jay covers boxing for worldboxingnews.net
