By Rick Reeno
Sources close to the negotiations have advised BoxingScene.com that a super middleweight unification between undefeated champions [WBC] Carl Froch and [IBF] Lucian Bute is penciled in for September - if a rematch between Bute and Librado Andrade is not finalized within the next few days.
Bute's people have been trying to make a deal with Andrade and his manager, Al Haymon, but are only giving it a few more days to actually happen. There have been some problems because neither network, HBO or Showtime, is interested in buying Bute-Andrade. From what I've been told, Showtime has already made a commitment to reserve a September date for a possible Froch-Bute encounter.
Considering the money involved with the American, Canadian and British television rights, it's no surprise that Bute and Froch are requesting to fight each other. According to more than one source, Bute has agreed to fight Froch in England.