By Edward Chaykovsky

IBF/WBA super middleweight champion Carl Froch is growing more confident that a deal will be reached for a March showdown in Las Vegas in Las Vegas against Julio Cesar Chavez Jr. Froch has been out of action since a May knockout victory over George Groves before a crowd of 80,000 at Wembley.

Froch's promoter Eddie Hearn of Matchroom has revealed that there have been productive talks with Chavez's new adviser Al Haymon.

"I'm more hopeful than ever that the fight will happen, hopefully at the end of March," Froch told Sportsmail. "There's a dispute between Chavez and Top Rank but the kid's got to fight. Sooner or later that will be resolved and when it does, I believe Froch-Chavez will be made. We have to make a decision and Froch can either ask for an exemption, fight [mandatory James] DeGale or vacate."