IBF MANDATORY STATUS MEANS SUPER MIDDLEWEIGHT CHAMPION CARL FROCH MUST DEFEND TITLE AGAINST ADONIS STEVENSON PURSE BID SET FOR JANUARY 15

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE MONTREAL (January 4, 2013) - Finally, after much speculation about his next opponent, International Boxing Federation (IBF) super middleweight Carl "The Cobra" Froch (30-2-0, 22 KOs), of Great Britain, is forced to defend his belt against mandatory contender Adonis "Superman" Stevenson (19-1-0, 16 KOs). In a letter from IBF representative Lindsey Tucker, dated January 2, 2013, sent to the promoters of Froch and Stevenson, both parties were invited to negotiate and Jan. 15 was imposed as the deadline. If at that time the parties were unable to reach an agreement a purse bid would be held in the IBF offices in New Jersey. If Froch, for whatever reason, decided to withdraw from this process then it would he removed as champion and Stevenson would be invited to fight for the vacant title against the next highest-ranking available IBF challenger. If Stevenson withdrew he would be excluded from the IBF's top 10 contenders for six months and the highest-ranked available contender would replace him. "I'm finally realizing my goal of a world championship fight, facing a great champion like Carl Froch," Stevenson said about the turn of events. "I know he's had great victories during his career, particularly against two other Quebec fighters, Jean Pascal and Lucian Bute, but I have all of the tools needed to emerge victorious in a great fight. I would obviously like the fight to take place here in Quebec, but I have no problem winning the title in England, if necessary. " "Carl Froch not only has the obligation to fight Adonis Stevenson," said the president of GYM, Yvon Michel, "but the 'Superman' fight is certainly the most profitable, as well as the best alternative for the champion and his only way to keep his IBF title belt. I know Froch's promoter, Eddie Hearn, wants this fight to take place in England, and he has also sent an interesting offer for a date in May. From our side, we will rally all of Quebec Nation to get behind us and try to convince the Super Six finalist to come here to defend his crown in March or April. We have also sent a very generous offer for this purpose. He had the opportunity to beat Pascal and Bute at his home in Nottingham. Isn't it his turn to visit us in Quebec?" Both parties believe that, despite the short time period, an agreement can be negotiated but, if that isn't the case, then the purse bid action on Jan. 15 would then determine the outcome. -30 -

About Groupe Yvon Michel Inc: Groupe Yvon Michel (GYM) was founded in 2004. The organization's mission is the development of high-level boxers, supported by coaching and management for competition. To achieve its objectives, GYM actively recruits talent and organizes events. Since its inception eight years ago, GYM has produced 106 events, including historical ticket sales and PPV viewership for Pascal vs. Hopkins I and II. GYM has produced more than 300 hours of television with Canal Indigo, Bell TV, Shaw TV, TVA Sports, VOX, TVA, CBC, RDS and V, in Canada, as well as HBO, Showtime and ESPN in the United States. A total of six different GYM boxers have participated in 16 world championship fights. Under the tutelage of GYM, Joachim Alcine captured the WBA super welterweight title in 2007, and Jean Pascal the WBC light heavyweight crown in 2009.

Carl Froch vs. Yusaf Mack

IBF Super Middleweight Championship Nottingham, United Kingdom ● Saturday, Nov. 17, 2012 Live on Pay Per View - 3:00 PM/ET 12:00 PM/PT

Integrated Sports Media Distributing 'True Brit: Froch vs. Mack' Live on PPV & FIGHT NOW TV Nov. 17 in United States Carl "The Cobra" Froch (L) in action against Lucian Bute. HOBOKEN, N.J. (October 9, 2012) -- Integrated Sports Media, the pound-for-pound king of sports distribution in North America, announced today that it will distribute "True Brit" in the United States, featuring International Boxing Federation (IBF) super middleweight champion Carl "The Cobra" Froch defending against challengerYusaf Mack, on Saturday afternoon, November 17, live from Capital FM Arena in Nottingham, United Kingdom. "True Brit," presented by Matchroom Boxing, will be distributed in the United States by Integrated Sports Media for live viewing at 3:00 PM/ET - 12:00 PM/PT on bothcable and satellite pay-per-view via iN Demand, DIRECTV, DISH Network and Avail-TVN for a suggested retail price of only $29.95. "True Brit" will also be available to view via Fight Now TV, America's only 24-hour combat sports and entertainment channel, on Cablevision channel 464 as part of the iO Gold package. "Carl Froch is one the top pound-for-pound fighters in the world today," Integrated Sports media president Doug Jacobs said. "He's also one of the most popular and entertaining boxers who American fans can't get enough of. His title defense against Yusaf Mack certainly will draw interest from his hometown fans in Philadelphia. The light heavyweight title fight, featuring a pair of world-class fighters, will introduce Britain's Tony Bellew and Argentina's Roberto Bolonti to American boxing fans. Integrated Sports is very happy to be delivering 'True Brit' in the U.S." "I am delighted that 'True Brit' will be available in America on pay-per-view and for subscribers of Fight Now TV," said Froch's promoter and Matchroom Sport managing director Eddie Hearn. "It's going to be a fantastic night of boxing in Nottingham, with Froch and Mack leading the way. Carl has a great fan base in the States after some fantastic performances there and his win over Lucian Bute proved he is one of the most exciting sportsmen on the planet. This is a fight not to be missed with a brilliant undercard of young British fighting talent led by Tony Bellew that I know the US fans are going to love to watch." Froch (29-2, 21 KOs) captured the IBF title in his last fight, May 26 with a stunning fifth-round technical knockout of previously undefeated champion Lucian Bute (30-1). In his last eight fights, dating back to 2008, Froch has defeated Bute, Glen Johnson (DEC12), Arthur Abraham (DEC12), Andre Dirrell (DEC12), Jermain Taylor (TKO12) and Jean Pascal (DEC12), losing only to unbeaten Andre Ward(DEC12) in the final of the Super Six Tournament and Mikkel Kessler (DEC12). All but Dirrell have been world champion. Froch, who will be fighting in his hometown, is world rated by The Ring Magazine as the No. 1 contender. Mack (31-4, 17 KOs) has been fighting as a light heavyweight since 2008. He is the reigning United States Boxing Association 175-pound title-holder and rated No. 6 by the IBF. The 32-year-old Mack is a typically tough Philly fighter who lost his only world title shot to IBF light heavyweight champion Tavoris Cloud by eighth-round technical knockout in 2006. Mack, who was leading on two of three judges' scorecards after seven rounds (68-65, 67-66, 66-67) against Cloud, has defeated, among the more notables, Omar Sheika, Chris Henry, Daniel Judah. Three of his four career losses have been to world champions - Cloud, Johnson and Alejandro Berrio - and the other to two-time world title challenger Librado Andrade. UK fan favorite Bellew (18-1, 12 KOs) takes on South American champion Bolonti (30-1, 19 KOs) in the 12-round co-feature for the vacant World Boxing Council (WBC) Silver light heavyweight championship and an official WBC eliminator. Bellew, rated No. 10 by The Ring Magazine and No. 14 by the World Boxing Organization (WBO), is coming off of impressive back-to-back victories over Edison Miranda (TKO9) and Danny McIntosh (TKO5), following Bellew's only career to undefeated WBO champion Nathan Cleverly last year by 12-round majority decision. Bolonti (30-1, 19 KOs) is riding a 26-fight winning streak into his Nov. 17 fight with Bellew. The Argentinean will be fighting outside of his native Buenos Aires, Argentina for the first time. He is rated No. 7 by the WBC, as well as No. 10 by the World Boxing Association (WBA) and IBF.   The entire PPV card, pending time restrictions, will also showcase some of Britain's top prospects such as lightweights Scott "Scotty" Cardle (5-0, 1 KO) and Martin J. Ward (2-0), in separate bouts, bantamweight Khalid "Kal" Yafai (3-0, 2 KOs), middleweight Ryan "Tank" Aston (7-1, 3 KOs), and featherweight Leigh "Leigh-thal" Wood (4-0, 1 KO). All fights and fighters are subject to change. Go online to www.integratedsportsmedia.com, www.fightnow.com for more information about the "True Grit" PPV. Follow Integrated Sports on Twitter @integratedppv and Fight Now TV @fightnowtv. About Integrated Sports Media: North America's leading distributor of International Pay-Per-View and Closed Circuit sports events has presented World Championship and world-class boxing matches featuring Erik Morales, Vitali Klitschko, Ricky Hatton, Cristian Mijares, Evander Holyfield, Roy Jones, Jr., Tomasz Adamek, Ivan Calderon, Pauli Malignaggi, Rocky Martinez, Nicolai Valuev, Amir Khan, Marco Antonio Barrera, Arthur Abraham, David Haye, John Ruiz, Wilfredo Vasquez, Jr., Brian Viloria, Giovani Segura and Ruslan Chagaev. Also World Championship and world-class mixed martial arts shows featuring Fedor Emelianenko, Tim Sylvia, Bobby Lashley, Mirko Filipovic, Bob Sapp, Jeff Monson, and Roy Nelson. In addition, Integrated Sports Media distributed numerous International soccer matches featuring teams like Real Madrid,Club America of Mexico and the National Teams of Argentina, Honduras, El Salvador and the USA. For more information on upcoming Integrated Sports events visit www.integratedsportsnet.com. About FIGHT NOW TV: With offices in New Jersey, Las Vegas and Toronto, FIGHT NOW TV is a cross-platform media company that creates and distributes content through its television, video on demand, and online outlets. Founded by Channel Zero, Inc. and media entrepreneur Mike Garrow, FIGHT NOW TV launched last year as the first and only 24-hour-a-day, seven-days-a-week combat sports channel in the nation. The network's mandate is to bring the best battles, fiercest fights and stunning knockouts to America. FIGHT NOW TV caters to fight fans of every genre, giving them a front row seat to compelling coverage of MMA, boxing, wrestling/grappling, Muay Thai, kickboxing and other combat sports. FIGHT NOW TV is the place for the best analysis, live and current events, documentaries and news coverage of the biggest PPV events and match-ups from around the globe.

FROCH: WEIGH-IN CROWD WILL GIVE ME EARLY EDGE

The Cobra tells fans to start the party early at Friday’s weigh-in

Carl Froch believes he can get an early advantage over Lucian Bute at tomorrow’s public weigh-in at the Capital FM Arena in Nottingham, live on Sky Sports News at 2.45pm.

Froch and Bute will take to the scales ahead of Saturday nights IBF super middleweight World title clash, and The Cobra wants his fans to turn out in force just like they did when 3,000 of them cheered him on at the weigh-in for his last fight in Nottingham against Andre Dirrell three years ago.

“Bute is going to feel the full force of my fans tomorrow – there’s nothing like The Cobra’s army in full force,” said Froch. “It looks like it’s going to be a beautiful day so I hope they come out in their thousands.

“When I weighed in for the Dirrell fight they definitely gave me an edge – he was intimidated by the huge numbers and then they started chanting for me. They created a real racket and they will tomorrow – and Lucian will get a little idea of what’s in store for him on Saturday night, but times by three.”

Extremely limited tickets for Froch’s IBF World super middleweight title challenge to Bute are on sale from the Capital FM Arena Nottingham website www.capitalfmarena.com and on 08444 124624.

SCOTTY CARDLE RELISHING SECOND BIG NIGHT OUT

Team GB star following Sheffield blockbuster with a Big Bang in Liverpool

Scotty Cardle laces the gloves up for his second pro outing on Friday night as the Team GB star fights on the undercard of Tony Bellew’s British light heavyweight title defence against Danny McIntosh, live on Sky Sports 1HD.

Cardle made his pro bow on the undercard of Kell Brook’s welterweight showdown with Matthew Hatton in Sheffield on March 17 with a shutout points win over Sid Razak, and the Blackpool fighter was given the star treatment by promoter Eddie Hearn and Sky Sports.

The show was a huge hit with fight fans on Sky Sports, notching the highest non-pay-per-view viewing figures for boxing for the broadcaster, and the 22 year old was able to soak up the atmosphere with a full walk-on in front of the huge Steel City turn-out.

“I remember being in the changing rooms and someone coming in and saying ‘you’ve got the ring-walk’, and I was thinking ‘you’ve got to be kidding, it’s only my debut, I haven’t done enough to get a ring-walk!’” said Cardle. “Just coming out from the lights, and the reception I got alone was amazing, I was overwhelmed by that. There was an electric atmosphere in the arena it must’ve been great to watch on TV, I’m not surprised it got such high numbers on Sky Sports.”

Cardle was hot property as he decided to turn over to the paid ranks, and decided to sign with Matchroom Sport and Hearn after meeting with promoters across the country – and it’s a decision he feels has paid off already, with his Sheffield and Liverpool appearances preceding a spot on the undercard of Carl Froch’s IBF World super middleweight title fight with Lucian Bute in Nottingham on May 26.

“I couldn’t really ask for much more than the three dates that Eddie Hearn has given me,” said Cardle. “I’m in the big-time already. It’s just great to be part of all these big nights and be on the undercard of such great fights already. Tony Bellew’s a great fighter and his fan base is fantastic so Friday night is going to be a great occasion – I’ve got a lot of people coming to cheer me on too and I cannot wait to get in there and experience it all over again.

“I thought my debut went really well. The nerves building up to it were electric, but they were good nerves, I used them well in the fight. Now I’m just chomping at the bit for my next fight. The good thing is that it went well, it was an impressive win I hope. I hope I turned a few heads in the arena and now it’s onto bigger and better things in my next one.

“I knew what I was in for with Sid Razak. Sid’s a survivor, a very durable fighter so I that’s what I was expecting and that’s what I got from him. He did say to me after the fight that he was shocked that he stayed with me, shocked that he lasted the four rounds. He told me I was very strong and that he was glad he survived it because he had a fight the next week. I felt that I did buckle him a few times, but he’s a very tough guy and he well to handle me for the full four rounds, so I’ll give credit where it’s due.

“I’ve been in the ring more than 100 times as an amateur but I did think it was a big difference fighting as a pro. There’s no head guards so you get a much wider view firstly, but then because of that you can’t really relax, you can’t really sleep on the other boxer because any shot can be vital, any shot can be dangerous. So you’ve got to keep switched on at all times, that’s what I learnt. Obviously I didn’t really get hit that much by Sid but there were I think two occasions where I got clocked and that’s the thing, you just can’t relax on a boxer. You’ve got to keep your head on the job and keep your concentration.”

TICKETS FOR ‘THE BIG BANG’ CAN STILL BE PURCHASED AT WWW.COLDWELLBOXING.COM AND WWW.MATCHROOMBOXING.COM

Tickets are priced at £30, £40, £60 and £80 with VIP tickets at £150.

FROCH VS. BUTE HEADING TO SKY SPORTS

IBF World title fight live from Nottingham on May 26

Matchroom Sport and Sky Sports are delighted to announce that Carl Froch’s IBF super middleweight World title challenge against Lucian Bute on May 26 will be live on Sky Sports 1HD.

Froch faces the undefeated champion in a marquee night of boxing at Nottingham’s Capital FM Arena, with The Cobra gunning to become a three-time World champion in his first fight in his hometown since beating Andre Dirrell in October 2009.

Bute puts his title on the line in the biggest test of his career to date and fight fans will be able to see all the action unfold live on Sky Sports. Froch and Bute’s blockbuster is ably supported by an undercard featuring undefeated Commonwealth super bantamweight king Carl Frampton, Erick ‘The Eagle’ Ochieng defending his English light middleweight title against Nottingham’s AA Lowe, Bute’s fellow Canadian and IBF Inter-Continental light welterweight champion Pier Olivier Cote making his UK debut and exciting unbeaten stars John Ryder, Ryan Aston and Team GB star Scotty Cardle also featuring, and Froch’s promoter Eddie Hearn says that the deal is a winner for boxing fans.

“I’m delighted for fight fans that this blockbusting night for British boxing will be broadcast by Sky Sports,” said Hearn. “The fight will be aired live in over 20 countries and is one of the most anticipated match-ups of the year, finishing off a stunning month of boxing action on Sky and continues Matchroom Sport’s big fight strategy for the 2012 and beyond.”

Barney Francis, managing director of Sky Sports said: “Froch vs. Bute live from the Capital FM Arena in Nottingham in front of Carl’s hometown fans promises to be one of the fights of the year, and it’s part of a great month of boxing on Sky Sports that includes Amir Khan’s rematch with Lamont Peterson, British heavyweight David Price’s clash with Sam Sexton and the latest in the Prizefighter series from Ireland.”

Tickets for Froch’s IBF World super middleweight title challenge to Bute are on sale now priced £80 and £150 from the Capital FM Arena Nottingham website http://www.capitalfmarena.com/  and on 08444 124624 – £40, £60, £100 and £200 tickets have sold-out, as have the VIP packages priced at £300.

FRAMPTON LANDS CHIEF SUPPORT SLOT ON FROCH BILL

Global exposure for Belfast super bantamweight star – Ochieng defends English title – Cote makes UK bow



Carl Frampton will provide the chief support on the undercard of Carl Froch’s IBF World super middleweight title challenge to Lucian Bute in Nottingham on May 26.



The Commonwealth super bantamweight champion will fight at the Capital FM Arena in front of a huge global audience with the event aired by EPIX in the United States and live in more than 20 countries across the world, including the UK, Canada, Spain, Germany, Russia, Japan and in Scandinavia.



The unbeaten 25 year old defended his Commonwealth title for the second time in Sheffield on March 17 with a second round knockout of Ghanaian Prosper Ankrah, following his explosive win over Kris Hughes at York Hall, Bethnal Green in January with a knockout of the year contending right hand in the seventh.



It’s a stacked undercard of young talent with Islington’s Erick ‘The Eagle’ Ochieng defending his English light middleweight title against Nottingham’s AA Lowe, who landed the shot at Ochieng after beating fellow Nottinghamshire fighter Terry Maughan with a fourth round stoppage to claim the British Masters title.



International flavour is added by Bute’s fellow Canadian Pier Olivier Cote and the IBF Inter-Continental light welterweight champion will face Wolverhampton’s Mark Lloyd as Cote fights for the first time in the UK.



Islington’s exciting middleweight star John Ryder is looking to move to 11-0 and faces a tough night against Yorkshire’s Luke Robinson, and fellow Matchroom Sport fighter Ryan Aston also fights on the bill.



Team GB star Scotty Cardle will make his third pro outing and local fighters Leigh Wood and Adnan Amar will also taste the action on a huge night of top class action in their city.



“It’s a great line-up and another chance for Carl Frampton to get massive exposure,” said promoter Eddie Hearn. “The unbeaten super bantamweight star heads an exciting undercard group alongside Erick Ochieng, Pier Olivier Cote, John Ryder, Ryan Aston and Scotty Cardle, who will provide plenty of entertainment to a global TV audience before the mouth-watering main event.”



Tickets for Froch’s IBF World super middleweight title challenge to Bute are on sale now priced £80 and £150 from the Capital FM Arena Nottingham website http://www.capitalfmarena.com/ and on 08444 124624 – £40, £60, £100 and £200 tickets have sold-out, as have the VIP packages priced at £300.

RONDA ROUSEY CAPTURES STRIKEFORCE WOMEN’S BANTAMWEIGHT CHAMPIONSHIP VIA FIRST-ROUND ARMBAR SUBMISSION OVER MIESHA TATE

Catch the Replay Today/Sunday at 10 a.m. ET/PT on SHOWTIME® and

Tuesday, March 6 at 10 p.m. ET/PT on SHOWTIME EXTREME®



COLUMBUS, Ohio (March 4, 2012) – In the main event of STRIKEFORCE®: TATE vs. ROUSEY on SHOWTIME®, Ronda Rousey (5-0), of Venice, Calif. won the STRIKEFORCE Women’s Bantamweight Championship with her fifth straight victory – and fifth straight first-round submission via armbar - over Miesha Tate (12-3), of Yakima, Wash. at 4:27 of round one from the Nationwide Arena in Columbus, Ohio.



Full Card Official Results



Josh Thomson (19-4, 1 NC), of San Jose, Calif., scored a unanimous decision with title implications in the lightweight division over KJ Noons (10-4), of San Diego, Calif., by the scores of 29-28 three times.



Kazuo Misaki (25-11-2, 1 NC), of Tokyo, Japan, won a bloody split decision over Paul Daley (29-12-2), of Nottingham, England. The scores were 30-27, 29-28 for Misaki and 29-28 for Daley.



Lumumba Sayers (6-2), of Denver, Colo. submitted Scott Smith (18-10, 1 NC), of Elk Grove, Calif., via guillotine choke after catching him with a highlight reel back body drop.



“Jacare” Souza (15-3, 1 NC), of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, submitted Bristol Marunde (15-7), of Las Vegas, Nev., via arm triangle choke at 2:43 in the third round.



Headling the card on SHOWTIME EXTREME®, Sarah Kaufman (15-1), Victoria, British Columbia, Canada, won a majority decision with title implications in the women’s bantamweight division over Alexis Davis (11-5), of Jensen Beach, Fla., by the scores of 29-28 two times and 29-29.



Roger Bowling (11-2), of Cincinnati, Ohio, stopped Brandon Saling (8-6), of Byesville, Ohio, on strikes in the second round.



Pat Healy (29-17), of Portland, Oregon, submitted Caros Fodor (7-1, 1 NC), of Kirkland, Wash., at 3:35 in the third round.



Ryan Couture (4-1), of Las Vegas, Nev., scored a TKO via referee stoppage due to strikes over Conor Heun (9-5), of Hollywood, Calif., at 2:52 of round three.



Mauro Ranallo called the action alongside analysts Frank Shamrock and Pat Miletich with Heidi Androl serving as cageside reporter. The executive producer is David Dinkins Jr.



For information on SHOWTIME Sports, including exclusive behind-the-scenes video and photo galleries, complete telecast information and more, please visit the website at http://sports.SHO.com.



For more information or the latest STRIKEFORCE news, visit www.strikeforce.com.



About STRIKEFORCE®

Owned and operated by Forza, LLC, a subsidiary of Zuffa, LLC, which also owns the Ultimate Fighting Championship® brand, STRIKEFORCE® is a world-class mixed martial arts promotion based in Las Vegas, Nev. that currently holds live events annually across the United States. First established as a mixed martial arts entity in 2006, STRIKEFORCE now broadcasts its events live on Showtime® Networks, Inc. and has produced two live, primetime events on the CBS Television Network. With a growing roster featuring the world’s elite competitors, STRIKEFORCE has cemented its place as a leader in providing quality mixed martial arts action.



About Showtime Networks Inc.:

Showtime Networks Inc. (SNI), a wholly-owned subsidiary of CBS Corporation, owns and operates the premium television networks SHOWTIME®, THE MOVIE CHANNEL™ and FLIX®, as well as the multiplex channels SHOWTIME 2™, SHOWTIME® SHOWCASE, SHOWTIME EXTREME®, SHOWTIME BEYOND®, SHOWTIME NEXT®, SHOWTIME WOMEN®, SHOWTIME FAMILY ZONE® and THE MOVIE CHANNEL™ XTRA. SNI also offers SHOWTIME HD™, THE MOVIE CHANNEL™ HD, SHOWTIME ON DEMAND® and THE MOVIE CHANNEL™ ON DEMAND, and the network's authentication service SHOWTIME ANYTIME®. SNI also manages Smithsonian Networks, a joint venture between SNI and the Smithsonian Institution, which offers Smithsonian Channel™. All SNI feeds provide enhanced sound using Dolby Digital 5.1. SNI markets and distributes sports and entertainment events for exhibition to subscribers on a pay-per-view basis through SHOWTIME PPV®.

Froch to face Bute for IBF title in Nottingham on May 26

The Cobra battles Canadian for World title in first hometown fight in over two years

Carl Froch will challenge Lucian Bute for the IBF World super middleweight title at the Capital FM Arena in Nottingham on May 26.

The Nottingham star will fight in his hometown for the first time since October 2009 against the unbeaten Canadian-based Romanian who will defend his belt for the tenth time against The Cobra.

Froch comes back home after fighting the best in the business on the road as part of the Super Six World Boxing Classic, facing Mikkel Kessler in Denmark, Arthur Abraham in Finland and a semi-final and final in Atlantic City against Glen Johnson and Andre Ward.

The 34 year-old has championed a huge hometown show since teaming up with new promoter Eddie Hearn and he is delighted to be back fighting in front of a home crowd.

“It's a dream come true to get this opportunity to become a three-time World Champion in my hometown of Nottingham,” said Froch. “The Super Six was an incredible journey for me but I missed fighting in the UK and it was important that Eddie and I made that happen and for it to be for a World title is the icing on the cake. I'm ready to go to war all over again.”

“It’s my goal to fight the best boxers in super middleweight division,” said Bute. “Carl Froch belongs in the elite of the super middleweight division and it will be a great fight. I am very confident and it will not faze me fighting in enemy territory. Supporters of Carl Froch will live their greatest disappointment. The IBF belt will fly roundtrip Montreal-Nottingham and back!”

“We are delighted to have agreed terms for what I believe will be the biggest night for British boxing in many years,” said Hearn. “I have to respect Lucian and his team for agreeing to enter the Lion’s Den and face Carl in his hometown of Nottingham but am fully confident that Carl can become a World champion again on this epic night.”

“We really wanted to press forward with this fight,” said InterBox’s president, Jean Bedard. “We’ve been insistent, made some concessions, but it was important to realise this is a fight that Lucian, our fans and our partners wanted. Also, I am convinced that Lucian will silence the critics. Lucian is showing great courage in agreeing to defend his title in enemy territory.”

“It is great news that Carl has landed this fight as it is one that we have wanted for a long time” said Froch’s trainer Rob McCracken. “I have always been confident that Carl will beat Lucian, and I will have him fully prepared and in the best possible shape on May 26.”

“Lucian has already fought outside Canada in his professional career,” said Bute’s trainer, Stephan Larouche. “This is a great challenge ahead for him on May 26 and Lucian will perform to his fullest as he always does. The style of these two incredible fighters will make for an explosive fight that I am sure boxing fans around the world won’t want to miss.”