Showtime refusing to make Bute vs. Froch unless Bute signs extension

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Quote :: Negotiations are ongoing between IBF super middleweight champion Lucian Bute (30-0, 24 KOs), and the Showtime network, to finalize the Canadian star's next fight. A source with knowledge of the details spoke with QMI Agency. Bute has one fight remaining on his Showtime contract. According to the source, the network is reluctant to approve an April fight between Bute and former champion Carl Froch, because it leaves the door open for Bute to win and then jump ship to HBO without fighting Andre Ward, Andre Dirrell or some of the other top "American names" at 168, who fight on Showtime.

The network signed Bute to a multi-fight deal for one reason, to fight the winner of the Super Six tournament, which is Ward.

"They are afraid that Bute will beat Froch and then HBO would step in and purchase Bute's next fight at a very high price. So there are two possibilities. The first, is that Bute agrees to fight against Froch in a fight that Showtime won't broadcast, which leaves Bute with a one-fight obligation to the network. The other possibility is that InterBox works out a deal for a one-fight extension with Showtime," the source told QMI.

Froch's promoter, Eddie Hearn, is already making plans to bring his fighter back to Nottingham on May 5th.