Big boost for Froch

Froch: Unification tournament

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WBC super-middleweight champion Carl Froch is set to boost his profile further by taking part in a "ground-breaking" unification tournament in the division later this year.

American TV giant Showtime have put the lucrative six-man round-robin competition together and are set to announce it formally in New York on Monday.

A press release stated: "Showtime Sports to make ground-breaking boxing announcement at Madison Square Garden this Monday."

Froch is set to be joined at the official announcement by the division's top names: Jermain Taylor - whom he beat to retain his belt earlier this year - Mikkel Kessler, Arthur Abraham, Andre Ward and Andre Dirrell.

IBF king Lucian Bute is not taking part, although a showdown remains possible at some point in the future while Kessler (WBA super-middleweight) and Abraham (IBF middleweight) are both reigning world champions.

The competition appears Froch's opportunity to achieve his quest for a unification bout - the 32-year-old keen to make up time having spent years awaiting the chance to take on the world's finest.

The Nottingham fighter finally laid his hands on a world title belt in December after scoring a thrilling points victory against Canadian Jean Pascal.

Froch subsequently defended it in similarly spectacular style by coming from behind to stop Taylor in the final seconds of their bout.