Carl Froch says he is "close" to finalising a deal to fight American Jermain Taylor in the first defence of his WBC super-middleweight title.

Negotiations have dragged on but the Nottingham boxer is confident the bout will take place in America in April.

"We're very close to doing it," the 31-year-old told BBC East Midlands Today. "I could say 'if you're not coming to England I'm not fighting'.

"But I want to go over to the States and make it big over there anyway."

A fight against mandatory challenger Taylor had been on the cards following Froch's thrilling victory over Canadian Jean Pascal at the Nottingham Arena last December.

606: DEBATE I really do hope Froch gets the Taylor fight. He is in a really difficult position, he wants the big fights but doesn't get them as he's apparently not a 'name' whu1980

But the deal was in doubt because of financial reasons and Froch is just glad it looks like the fight will now go ahead - irrespective of location.

"It looks like it is going to be mid-late April, it's going to be in America - he won't come to England," Froch said.

"I could say 'I'm the champion, come to me'.

"But being who I am and the fighter I am, I want to go over to the States and there's no time like the present."

Reports in the US have claimed that the fight will be on 18 or 25 April in either New York or Florida.

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