Harlesden boxer James DeGale has been handed a shot at the IBF super-middleweight title after Carl Froch’s decision to vacate the belt.
DeGale became the mandatory challenger for the IBF strap when he defeated Brandon Gonzales on the undercard of the Froch-Groves re-match at Wembley Stadium.
Froch had been hoping to fight Julio Cesar Chavez Jr in Las Vegas on March 28 but a troublesome elbow injury put paid to that bout.
"It's been a frustrating couple of weeks with terms agreed for the Chavez fight only for me to be unable to proceed in camp due to injury," said Froch.
"I know what it's like to wait for a shot and I didn't want to hold James up in fighting for a world title.
"James is a great fighter and I hope he can go out and win that title and who knows, we may even meet later in the year."
DeGale is set to face American Andre Dirrell for Froch's newly-vacated title on April 25 at London's O2 Arena.
