By Scott Gilfoid: Negotiations for a November fight between unbeaten South African talent Thomas Oosthuizen (20-0-1, 13 KO’s) and IBF super middleweight champion Carl Froch (29-2, 21 KO’s) are close to being completed for a fight that will take place in Froch’s home city of Nottingham, England, according to ESPN.co.uk.

American former WBC/WBO middleweight champion Kelly Pavlik was said to have been under consideration for the bout but he wasn’t up for traveling to the UK and fighting Froch at home.

Oosthuizen, 24, is ranked #4 by the International Boxing Federation and is one of the division’s most exciting talents due to his size, chin, heart, power and high work rate. Oosthuizen has impressive wins over Rowland Bryant, Marcus Johnson, Francisco Sierra and Aaron Pryor Jr. He’s got the arm length at height at 6’4″ to give Froch a tremendous amount of problems. Oosthuizen’s youth is also going to be something that will hurt Froch, because he’s a young lad and doesn’t have the age and the miles on him like Froch does.

Froch has got his sights set on big money rematches against former IBF super middleweight champion Lucian Bute and former conqueror Mikkel Kessler in 2013. Froch no doubt is really looking forward to those fights and can probably already taste that good green cash that’s going to come with those fights. However, Oosthuizen is right up there with those guys in terms of talent and he’s much younger. We could see a minor upset if November if this fight gets made, because Froch is there for the picking and has already been exposed by Andre Ward and Kessler in that past. You can add Andre Dirrell’s name to that list for fighters that have had their way with Froch, although Dirrell didn’t get the decision in a fight that took place against Froch in 2009 in the Super Six tourney. Dirrell had Froch missing with shots all night long and looking befuddled.

I think Oosthuizen has got the talent to pull off a big win against Froch in November. The only thing I’m concerned about is whether Oosthuizen will be given the decision. I’d hate to see him go into Nottingham, dominate Froch like Dirrell did and have to settle for a loss. That would be bad for the young talent.