The May 26th matchup between defending IBF super middleweight champion Lucian Bute and his challenger, former two-time WBC super middleweight champion and recent Super Six runner-up Carl Froch could be held outdoors in Nottingham, due to the enormous interest in tickets for the fight.

Promoter Eddie Hearn said “Since announcing the fight, the phones, emails and tweets have been relentless. Sight fans and sports fans all want to see these two world-beaters clash, and I want to make sure as many people as possible get the chance.It is important that Carl gets to fight in Nottingham and I am looking at two outdoor venues there. We are also looking at venues in London and Manchester but we are working with Nottingham City Council to try to keep the fight in Carl’s hometown.”

It will be the 10th title defense for the unbeaten Bute (30-0, 24 KOs), but only the second time that he has defended his crown outside of Quebec. Last July, he stopped the previously unbeaten Frenchman Jean Paul Mendy on a fourth-round knockout in his native Romania. Bute has an enormous following in Canada, and is the third biggest draw in boxing in North America behind Manny Pacquiao and Floyd Mayweather.