Carl Froch’s IBF World super middleweight title fight with Lucian Bute at the Capital FM Arena Nottingham on May 26 is racing to a sell-out after over 5,000 tickets were sold in the first 48 hours.

The Cobra aims to become a three-time World Champion when he faces the unbeaten Canadian, who is making the tenth defence of his title. Froch is fighting in the UK for the first time since beat Andre Dirrell in the Super Six opener at the same Arena in October 2009.

Tickets went on sale at 2pm on Monday when Froch and Bute came face-to-face at a press conference at the venue, and the demand for the hottest ticket in town was instant, with a huge queue forming at the Arena, and the phones and website were hot with fight fans snapping up the seats.

Inside the first two days over 5,000 tickets for the fight in the 9,000 seat Arena were sold, and promoter Eddie Hearn expects the fight to be sold out in the next few days.

“The response has been phenomenal but we always knew it would be,” said Hearn. “Carl’s loyal fans have followed him all over the World in the last few years so with The Cobra coming back home it was always going to be a big seller. If you haven’t got your ticket now, you need to move fast as this could be sold out by the weekend.”

Tickets for Froch’s IBF World super middleweight title challenge to Bute are on sale now priced £80, £100, £150 and £200 from the Capital FM Arena Nottingham website www.capitalfmarena.com and on 08444 124624 – £40 and £60 tickets have sold-out.

VIP packages priced at £300 are available exclusively from Matchroom Sport at www.matchroomboxing.com and 01277 359900

The Big Bang brought forward to avoid FA Cup clash

David Coldwell and Eddie Hearn would like to announce that ‘The Big Bang’ boxing show headlined by Tony Bellew vs. Danny McIntosh will be moved from its original date of Saturday April 14 2012 to one day prior on Friday April 13 2012, to avoid a clash with the potential all-Merseyside FA Cup semi-final.

The event will still take place at Liverpool’s Echo Arena and doors will now open at 6.30pm.

David Coldwell, promoter of Coldwell Boxing, issued this brief statement earlier this afternoon.

“Due to Liverpool going through and the possibility of an all-Merseyside FA Cup semi-final, we know this is the only option.

“It’s a fantastic fight with a strong undercard but when it comes to football, you can't win.

“Many of Tony's fans are Everton fans, many of the undercard boxer's fans are Liverpool fans and they all would have been disappointed to miss the show but now they can potentially attend both events.

“Adam Smith and Sky Sports have really got behind this show and have worked with us in order to secure another date for broadcast so I'm delighted that nothing has changed in that respect.”

PLEASE BE ADVISED THAT ALL TICKETS PURCHASED FOR THE ORIGINAL DATE REMAIN VALID FOR THE NEW DATE.

TICKETS FOR ‘THE BIG BANG’ CAN STILL BE PURCHASED AT WWW.COLDWELLBOXING.COM AND WWW.MATCHROOMBOXING.COM

TOWERS READY FOR SCONIERS TEST

RICHARD TOWERS is ready to show his credentials when he faces Harold Sconiers on Saturday night.

The unbeaten Sheffield heavyweight bids for his 13th straight win when he tackles the American (18-23-2) over eight rounds  in his hometown at Ponds Forge Arena.

Newport’s Gary Buckland heads the bill when he risks his British super-featherweight title defence against Middlesbrough’s Paul Truscott.

Sconiers, 35, once lost a split decision to Razor Ruddock and last month outpointed three-time world title challenger Jameel McCline.

Towers, 32, who will be targeting his 10th KO win and to send a warning to Britain’s top heavyweights Tyson Fury and David Price.

He said: “Sconiers is a tricky guy.

“I have got to be sharp, strong and aggressive. I have got to let him know that if he makes any mistakes he is paying the price.

“We are all big fellas and we all hit hard. If we catch each other on the button it is good night.

“I am going in there with ultimate respect for the fella and a strong knowledge that he knows his way around the ring.”

Other fights: Patrick Mendy v Bradley Pryce, Sergey Rabchenko v Ronny Gabel, Adam Etches v Stilian Kostoc, Scott Jenkins v Adrian Fuzesi, Mitchell Butler v Francis Maina, Carl Bell v TBA, Jason Cunningham v Ryan McNichol and Jak Perry  v Beki Moyo.

Boxing starts at 6.15pm and the handful of tickets remaining are priced £35 general admission, £55 floor seating, £75 ringside and £100 VIP Ringside. You can buy by calling The Hatton Box Office 01925 755 222, Ticketmaster 0844 847 2500, Ticketline 0844 888 9991, any boxer on the bill or online www.hattonboxing.com