Belfast boxer Brian Magee will have home advantage for his New Year tilt at Carl Froch's British and Commonwealth super middleweight titles.
Magee's manager Pat Magee confirmed yesterday that both men would meet at Belfast's Kings Hall on March 31 next in a fight which will be televised live by Sky Sports.
Frank Maloney and Maloney promotions, in association with Team Magee, will promote the fight which guarantees the winner a shot at the European super middleweight title.
Froch retained his Commonwealth belt after a third round stoppage of South African Ruben Groenewald earlier this month and had been hoping to meet Magee in his home town of Nottingham.
However, following yesterday's purse bids in Cardiff, Magee and camp are now looking forward to the eagerly awaited clash at the Kings Hall.
Pat Magee said: "Froch said after he retained his title early this month that he would knock Brian out so it will be interesting to see how brave he is when he hears the Kings Hall roar.
"Having said that, Froch is a top class boxer and is very highly rated but I think that having home advantage will tilt the balance in our favour."
Froch will be looking forward to his second visit to Belfast as the last time he was there he won a bronze medal in the World Senior Boxing Championships in 2001.
However, with the winner of the March 31 clash guaranteed a tilt at the European title, Pat Magee believes that the atmosphere will be intense in Belfast next spring.
"The British Boxing Board of Control guaranteed us that the winner of the fight will be in line for a shot at the European Super Middleweight title," Magee continued.
"So with so much at stake we are expecting a really tough close fight in Belfast but we would be confident that we will get the right result. We hope to arrange a warm-up fight for Brian in January," he added.
