PROMOTER Lou DiBella says the credit crunch prohibits a fight between Carl Froch and Jermain Taylor.

Froch's promoter, Mick Hennessy, has offered Taylor $1.6m to fight for the WBC super-middleweight title.

But DiBella says it isn't going to happen.

"It's not happening because Carl's not a good fighter," said DiBella. "It's because he is not a big name in the US.

"If the fight doesn't happen it's because of money. Jermain's in his 30s and we want to maximise his earning power. How do you make a deal when you can make a lot more money for a non-title fight?

"Whoever believes this is about winning belts is an idiot. It's about making money.

"I know what it is like in the UK economically. There is a limited amount of money from ITV and from the venue, because the only place Carl generates big bucks is Nottingham."

DiBella, who has a March date on Showtime, had hoped to match Taylor with Froch victim Jean Pascal. But Pascal pulled out this week. Taylor could now fight stable-mate Allan Green on March 28, while Froch is unlikely to box until April.

Out of the top ten only Andre Dirrell (No.2), Marcus Johnson (No.4), Sakio Bika (No.6), Alejandro Berrio (No.8) and Rob Stieglitz (No.9) are readily available.

Andrew Ward (No.3) fights Henry Buchanan on Shobox on February 6 and is then being lined up for a fight with Glen Johnson at 170lbs.

Anthony Mundine (No.7) takes on middleweight Shanon Taylor on February 11, while Fulgencio Zuniga (No.10) meets IBF champion Lucian Bute on March 13.

Froch has been offered Mads Larsen – who has been beaten only twice in 53 fights. But the former WBF and IBO champion, now 35 and based in Germany, is only ranked No.12 by the WBC.

Froch is also being linked with top Dane Mikkel Kessler but would like to make at least one defence before tackling the experienced WBA champion.

Derby's Ovill McKenzie is a reserve for the big prizefighter tournament at York Hall on February 20.