Carl Froch has relinquished his International Boxing Federation (IBF) super middleweight belt as the Briton ­recovers from the elbow injury that forced him to miss out on a fight with Julio Cesar Chavez Jr.

Froch, who also holds the World Boxing Association version of the title, had hoped to fight Chavez in Las Vegas next month.

Fellow Briton James DeGale, the mandatory challenger for the IBF belt, could now get a world title shot.

Froch has not fought since knocking out George Groves at Wembley in May.

The Nottingham-based fighter has hinted at retirement although a money-spinning clash with Chavez or Bernard Hopkins is still a possibility.