By David "Los Gatos" Rosenberg

Jean Bedard, the president of InterBox, who promote IBF super middleweight champion Lucian Bute, was not amused with a recent article on BoxingScene.com that involved WBC champion Carl Froch. In the article, Froch took a direct shot at Bute and downplayed his top status at 168-pounds.

“The winner of this fight will be the WBC and WBA champion and they’ll be talking about a fight with Lucian Bute but he’s out of the equation really, he’s not up there with the best in the world like me and Ward,” said Froch. “The fights I’ve had, as far as I’m concerned, put me at the top of the world but this fight will cement it in concrete so I can look anybody in the eye and say I’m the best super-middleweight on the planet, bar none.”

Bedard is adding Froch's name to a list of boxers who refuse to fight Bute. Mikkel Kessler is another boxer on that list, says Bedard.

"Kessler came to Montreal last March to watch Bute fight [Brian] Magee, expecting to fight him [next].  Instead, he chose to fight [Robert] Stieglitz. We have respect for Stieglitz  as a world champion but nevertheless, he lost twice by knockout to boxers who Lucian knocked out (Alejandro Berrio & Librado Andrade). Kessler said he would not put his money on Bute in the fight vs. Johnson.  I guess he must have been surprised how easily Lucian handled Johnson: Bedard said to BoxingScene.com.

"Froch was just as surprised by Lucian`s performance.  I can tell because 2 days ago he was ranting how much he wanted to unify the titles and fight Bute and now we get this message.  Talk about being mixed up. I am guessing Froch has the same feelings now, that Kessler had last March.  They`re in the 'avoid fighting Lucian at all costs' business and business is good."

"At the end of the day, Lucian and [trainer] Stephan Larouche have been watching them all for years now.  We`ve all been able to see and read between the lines and among them all, Andre Ward, who should beat Froch easily December 17th, is the only one who has pedigree and is a man of his word.  Andre is an Olympic Games Gold Medal winner and has had an illustrious professional career.  His resume speaks for itself.  He said he wants Bute next and we all feel he`s a man true to his word and accepts all challenges.  He won`t change his mind like Kessler and Froch.”