True but you're forgetting Green! You can't leave the number 2 of the division when you make a tournament and proclaim the winner the champion. Bute had an easier path because he was ignored, not because he wanted to. All the Ward and Froch's fans can say what they want: the super 6 winner will have unfinished business to do to prove his supremacy. Hey! Good new, that's going to happen! P.S. Ward' path has been a lot easier that Froch's. Kessler was a very big one but that's it. Bika and Abraham are not in the elite's league of the SMW.
What are you saying? Surely you jest, man. Don't you think This content is protected high level This content is protected covering four years prove something when they include victories over such illustrious competition as 5'9" 37 year old career middleweight William "The Done" Joppy, Edison Miranda - whose ample ring IQ and boxing skill level make Arthur Abraham look nearly diverse and adaptable, Jesse "I'm A Pro Boxer That Would Get My Ass Kicked By Random Patrons In Any 50 bars In Las Vegas" Brinkley, & Brian "I Don't Have A Memorable Victory" Magee? Surely these type of notable victories are proof enough. Lucian has been long willing to fight the very best and his team has been pulling out all the stops to make the big fights happen. The other notable fighters in the division have obviously chosen to take the easy way out. They must have ALL declined to face Lucian in the ring. A nice payday to perform in Montreal has simply not been enough to motivate them. Only REAL men - like those noted above - have been willing to step into ring and face the consequences over these past four years. Is it Lucian This content is protected - or Lucian who hasn't given himself the chance to prove it? Bute will be 32 years old, five years holding a belt, and in his tenth title fight before he finally decides to test himself (if he takes on Kessler - for example - in 2012). While that is somewhat better than the ex-WBO champ who waited until he was 34 years old, eight and a half years holding a belt, and in his eighteenth title fight, is this really the path that makes someone a fan and ardent defender? I suppose it could be said that it may up the odds of success to let all the able live bodies kill themselves fighting each other and then you can slip in at the end - in pristine/mint condition - and fight one or two fatigued and worn fighters (at home with only/always the most favorable conditions). Perhaps we should expect Lucian to hold out a few more years and then he'll go for the fifty year old (lol) BHOP after having also propped the corpse of RJJ against a ringpost for a final move up to LHW to cap off his career. This kind of ring bravery is inspiring. The original SVEN. Sven of the We_s_. Now Sven-bec. All undefeated. Never bested. Legendary. Wonder if Ottke has any wins at an ice rink? He must.
Kesslar got his ass beat and quit, Bute didn't have the sack to enter, so I'm not sure why either get a pass to the "fictional final". Who did Bute beat to earn his spot? How did Kesslar earn his spot?
The winner might not be the undisputed champ but "THE FINAL" is the final of the tournament which Bute had no part in.