By Dan Ambrose: IBF super middleweight champion Lucian Bute (28-0, 23 KO’s) hasn’t exactly thrilled with the types of opponents he’s faced since capturing the International Boxing Federation strap back in 2007. To say that Bute has been a disappointing champion in terms of opponents fought is a huge understatement. Bute has faced pretty much nobody since capturing the belt.

On July 9th, Bute will continue the tradition by taking on 37-year-old Jean Paul Mendy (29-0-1, 16 Ko’s) in a 12 round title bout in Bute’s home country of Romexpo, Bucharest, Romania. For fans who don’t remember Mendy, he’s the guy that was knocked out in the 1st round against Sakio Bika last year in July, only to come out the winner of the fight when Bika was disqualified by throwing an additional right hand shot after Mendy had hit the canvas and was basically out.

Okay, so Mendy technically was the winner of the fight but given that he was down and badly hurt by Bika in the 1st round, it’s hard to see this as a win for Mendy. It’s even worse to see Mendy now getting a title shot against Bute. The good news is that after this fight Bute will possibly be taking on either Mikkel Kessler or Kelly Pavlik on HBO. The number #1 option is Bute-Kessler, but if that fight fails to materialize due to Kessler struggling or getting injured his tune-up fight this Saturday on June 4th against little known Mehdi Bouadla, then Pavlik will be the one that Bute goes after next. either fight would be a tremendous step up from the guys that Bute has been feasting on for the past three years and it’s hard to see Bute beating either guy.

Bute is lucky not to have been knocked out by Librado Andrade in their first fight in 2008. Facing much better fighters like Pavlik and Kessler, Bute may be in for a world of hurt. At any rate, it will be nice to finally see Bute facing a real threat instead of the fodder that he’s been beating since he captured the IBF title.