Andre Ward: Carl Froch not interested in a rematch

Andre Ward doesn't think former IBF and WBA super-middleweight champion Carl Froch will want to face him again.

Live Saturday Fight Night

Ward, 31, returns to professional boxing after 19 months embroiled in contractual disputes when he takes on Liverpool's Paul Smith on Saturday night - live on Sky Sports - and the vast majority of the boxing world expects him to retain his unbeaten record.

Ward handed Froch his second and only unavenged career defeat in December 2011 with a unanimous points decision in Atlantic CIty, and there had been suggestions the Nottingham fighter would hold off retirement to fight one last time at Wembley.

But ahead of taking on Smith in Oakland, WBA (super) champion Ward is sceptical of the chances of a rematch with the 37-year-old and also revealed that if one were to take place, he would be keen to rubber-stamp his superiority by knocking Froch out.

"It's tough go back and forth. I personally like Froch. I mean personally I do. I appreciate not just his toughness but I appreciate his competitiveness," Ward told Sky Sports.

"I see a lot of myself in Froch. He’s very competitive and that's like me; Id rather let you take an arm than beat me - and that's how he is.

"Honestly I don’t think he wants to fight.

I wouldn't want another decision - I'd want to knock him out and stop him so I just think it's a rivalry that is authentic and real.

"I was open to it a couple of months ago when the WBA mandated that we speak. I don't know what happened with that. It went from possibly fighting at Wembley to fighting in Nottingham. I can give but I can't give everything.  To me that was an answer; he doesn't want to fight me and that's fine.

"If he doesn't want it, it's a dead issue and I can move on. I'm not a guy who is going to chase it or do articles, or beep the horn. If there's nothing there there’s nothing there.

"I think a fight between us would always be competitive because he's a great competitor, I am a great competitor and I know he's going to try and knock me out because he feels that is the only way he can win and he doesn’t want another decision against him.

"But I wouldn't want another decision - I'd want to knock him out and stop him so I just think it's a rivalry that is authentic and real but nothing personal.

"I appreciate the UK fans and I appreciate what he has given to the sport. Say what you want to say about Froch - he has fought the best and he's beat the best and you've got to respect that."

Watch Ward v Smith and Adrien Broner v Shawn Porter, live on Sky Sports 1 on Saturday night, 1.30am