IBF super-middleweight champion Carl Froch has slammed fellow Brits George Groves and Nathan Cleverly after realising that the pair had been sparring with his next opponent WBA champion Mikkel Kessler.

Froch faces Kessler next Saturday and is unhappy that two British fighter have helped out his opponent.

The Nottingham fighter insists that he would not do the same in their position and claims that they are bitter over his refusal to fight them.

"It just sums up what they are," Froch told The Independent. "I'm a British fighter but they would rather go out there and help a foreign fighter prepare for the biggest fight of my career.

"Groves isn't my friend and neither is Cleverly, so they can do what they want but really, as British fighters, shouldn't they have a bit more class about them?

"They both want to fight me but are bitter and jealous that it's not happening because I'm a league above the pair of them. Groves has got a chip on his shoulder anyway. He won't spar with me because he considers himself a potential opponent, though he is the only one that does."

Froch will fight Kessler for the second time in London next week, having been beaten by the Dane three years ago.