Monday 1 February 2016 16:43, UK
Kalle Sauerland wants Callum Smith to prove he's the right man to challenge Badou Jack by first facing George Groves.
Groves' promoter watched the Londoner return to action by blasting Andrea Di Luisa aside in five rounds at the Copper Box Arena on Saturday night and is enthusiastic over the future.
'The Saint' (22-3-KO17) fought WBC world super-middleweight champion Jack in September 2015 and was only denied by a controversial split decision.
But although Groves retained a third-place ranking with the governing body, No 1 contender Smith (18-0-KO13) takes on seventh-placed Hadillah Mohoumadi in April for a chance to face Jack.
The fight people want to see is Smith against George. It's a traditional one - north against south, Liverpool against London. It's a fight that George is very happy to take.
Sauerland told Sky Sports: "Groves v Smith is a fight everyone has always wanted. Joe Gallagher [Smith's trainer] has said many times that he would love George Groves.
"They seem to have done a slippery one and got a soft touch. It's a very slippery move because at the first Groves press conference, it was mentioned that the big fight would be the eliminator against Smith. While we were preparing for this fight, they've gone off and done a sneaky move and pulled the No 7 out of the rankings.
"To be honest, he [Mohoumadi] is nothing more than a tune-up opponent for Smith. It's not going to make great viewing, that's for sure.
"The fight people want to see is Smith against George. It's a traditional one - north against south, Liverpool against London. It's a fight that George is very happy to take. That's the situation.
"Domestically, they're talking about Martin Murray and Frank Buglioni. They're great fights but they have to point in a direction for both fighters. We aren't egomaniacs here.
"It can't just be a domestic dust-up. That's something you do at the beginning of your career or when you're a world champion. It's got to be something that points to a route to a world title. If that presents itself, then it becomes interesting."
Sauerland saw a great deal of encouragement in Groves' performance against Di Luisa and - like onlookers Carl Frampton and Barry McGuigan - was quick to highlight the quality of his naturally-long jab.
Sauerland added: "I think there is a lot more still in the tank. You can't see yet what Shane's able to get out of him on the basis of the weeks they've been working together. Give him months. He's 27 - give him years!
"There was body punching, moving in and out of range and then the jab, which I think is the best jab in the division. That was firing with venom. The jab was good in the Jack fight but here it was variable and he was adding the right hand behind it. That's how he broke him.
"If you look back at the Christopher Rebrasse fight, for me what was missing was alternating between head and body and he got that all right on Saturday night. The opponent was certainly not world elite but he was far off being a journeyman."
