Wednesday 30 March 2016 11:23, UK
George Groves believes he is on a collision course with Callum Smith who should not “waste time” waiting for world title fight.
Liverpool's Smith faces Hadillah Mohoumadi in a WBC super-middleweight title eliminator on Saturday, live on Sky Sports, but Groves suspects that a world title shot will not arrive in a hurry.
And Groves, who meets David Brophy on Anthony Joshua's Sky Sports Box Office undercard on April 9, predicts he will next fight Smith while Badou Jack's WBC belt is contested elsewhere.
He'll be looking for a high-profile fight and the most high-profile fight for anyone at super-middleweight in the UK is against me.
"Educated guess [for my next fight] would be Smith, he's in a final eliminator for the WBC against a chap who's a bit long in the tooth," Groves exclusively told Sky Sports. "It should be comfortable for him.
"He'll be in the line for the WBC title but the sticking point is that it's held by Jack who isn't fighting until the end of April. Then there's talk of a unification fight against James DeGale.
"I doubt Smith will want to sit on his hands and waste time. He'll be looking for a high-profile fight and the most high-profile fight for anyone at super-middleweight in the UK is against me."
Groves, who has already been beaten by Jack and twice lost challenges for Carl Froch's world titles, does have a win over Smith's eldest brother Paul on his record.
He concedes that the younger Smith will be inspired by his three siblings - Liam became WBO light-middleweight champion in October and Stephen will vie for the IBF super-featherweight belt in April - but warned it also brings a unique pressure.
"Brothers will take strength from each other," Groves said. "But I was in Manchester to watch Carl Frampton beat Scott Quigg who had his whole gym there - the four Smith brothers, Anthony Crolla, everyone who trains with Joe Gallagher.
"It didn't help him in the end, did it? So sometimes it can be a pressure you don't want to deal with."
Watch Smith vs Mohoumadi on Saturday at 8pm, live on Sky Sports 1 HD.
