Friday 17 June 2016 14:07, UK
Callum Smith believes he and Gilberto Ramirez can take over the super-middleweight division before meeting in a unification clash.
The hard-hitting Liverpudlian (20-0-KO15) is mandatory challenger for Badou Jack's WBC world title but with the Swedish-born champion likely to face IBF holder James DeGale in a unification bout first, Smith is looking further ahead.
Over in the States, there's another rising force at 168lbs; Mexico's Ramirez picked up the WBO world title with a shut-out points victory over Arthur Abraham - and 'Mundo' has respect for 'Zurdo'.
Smith told Sky Sports: "Gilberto Ramirez is a good fighter who is up and coming. He's 6ft 2in and a southpaw who likes to fight inside a lot, which is unusual for someone so tall.
"We saw how good he is against Arthur Abraham - Ramirez won it convincingly and he's only young so he's here to stay for a while.
"As long as I can keep winning and pick up a world title, then there's no reason he and I can't meet in the future. He's definitely one of the best at 168lbs already.
"We're both relatively young whereas Jack is 32 and DeGale is 30. Providing we both keep winning, Ramirez and I can both win world titles and clash in the future.
"I really rate Ramirez and my trainer Joe Gallagher has been watching him and rates him too. He's definitely someone we've got our eye on."
I'm still mandatory for the WBC title which will belong to DeGale if he beats Jack. I'll aim towards that.
Smith was last in action on the undercard of Tony Bellew's momentous world title victory at Goodison Park and although he took longer than many expected to dispatch Cesar Hernan Reynoso, he would happily seize a shot at Jack (20-1-2-KO12) immediately.
The 26-year-old added: "I'd love to fight Badou Jack before the end of the year and get to him before James DeGale. Me beating Jack and earning myself a world title would make me against DeGale even bigger.
"I would like that but I don't really have a choice because if they want to have a unification fight then that comes before the mandatory. If they say it's almost done, then I'm sure it is.
"I'll have to sit and wait. If they fight at the end of the year then I'm sure it'll be a good fight. I'm improving and getting better and better in the meantime. I'll be a better fighter next year and I'm confident I'll beat whoever will come out the winner.
"I'm still mandatory for the WBC title, which will belong to DeGale if he beats Jack. I'll aim towards that. They're both very good fighters and tough for anyone but I believe that, at my best, I can beat both of them."
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