Wednesday 24 June 2015 13:02, UK
Callum Smith looks set to play a lead role in a golden age for British boxing – starting on Friday night when he headlines a Sky Sports Fight Night by taking on Christopher Rebrasse.
The unbeaten super-middleweight will fight in front of his home fans at Liverpool's Echo Arena and is full of confidence ahead of facing Rebrasse (23-3-3-KO6), who took world title challenger George Groves the distance in September last year.
With Rocky Fielding also on the bill and hoping to stake his claim for a shot at the super-middleweight big time, Smith revealed he would have no qualms about facing his fellow Liverpudlian for the British title later in the year.
Smith told Sky Sports: "That is a big fight in Liverpool. We're both undefeated and there's a lot of demand for that fight. If we both come through Friday then we'll sit down and talk.
"I'd love to win the British title. I've seen my three brothers fight for it and it's a great belt to win. If that fight comes, I'd jump at it. It's a fight I'm 100 per cent confident I'd win."
Looking further ahead, Smith is hopeful of seeing Groves relieve Badou Jack of the WBC super-middleweight title and bring it back to Britain to defend it against a growing swarm of domestic 12 stone fighters.
He said: "The WBC is the one I'm ranked highly with so that's the route I'm going to go. I'm not calling Groves out personally – I've got nothing against him. I just want to become a world champion.
"I think me beating Groves for a world title is a much bigger fight than me beating some American. Britain loves a domestic fight. I'd like him to win it but if he doesn't, I'll go after whoever's champion.
"There are many British super-middleweights who believe they can go on and become world champions so the next year or two is going to be really exciting. There are a lot of big fights in British boxing. If I can be involved in them then why not?"
I'm not calling Groves out personally – I've got nothing against him. I just want to become a world champion.
Smith was last in action in May when he stopped Olegs Fedotovs in the first round in Birmingham. He is relishing a return to home turf against a tough opponent in front of the Sky Sports cameras – a chance to show fight fans why he is being billed as the next big thing.
Smith said: "I've boxed all over the country and enjoyed every minute of it but it's nothing compared to fighting in front of my own fans in my own city.
"I never boast about my own power. People see I've got a lot of early wins but I don't go out looking for it. I'm just improving and maturing. I still haven't got my 'man strength' but I'm slowly maturing.
"I had six months out with a hand injury and it did me good because it gave my body a chance to rest. My body matured and I feel better and bigger at the weight.
"I've got a lot of respect for Rebrasse. He's got great durability. He went the distance with Groves and has never been stopped. He gave Groves 12 tough rounds and I'm expecting the same. If I stop him, that's a bonus.
"It should be a great night on Friday and I'm really looking forward to it."
Watch Callum Smith v Christopher Rebrasse, Tony Bellew v Ivica Bacurin, Martin Murray v George Beroshvili and Rocky Fielding v Brian Vera live on Friday night from 7.30pm, Sky Sports 1
