Thursday 28 April 2016 14:50, UK
James DeGale says he will not leave Callum Smith hanging around too long for a crack at the world title.
Unbeaten Smith was tipped by promoter Eddie Hearn to dominate the super-middleweight division for years to come after he took out Hadillah Mohoumadi inside a round in April to make himself mandatory challenger for Badou Jack's WBC belt.
Jack is likely to take on IBF champ DeGale in a unification fight first, though, provided both men come through their weekend assignments against Lucian Bute and Rogelio Medina.
Smith will be ringside in Washington to see his potential rivals up close, and DeGale believes it makes business sense for an all-British world title fight to happen sooner rather than later.
He told Sky Sports News HQ: "I know what it's like when you're waiting for your shot, and Callum Smith's waiting for his shot.
"If I go on to box Badou Jack, when I win win that, Callum obviously wants to box for the WBC world title. So I'm going to hurry up the process, beat Badou Jack good, and if he wants it he can have it.
"It's business, we can put our relationship aside for 36 minutes - that's all it is - earn money and see who the best is."
DeGale knocked out Smith's older brother Paul in 2012 but was taken the distance two years later by Mohoumadi, who had never been stopped before last month.
