Callum Smith tells George Groves to earn another world title fight
Thursday 31 March 2016 23:16, UK
Callum Smith has told George Groves he's going to have to force his way back to a world title shot the hard way.
Smith (18-0-KO13) can book a bout with WBC super-middleweight world champion Badou Jack - who beat Groves by split decision in September 2015 - by overcoming European champion Hadillah Mohoumadi, live on Sky Sports 1 this Saturday.
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Groves (22-3-KO17), who faces the unbeaten David Brophy on the Charles Martin v Anthony Joshua Sky Sports Box Office bill on April 9, has made no secret of his desire to face Smith at some stage and believes he's deserving of another chance at the top level sooner rather than later.
But Smith said: "I think he believes that because he is George Groves he deserves a shot, although he has had three and lost.
"He thinks he should just walk straight into another one and if he loses that, thinks he deserves another one again, because of his name.
I think he thinks because he's been there and boxed for it before, it should guarantee him another shot but boxing doesn't work like that.
"He came back and beat an average fighter [Andrea Di Luisa] and he thinks that should earn him a final eliminator or a shot at the title.
"In my eyes, I think he should go away and earn his way back like I have. I have won an eliminator, I'm fighting a final eliminator, and I will have earned my shot the right way.
"I think he thinks because he's been there and boxed for it before, it should guarantee him another shot but boxing doesn't work like that.
"If I had a world title and he keeps winning I'm sure there will always be a demand for the Groves fight.
"We are both British and regardless of whether his best days are behind him or not, he is still a big [name]. There will always be the demand for it as long as we both keep winning and I think it will happen.
"For the time being I have got [Saturday] and then hopefully a world title shot, so it doesn't really come into my plans just yet, but I wouldn't rule it out next year or in the future."
Smith v Mohoumadi tops Saturday's busy bill in Liverpool, with Scott Cardle v Sean Dodd and Rocky Fielding v Christopher Rebrasse also shown on Sky Sports 1 from 8pm.
