Callum Smith: Unification is the next step

Callum Smith, who won the WBA super middleweight title last Saturday against George Groves, says he wants to face the division’s other titleholders, calling unification his “next step” at 168 pounds.

From Sky:

“I want to achieve as much as I can and unification is probably the next goal and next step. After beating George Groves, I think I am considered the No. 1, but they’ve all got arguments to say they are, so I just want to clear that up and cement my spot at No. 1. The only way I can do is beat some of the other champions and there’s a bit of unfinished business with the WBC with me.”

Smith (25-0, 18 KO), you may recall, was set to fight Anthony Dirrell for the vacant WBC title, before both fighters pulled out of that bout and the title was left to be contested between David Benavidez, who won it, and Ronald Gavril.

The problem with potentially fighting Benavidez right now is that the young champion recently tested positive for cocaine, so his status is kind of up in the air at the moment. Smith holds the WBC’s “Diamond” title, an ultimately meaningless trinket that surely looks good on his shelf at home.

The other titleholders are WBO champion Gilberto “Zurdo” Ramirez, who has the best claim to No. 1 in the division other than Smith, and IBF champion Jose Uzcategui.