Callum Smith has opened the door to a potential all-British showdown with Anthony Yarde.
Smith secured the WBO interim light heavyweight title with a unanimous decision win over long-time Yarde rival, Joshua Buatsi in a fight of the year contender in Saudi Arabia last month.
The Liverpudlian, a former super middleweight world champion, is in touching distance of a second world title tilt at light heavyweight, having fallen short in a bid for the unified titles against Artur Beterbiev last January.
Undisputed light heavyweight champion, Dmitry Bivol is expected to have a third bout with Artur Beterbiev, with the scores level at one apiece, although should he relinquish the WBO title, ‘Mundo’ believes a domestic clash with Yarde would be suitable.
“If it’s a world title fight, then it makes sense,” the 34-year-old told Sky Sports.
“I believe I’m one of the best light-heavyweights in the world and certainly the best light-heavyweight in Britain.
“Beating Buatsi proved that and if I have to beat Yarde to prove that again, then I’d certainly do that.”
Yarde tackles Lyndon Arthur for a third time on April 26 at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium on the undercard of the middleweight grudge match between Chris Eubank Jr and Conor Benn.
Smith, who knocked out Lenin Castillo at the same stadium in September 2021, is hopeful of landing a stadium fight of his own at Anfield in his hometown of Liverpool.
“Timing has lot to do with it,” he said.
“I know a lot has to align for it to be able to happen.
“It probably needs the right fight, the right undercard, everything’s got to fit for it to be able to work.
“That is the ultimate goal and not just for myself, probably every Liverpool fighter.”
Smith has also been linked with a showdown with fellow former super middleweight titlist and current WBC interim and WBA ‘regular’ champion, David Benavidez, however the American’s promoter Sampson Lewkowicz says he is not interested in that bout and wants his charge to face Bivol.
