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CALLUM SMITH HAS BEEN SPEAKING FOLLOWING AN IMPRESSIVE WIN OVER JOSHUA BUATSI IN FEBRUARY 16:44, 29 May 2025 Callum Smith has revealed talks have taken place over him fighting David
Benavidez - but shut down the suggestion a deal with Anthony Yarde has been agreed. Smith moved one step closer to becoming a two-weight world champion with a hard-fought points victory over
Joshua Buatsi in February. The 34-year-old was seen by many as the underdog heading into the bout in Saudi Arabia, with Buatsi unbeaten and the WBO interim light-heavyweight champion.
However, Smith was too slick for the former Team GB star, as he took the decision unanimously after 12 thrilling rounds of boxing. Since that night at the Kingdom Arena, Smith has been
linked with a number of opponents including Benavidez, Yarde and Dmitry Bivol. READ MORE: Natasha Jonas provides retirement update as Liverpool prepares to host World Boxing
ChampionshipsREAD MORE: Odel Kamara eyeing gold as Liverpool prepares to host inaugural World Boxing Championships It was then claimed a couple of weeks ago that the former Archbishop Beck
pupil was closing in on a deal to face Yarde on a Matchroom v Queensberry 5vs5 style event in August. But while Smith has confirmed that talks with Benavidez’s team have taken place, there
has been no such developments in regards to an all-British showdown with Yarde. He said: “I have got a meeting with Eddie this week, he was away in Japan over the weekend, then I am going to
speak to him when he gets home. “I think people think the Yarde fight was signed, sealed and done because of Tunde on talkSPORT doing what Tunde likes to do best. “But no talks or movement
on that fight at all from my side. I haven’t heard nothing on it and from what I am hearing the Benavidez one is a little bit further along in terms of talks and negotiations. “There has
been minor talks from what I have heard from Eddie over getting the Benavidez fight done, but zero regarding Yarde so far. “We will wait and see, but I am in a good position regardless of
who I fight next. It should be a good fight and the goal remains the same, I want to be a two-weight world champion. I believe I will beat whoever I need to to get there. Benavidez was
elevated from WBC interim belt holder to full world champion last month, and claimed a points victory over David Morrell last time out. “He’s a really good fighter,” Smith replied when asked
about the 28-year-old. “I have known of him for a long time as we were both world champions at the same time. Article continues below “I have always rated him as a fighter and his
personality. I think he’s good for boxing. I think stylistically we make a good fight. “If I retired tomorrow the one fight I feel probably should have happened but never is the Benavidez
one.