By Terence Dooley

Liverpool’s Callum Smith returned to action after a six-month injury layoff to beat Olegs Fedotovs in a single stanza in Birmingham on Saturday night.  The 25-year-old faces Christopher Rebrasse next on an Eddie Hearn-promoted bill at his hometown’s Echo Arena on July 26; he believes that an impressive win could eventually lead to a domestic showdown with George Groves, who beat Rebrasse by decision in September to lift the EBU Super middleweight title.

“He's a good, solid fighter who is big for the weight and he's tough,” said Smith when speaking to the Manchester Evening News about Rebrasse.

"He gave Groves a good fight and took everything that Groves gave him, so I'll be in for a tough fight, but it's a fight that I feel I'm more than ready for and I do feel you will see the best of me.”

He added: “It's been frustrating being out but I do feel it's done me good as it has let my body rest and mature.  It wasn't a fight that I was expected to lose but it's the way of winning, and I got him out of there in one round.”

The win lifts Smith to 16-0 (12) and keeps him on course for bigger fights and nights in the 168lb division.

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