By Elliot Foster

Joe Gallagher believes only James DeGale is ahead of Callum Smith as the best super middleweight in Britain.

The Manchester trainer, who is based at Amir Khan’s Gloves ABC gym in Bolton, watched his charge demolish Rocky Fielding on November 7 and is confident that a world title shot is just around the corner.

Gallagher trains all four of the fighting brothers from Liverpool and says the 25-year-old has just James DeGale in front of him as the best in Britain at 168lbs.

“We’re so blessed in this country to have so many top world-class super middleweights,” he said.

“I just think James DeGale and then Callum Smith, it goes, that’s how I see it.”

So, having nailed his colours to the mast regarding ‘Mundo’ in terms of seeing him with just the IBF champion beyond him, talk turned to potential future clashes for the new British champion, who could yet fight again this year.

“I’d love the George Groves fight,” said Gallagher.

“I don’t think they’d [Groves and his team would] take it, but George has had his chance and it’s all about Callum Smith.

“I do feel that Smith is the number two best super middleweight in this country and he’s only second behind a world champion.

“James DeGale is a very talented fighter, an Olympic medallist, but I do feel like one or two more fights and [Callum] will be ready.”

Smith, who took just 165 seconds to oust his fellow Liverpudlian in one of the city’s biggest fights for many years, is the WBC Silver champion and is also number one in their rankings.

“[WBC champion] Badou Jack is a fight that I’d really like [for Smith],” continued Gallagher, “and I’m going to be pushing [promoter] Eddie [Hearn] to get him made mandatory with the WBC for that fight for the summer of next year.”

Gallagher mentioned that he would like Smith to have at least one more fight before he fights for the sport’s ultimate prize in 2016 –– and that could come sooner than expected.

It has been revealed in the past few days that plans are afoot to get Smith out in Germany, on November 28, on the undercard of Tyson Fury’s heavyweight world title challenge against Wladimir Klitschko at Düsseldorf’s ESPRIT Arena.

“I’d like to see him out at the beginning of the [new] year,” said Gallagher of his now (18-0, 13 KOs) fighter.

“If the second fight is a world title then there we go, but we’ll see. We’ll sit down and we’ll talk.

“He came out of the fight [with Rocky Fielding] injury-free, with a good performance.

“We had a good camp, he’s fresh and if there are any big shows at the beginning of next year then Eddie might just stick him on them.”

Elliot Foster is part of Boxing Scene's UK team. Follow him on Twitter @FreelanceFoz