"My injury is gradually getting better. I'm still receiving treatment and I'm still receiving physio, but it's getting there and I don't think I'm far off, but since the last conversation we had it hasn't got much better."

Smith said: "Give me until August and if Chris wants to take it, I'll bash Chris up again and if Conor wants to take it I'll do the same to him."

"It's how much Chris wants to avenge this loss or whether he wants to delay it.

"I've given my full word that I will be ready for August. July 1 was always going to be a push because it was only a two-week delay, but I've said I fully give my word that I'll be ready for August and it's just how much Chris wants to avenge this loss."

In terms of Eubank Jr potentially choosing to fight Benn instead, Smith reacted: "If that's the way they want to go and Conor Benn wants to deal with my leftovers then good luck to them.

"I just think it's odd that Conor Benn and Eddie [Hearn] want to chase the loser of that fight, but I fully know why they're chasing Eubank Jr and not myself, because I'll do the same to Conor Benn as I did to Eubank Jr.

"I'm tied into the rematch clause so unfortunately it's not really in my hands what they do next."

https://talksport.com/sport/boxing/1...st-conor-benn/