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Chris Billam-Smith is making a mistake by even contemplating a future fight with Jai Opetaia, insists his next opponent Ryan Rozicki.
Rozicki, a fearsome puncher from Nova Scotia, will take on Billam-Smith in the latter's Bournemouth hometown on June 6, live on Sky Sports.
Billam-Smith has openly declared that not only does he expect to beat Rozicki but that he believes victory will lead him to a fight with Jai Opetaia, the fighter generally regarded as the best in the cruiserweight division.
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Rozicki has pounced on that declaration from his rival, identifying it as an error on Billam-Smith's part.
"I think it's a mistake. I wouldn't say it's disrespectful because he's getting asked the question, he's answering the question," the Canadian told Sky Sports.
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"He's just responding to questions but the way he's responding shows me that they've already got their eyes set on Jai, they already got their eyes set on these bigger fights than me and I don't think you should ever look past somebody like me.
"If he switches off for even a fraction of a second, then he'll be switched off."
Rozicki maintains a singular focus. "I think about the first round against Chris and just landing shots, landing clean shots on his head. Whatever I can hit and just hit him until the fight's over," he said.
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Billam-Smith however has already been highly successful. He's previously won British, Commonwealth and European titles as well as the WBO cruiserweight world championship.
He denied making any kind of blunder by targeting Opetaia already. "People believe that talking about future opposition is looking past an opponent. But there's something in psychology where you also need to plan ahead," Billam-Smith told Sky Sports.
"Otherwise that's the end of the road and that's when your brain can shut off because the next fight can then become your last fight because it feels like the last fight, because you don't see anything beyond it."
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He added: "I think I've done it my whole career - plan a route and that keeps me even more motivated. Look at the last fight, there was nothing beyond that fight, nothing beyond the [Brandon] Glanton fight, didn't have any plans beyond it so it felt like a nothing fight.
"Whereas this fight leads to something and you can find more from yourself because you've got your eye on something beyond it, or you know there's something beyond.
"Once again it's about compartmentalising that and not talking about that or thinking about that when you don't need to.
"Training for this fight helps me train for the next fight and that's how I see it. It's a constant conveyor belt of training and building myself into the person that can win the next fight, the next fight and the next fight."
Fans are encouraged to register their interest early for the best chance to secure tickets via ZuffaBoxing.com. Tickets will go on sale at 10am BST on Friday, May 8 via BIC.co.uk, while those who registered their interest early will get access at 10am BST on Thursday, May 7.
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