By Luke Reddy

WBA super-middleweight champion Callum Smith says anything other than an eye-catching win over Hassan N’Dam could see his hopes of fighting Saul ‘Canelo’ Alvarez “smashed to bits”.

Smith, 29, defends his world title for the first time against N’Dam at Madison Square Garden on Saturday.

Alvarez, who holds three middleweight world titles, has mentioned Smith’s name as a potential opponent.

“I can’t say I want to fight Canelo and then stink the place out,” Smith said.

Speaking to 5 Live’s Mike Costello and Steve Bunce in New York, he added: “My name coming out of Canelo’s mouth, I must be doing something right.

“There is pressure for people to watch and say I may be the man to beat Canelo. If I don’t do it on the weekend, those hopes are smashed to bits.”

French-Cameroonian N’Dam, 35, has 37 wins from 40 fights and showed his durability in beating Britain’s Martin Murray last time out.

Smith, meanwhile, delivered on longstanding expectations he would become a world champion when he stopped George Groves to land the title in the World Boxing Super Series final in September.

Article courtesy of Luke Reddy & BBC Sport