CALLUM SIMPSON believes Hamzah Sheeraz’s imminent move up to super-middleweight can help rekindle Britain’s glory days at 168lbs.

The British and Commonwealth champion has not put a foot wrong so far at domestic level and takes the next logical step on June 7 when he challenges undefeated Ivan Zucco for the vacant European title.

But while it appeared as though his work in Britain was done, a new threat to his status as the country’s best super-middleweight has now emerged from down south in Ilford.

Sheeraz, a former 154lber himself, had big plans to unify the world middleweight titles before another move upwards. However, draining his 6ft 3in frame down to 160lbs became too much for him and a weight-affected Sheeraz struggled to a split draw in his challenge for Carlos Adames' WBC belt in Riyadh on February 22.

Earlier this month, his promoter Frank Warren told The Ring that Sheeraz’s immediate future now lies up at super-middleweight with a return to the ring expected late this summer.

Now Simpson is eying a domestic classic to keep up Britain’s rich tradition in the division.

The 28-year-old from Barnsley told The Ring: “Traditionally and historically, super-middleweight has always been a big division in Great Britain. You’ve had Carl Froch, George Groves, James DeGale, Callum Smith, then before that Chris Eubank, Nigel Benn, Michael Watson.

“But more recently there’s been a big lack of depth in the super-middleweight division in this country. Other than myself, there’s nobody worth fighting, there are no big names that are marketable.

“So having Hamzah Sheeraz move up to my weight, I’m happy about that. It’s big for Britain and the division. It’s definitely a fight that could happen in the near future. I’ll happily defend the European title against him once I’ve won it.

“Or if His Excellency Turki Al-Alshikh will have me, I’ll fight him over in Riyadh. I’m more than happy to take that fight and I’ll welcome it with open arms.”

Simpson has stealthily emerged as a contender on the world scene too, with three of the four sanctioning bodies rating him inside their top 10, and the other placing him 12th. The 21-0-1 (17) Sheeraz, meanwhile, remains at No.2 with the WBC at middleweight and will likely go straight in reasonably high at 168lb too.

“I’m ranked highly on the world scene at the minute and it will go even higher once I win this fight,” Simpson added. “So maybe we could fight in a final eliminator. That could be huge for Britain.

“He’s had a good career so far and I’ve met him once. He seemed like a great lad but when it comes to boxing I’ll happily fight him and beat him.”