A month after Royston Barney-Smith's latest return, the 21-year-old junior-lightweight prospect teased a big fight for a July 26 show to be announced.

During the early part of the evening's undercard portion, he and British, Commonwealth light heavyweight champion Lewis Edmondson were on the YouTube stream discussing the night's fights with Queensberry's Dev Sahni.

While Edmondson's desire for a long-awaited showdown with Ezra Taylor nears completion after last night's career-best win over previously unbeaten Troy Jones, Barney-Smith is relishing being involved in big nights himself.

"I've got a fight coming up soon, 26th of July, don't have an opponent announced yet but it's gonna be a cracking one," he said. "I don't want to ruin it before that happens, it's for sure a step-up, will be for two title belts and a great fight. I'm 21 and had 14 fights now, I'm ready, can't wait for nights like these to happen for me."

Originally set to start his 2025 campaign on March 1, he was forced to withdraw because of an ear injury and illness. After pitching an anti-climactic eight-round points win on the Joe Joyce vs. Filip Hrgovic undercard, it appears the leash is finally being let loose on the prospect.

Danny Quartermaine (12-0-1, 4 KOs) was the name on the Poole southpaw's lips when speaking to Queensberry's social media channels after dusting off ring rust with victory over Peru's Cesar Ignacio Paredes (18-17-1, 5 KOs).

It meant Barney-Smith (14-0, 7 KOs) saw his stoppage streak end at two and the Ben Davison-trained pupil bemoaned a risk-averse journeyman content going through the motions, staying at range and successfully navigating the contracted distance.

His promoter, Queensberry chief Frank Warren, told The Ring post-fight that there will be a noticeable change going forward and Barney-Smith's aforementioned declaration in Nottingham suggests he'll finally be in a meaningful bout.

Originally slated to face Argentina's Elias Federico Duguet (7-1-1, 2 KOs) in a south Coast homecoming expected to be rescheduled at a later date, they are now pivoting elsewhere.

"I spoke to him and his dad. It has to be a title fight next," Warren told The Ring last month.

"We were loaded up [with fights] and that's why he got an eight-rounder, same with Mark [Chamberlain], I could do without that because all we're doing is giving someone a fight, basically investing more money.

"He needs something where there's some jeopardy involved. That will get the best out of him. This guy [Paredes] was just a survivor, wasn't he? Got the ring rust out, he'll be in a good quality fight this summer."

When asked to clarify if it would be international or a British opponent, Warren said domestic and that ties perfectly into the youngster's callout.

"I'm not gonna learn off fellas like him now. I'm looking to push on for better things, wouldn't mind taking Danny Quartermaine's belts off him, think he's here tonight," Barney-Smith said in Manchester.

"There's nothing against him, just business. I want someone who will stand there and I can look good against, rather than running around the ring trying to survive. Once you hit them, it's like a bag with legs, they're half-flinching, don't commit with anything, it's ugly for a fighter at a level when you're thinking two or three levels ahead. Done with these journeymen now. I want top-10 fighters."

IBF and WBO European champion Quartermaine, ranked No. 11 by the IBF and No. 14 by the WBO's latest update, is a free agent and recently spoke about being open to offers from all promoters.

Quartermaine, 27, has had each of his last three fights promoted by GBM Sports on talkSPORT and later DAZN, though a proposed rematch with Jack Bateson (20-1-1, 6 KOs) for their Doncaster show May 23 collapsed.

Their original matchup Dec. 7 ended prematurely in Round 2 after both were severely cut by an accidental head clash and the ringside doctor deemed them unfit to continue.

British and Commonwealth champion Reece Bellotti (20-5, 15 KOs) has been linked with Josh Padley next, while the Watford man's promoter, Eddie Hearn, told The Ring he hadn't seen enough of Barney-Smith to pass judgment on just how good he is. Not exactly the sentiment you share if you're matching him against one of your fighters.