Callum Smith Quotes

You can be world champion, but ranked No 6 in the world, with there being four champions.

I was between 2 and 3 in the world for two, three years. That's not exactly where I wanted to be.

The reason I didn't take the baseball route is because they don't have rankings for baseball players.

I'm playing pretty good now, but my ranking doesn't say that. I'm number two.

I think when you've played at the level that I've played, anything outside the top 10 in certain aspects is just a number, unless you're obviously trying to get into tournaments and stuff.

I think people realize that I'm one of the best welterweights, whether I'm number one or number four or number five or number six.

I've been on a 1-15 team.

I became number one just after the World Championships in India. I was very young then, and I remember it was just a great feeling, my first World Championship.

The top 10 is really a media thing anyway unless you're the champion, but otherwise, it's always speculation.

When I won the first world title in 2011 I was practising six, seven or even more hours a day.

It's very frustrating when you don't always get the right kind of rub - you watch tennis and know if you play better than the other guy, you win. But that's the game we play. It can create mini-upsets.

I want the Intercontinental title to be seen as more than just a 'mid-card belt.' The Intercontinental Champion used to be seen as a threat to the WWE Champion. My goal is to return the Intercontinental Championship to that level of importance.

Everyone says it, but if you finish above United, you're going to win the league.

Anything that would help me get my ranking up and get me seeded at tournaments will make my draws a lot easier and give me a much better opportunity to go deep in these tournaments.

When I used to play, I loved playing international because it's more freedom and more ability to improve.

The quality of competitors abroad really pushes your timings, something that's tough to replicate in the country.

Fear is there. Anything can happen at an Olympics. I want to use the experience I gained from Athens and Beijing - the fear, too - and build a me that can't lose. I will do everything to make sure I win a third gold medal in London. That target drives me. I'm bulking up and have more power now. I'll be fighting fit to take the gold back home.

If we're about winning world championships, we can't just have all of our focus be on the Olympics.

I had a great season and truly enjoyed competing around the world - from Monaco, where I managed to establish a world record, to Beijing, where I finally captured my first world outdoor title.

If you play a final and win it, you get that feeling to win trophies, and you want to win more and more and more.

I think women's tennis is so open. Anyone in the top 30 can do damage in the big tournaments.

Back in 2014, I felt like I was ready to win a world title. I felt like I was prepared and I was as good as anyone else, but I knew I didn't have the equipment.

I was No 1 in the world but too much is made of it.

Whether we are in or out of the E.U., we must deliver reform at home in order to compete abroad in the 21st century.

I play to win. And if I string together four of my best rounds at the Masters then there's no doubt about it - I will wear the jacket.