Royston Barney-Smith says defeating experienced contender Reece Bellotti this weekend would establish him as a serious force in the super-featherweight division as he looks to continue his rapid rise.
The 22-year-old British and Commonwealth champion from Southampton will face Bellotti in the chief support bout to Pierce O’Leary’s light-welterweight clash with Mark Chamberlain in Dublin on Saturday.
Barney-Smith enters the contest full of confidence after capturing the prestigious Lonsdale Belt in April and believes another standout victory could elevate his status on the international stage.
The unbeaten prospect is aiming to make an even stronger impression than fellow Southampton boxer Ryan Garner, who stopped Bellotti late in their 2025 meeting to claim the WBC Interim super-featherweight title.
A victory would also earn Barney-Smith the vacant IBO Intercontinental super-featherweight belt, strengthening his credentials for a future shot at IBO world champion Jono Carroll.
Training under Ben Davison in Essex, Barney-Smith views the Bellotti fight as a key step toward bigger opportunities but insists his full attention remains on Saturday’s challenge.
Bellotti, 35, is a former British and Commonwealth champion with a professional record of 20 wins and seven defeats. He heads into the bout looking to bounce back after his recent loss to Josh Padley.
Confident in his preparation, Barney-Smith believes he has the tools to handle any style Bellotti brings and is targeting a stoppage victory to underline his ambitions of becoming one of the leading names in the division.