Jessie Vargas vs. Liam Smith | DAZN - April 30, 2022

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Jessie Vargas, Liam Smith agree to terms on 154-pound fight in late January in Las Vegas, sources say

Jessie Vargas and Liam Smith have agreed to terms for a 154-pound fight on Jan. 28 or Jan. 29 in Las Vegas that will headline Matchroom Boxing on DAZN, multiple sources tell ESPN.

The matchup of former champions has been discussed for over a year but finally comes to fruition on the heels of Smith's knockout of Anthony Fowler last month.

"It's a fight I've wanted for some time and one I'm very confident of winning in style," Smith told ESPN.

The 33-year-old Smith suffered a controversial decision loss to Magomed Kurbanov in May before rebounding with the win over Fowler to set up another meaningful fight on the world level.

One of four fighting brothers from Liverpool, England, Smith made two defenses of his 154-pound title before he was stopped by Canelo Alvarez in 2016. Liam's younger brother, Callum, was outpointed by Alvarez in December.

While Smith (30-3-1, 17 KOs) fought twice this year, Vargas (29-3-2, 11 KOs) will end a career-long 23-month layoff when he returns. The Las Vegas native dropped a decision to Mikey Garcia in that February 2020 bout at welterweight, and will now gear up for a title chase in a third weight class.

The 32-year-old won titles at 140 pounds and 147, but will make his 154-pound debut against Smith.

Earlier this month, Vargas announced he's campaigning as a republican for Nevada's Fourth U.S. Congressional District. The primary is in June with the election to follow in November.

"We need change, and it starts with proper leaders who will look out for the best interest of their constituents," Vargas told ESPN. "Representing my community is my No. 1 priority. It's the fight that matters to me!"

Before then, he has another fight to worry about, and a win could help launch his campaign.

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Liam Smith-Jessie Vargas Eyed For January 29 In Las Vegas

A long-discussed showdown between a pair of former titlists appears to have a home.

Boxing Scene has learned that The Cosmopolitan of Las Vegas is in play to host a forthcoming junior middleweight clash between Liverpool’s Liam Smith and locally-based Jessie Vargas. Matchroom Boxing has placed a request with the Nevada State Athletic Commission (NSAC) to host the bout on January 29 at the intimate venue. The matter will be addressed during the monthly commission agenda hearing scheduled for Monday, December 13.

Smith (30-3-1, 17 KOs) remains in the hunt for a second title run in the junior middleweight division. The 33-year old was the first of his fighting family to win a major title, claiming the WBO 154-pound belt in a seventh-round stoppage of John Thompson in October 2015. One successful defense followed before suffering a ninth-round knockout at the hands of Saul ‘Canelo’ Alvarez in September 2016.

Nine fights have followed, including a competitive but clear defeat to then-WBO junior middleweight titlist Jaime Munguia in July 2018 which was preceded by two straight wins over veteran contender Liam Williams. Smith’s lone other career defeat came in a questionable twelve-round, unanimous decision in favor of unbeaten Magomed Kurbanov this past May on the road in Ekaterinburg, Russia. Smith quickly rebounded with an eighth round stoppage of Anthony Flower this past October 9 in his Liverpool hometown, calling out Vargas in the aftermath.

Vargas (29-3-2, 11 KOs) has not fought since a competitive loss to former four-division titlist Mikey Garcia last February 29 in Frisco, Texas. The welterweight affair headlined the last DAZN show before the pandemic, with the sport having since returned but with Vargas remaining idle while in search of the right opportunity along with other ventures.

Outside the ring, Vargas has previously worked as a commentator for DAZN’s Spanish feed and has also recently announced a bid for a seat in Nevada’s 4th Congressional District in the upcoming election next November. Vargas—whose family relocated to Vegas from California when he was five years old—is seeking a place on the Republican ballot as a former Democrat who plans to fight for voters with conservative values.

Meanwhile, he continues the actual fight to become a three-time titlist. Vargas previously held the WBA junior welterweight belt and the WBO welterweight title, the latter claimed in a ninth-round stoppage of Sadam Ali in March 2016. Vargas lost the belt in his first attempted defense, a lopsided defeat to Manny Pacquiao in November 2016—immediately after Pacquiao’s own political run when he claimed a seat in the Philippine Senate earlier that May.

Vargas has fought just five times since then, going 2-1-2 over that stretch including back-to-back draws in 2018 with former four-division titlist Adrien Broner and veteran former title challenger Thomas Dulorme. The last in-ring win for Vargas came in a sixth-round stoppage of former two-division titlist Humberto Soto in April 2019.

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Srisaket Sor Rungvisai vs Carlos Cuadras 2 joins Smith-Vargas on February 5

The victor will receive a shot at the Estrada-Chocolatito 3 winner

Way back in March, the WBC announced a four-man box-off at 115 pounds that would see Juan Francisco Estrada face “Chocolatito” Gonzalez in a rubber match and mandatory challenger Srisaket Sor Rungvisai rematch Carlos Cuadras. Nearly a year later, one of those bouts is finally on the horizon. Dan Rafael reports that Srisaket-Cuadras 2 will co-headline DAZN’s freshly revealed Liam Smith vs. Jessie Vargas show on February 5th.

It’s been 7.5 wild years since Srisaket (50-5-1, 43 KO) and Cuadras (39-4-1, 27 KO) first met in a fight that saw a clash of heads derail the trailing Srisaket’s potential comeback. Srisaket went on to score two wins over the then-unbeaten Gonzalez, one by controversial decision and the other by definitive knockout, before edging out Estrada to establish himself as the top 115-pounder in the world. He’s 3-0 since falling to Estrada in their rematch, most recently stopping former world title challenger Kwanthai Sithmorseng in March.

Cuadras’ road proved rockier. A 1-3 skid against Gonzalez, Estrada, and McWilliams Arroyo combined with substance abuse issues to seemingly end his time as an elite super flyweight. Despite this, he gave Estrada absolute hell in their October 2020 rematch, proving he’s still a handful for anyone at 115.

I guess I can understand the logic behind having this fight play second fiddle, but I’ll be astonished if it doesn’t steal the show. Superfly never die.

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Liam Smith vs Jessie Vargas planned for February 5th in Las Vegas

Matchroom has made a slight adjustment to its upcoming schedule. Dan Rafael reports that Liam Smith’s pending grudge match with Jessie Vargas, previously slated for January 29th, will now take place a week later on February 5th. The initial date would have seen it go head-to-head with Xavier Martinez vs. Robson Conceicao on ESPN and Keith Thurman vs. Mario Barrios on FOX PPV, while the new one pits the show against Jose Ramirez vs. Jose Pedraza on ESPN.

This one’s been brewing for quite a while, but where Vargas (29-3-2, 11 KO) has contented himself with just one appearance in nearly three years (a competitive loss to Mikey Garcia in February 2020) while focusing his attention on television and a Congressional run, Smith (28-2-1, 16 KO) has quietly worked his way back to the world stage with a series of strong performances.

Just saying, Ramirez vs. Pedraza sounds a hell of a lot more competitive and visually appealing, so Matchroom better stack that undercard something fierce.

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[margaret thatcher]

dude needs to get into hair modelling asap

[Bandog]

What the heck...Jessie Vargas fighting Canelo's leftovers?

[margaret thatcher]

kinda like andrade fighting liam smith's leftovers

[Bandog]

kinda like andrade fighting liam smith's leftovers

If I remember right, Canelo wanted no part of Andrade, but jumped at the chance to fight Smith after Andrade was stripped. The truth hurts, I know.

[margaret thatcher]

andrade isnt merely satisfied with canelo's leftovers, he needs the leftovers of his leftovers

last fight he even wanted taurano johnson's leftovers

i wonder if demetrius will fight janibek next or vacate

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[gregregegg]

irritating clash.

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Vargas-Smith, Sor Rungvisai-Cuadras on February 5 at Gila River Arena in Glendale, Arizona

Jessie Vargas and Liam Smith officially have a new date and a new site for their junior middleweight match.

Boxing Scene has learned that they will now fight February 5 at Gila River Arena in Glendale, Arizona. The co-feature of that show is a 115-pound rematch between Srisaket Sor Rungvisai and Carlos Cuadras.

Promoter Eddie Hearn intended to stage this card January 29 at The Chelsea, a cozy venue inside The Cosmopolitan of Las Vegas. Once DAZN and Matchroom determined that the date would change to February 5, the site switched from Las Vegas to the Phoenix area because Al Haymon’s Premier Boxing Champions has reserved Mandalay Bay’s Michelob ULTRA Arena for a FOX Sports Pay-Per-View event February 5 that’ll feature former WBA/WBC welterweight champion Keith Thurman and Mario Barrios in the main event.

The Nevada State Athletic Commission preferred for there not to be two boxing shows to regulate on the same night in Las Vegas for logistical reasons.

Las Vegas’ Vargas (29-3-2, 11 KOs) and Liverpool’s Smith (30-3-1, 17 KOs) will meet in a proverbial crossroads bout.

Vargas, 32, will end nearly a two-year layoff when he faces Smith. The former WBO welterweight and WBA super lightweight champion hasn’t boxed since Mikey Garcia (40-2, 30 KOs) beat him by unanimous decision in their 12-round welterweight bout in February 2020 at Ford Center at The Star, the Dallas Cowboys’ training facility, in Frisco, Texas.

Vargas, who recently announced his campaign for a Nevada congressional seat, will make his debut as a full-fledged junior middleweight against Smith.

The 33-year-old Smith, meanwhile, will fight for the third time in less than nine months when he squares off versus Vargas. The former WBO junior middleweight champion bounced back from a 12-round, unanimous-decision defeat to Russia’s Magomed Kurbanov (22-0, 13 KOs) on May 7 in Ekaterinburg, Russia, by stopping local rival Anthony Fowler (15-2, 12 KOs) in the eighth round October 9 at Echo Arena in Liverpool.

Thailand’s Sor Rungvisai (50-5-1, 43 KOs) and Mexico’s Cuadras (39-4-1, 27 KOs) are set to square off in a 12-round, 115-pound title fight that the WBC mandated for its world super flyweight title. Cuadras defeated Sor Rungvisai by technical decision in a fight for that same championship in May 2014 in Mexico City.

Juan Francisco Estrada is the WBC’s legitimate super flyweight champion, but he was elevated to “franchise” champion by the WBC to allow him to fight rival Roman “Chocolatito” Gonzalez next in a 12-round rubber match, rather than making a mandated defense versus Sor Rungvisai. The third bout between Mexico’s Estrada (42-3, 28 KOs) and Nicaragua’s Gonzalez (50-3, 41 KOs) is set for March 5 at Pechanga Arena in San Diego.

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Hearn: We're Talking Potentially April For Jessie Vargas vs. Liam Smith

Promoter Eddie Hearn says the postponed clash between former world champions Jessie Vargas and Liam Smith could be rescheduled for April.

Vargas was set to take on Smith in a main event clash on February 5 in Phoenix, live on DAZN, but Vargas was forced to withdraw after testing positive for COVID-19.

The Matchroom card will still go ahead, now topped by the vacant WBC super flyweight title showdown between Srisaket Sor Rungvisai and Carlos Cuadras and Hearn is hopeful he can rearrange the Vargas-Smith fight for April.

“We’re talking potentially April for that fight,” Hearn told Pro Boxing Fans.

“Jessie was ok and he thought he’d be ready for March, then he didn’t recover as quickly as he would have liked to have recovered from COVID.

“That fight though will still take place in America.”

Smith (30-3-1, 17 KOs), a former junior middleweight champion, was last seen in the ring back in October, when he picked an impressive eight round stoppage over Anthony Fowler, in a fighter where two judges had the bout scored on even terms at the time of the stoppage.

Vargas (29-3-2, 11 KOs), a former junior welterweight and welterweight champion, has been away from the ring for nearly two years. He lost a tough twelve round decision to Mikey Garcia in February of 2020.

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Press Release

Jessie Vargas and Liam Smith collide in a must-win Super-Welterweight clash at Madison Square Garden in New York on Saturday April 30, live worldwide on DAZN, leading the undercard for the historic clash between Katie Taylor and Amanda Serrano, brought to you by Matchroom Boxing and Most Valuable Promotions.

Presale begins at 12noon ET on Thursday February 3, with tickets on general sale at 12noon ET on Friday February 4 – tickets start at $56 (plus fees)

Vargas (29-3-2 11 KOs) returns to the ring for the first time since his narrow reversal at the hands of Mikey Garcia in Texas in February 2020. The former two-weight World champion is hungry to become a three-time ruler, and the 32 year old is training for the Smith clash while running his political campaign to represent Nevada’s 4th Congressional District.

Smith (30-3-1 17 KOs) will defend the WBA International strap he won in his last outing, where he stopped local rival Anthony Fowler in eight rounds in October at the M&S Arena in Liverpool, bouncing back in style from a slender loss in Russia to Magomed Kurbanov in May. The 33 year old held the WBO World title in 2015-16, and now sits at #4 in the WBA rankings and eyeing two-time World champion status.

Vargas and Smith were due to meet this weekend in Phoenix, but COVID ruled the former out of the clash and Saturday’s bill will now be topped by Carlos Cuadras and Jesse Rodriguez battling for the vacant WBC World Super-Flyweight title live worldwide on DAZN. Vargas and Smith will come to the Big Apple all guns blazing, and both men believe they will end the career of the other on April 30.

“Thankfully I’m now through COVID,” said Vargas. “I want to show everyone I’m better than before, I’ve been working on things in the gym, so it’s not like I’ve had a two year lay-off.

“Liam is talking a lot, the fire is burning inside me. You don’t trash talk me, I’m coming in a different person. This will be an action-packed fight. I’ll exploit all of his weaknesses and take him out - My goal is to knock him out and retire him!

“It’s going to be an amazing night. Amanda and Katie are trailblazers for the sport, and I’m honored to be a part of an historic event in New York.”

“I’m buzzing and proud to be fighting at Madison Square Garden,” said Smith. “It’s one I can tick off my bucket list now along with Las Vegas; MSG is the pinnacle of boxing and everything happens for a reason so I am happy to be heading to New York on April 30. The main event is fantastic, Katie is always in exciting fights, and I am sure there will be lots of British and Irish fans there that will be backing me too.

“This fight is an itch that has needed scratching for a long time now and I want to beat Jessie and beat him well and move on. I hope that he turns up fit and healthy this time as I am aiming to retire him and send him into politics. He wants to move into politics, and I will give him a reason to concentrate on that 100 per cent.

“Jessie stopping me? I find that highly unlikely when only one person has done that and Jessie is no Canelo Alvarez. I fully intend on stopping him, being the first man to do it and adding my name to the names that have beaten him.”

Years in the making, the biggest fight ever in women’s boxing between the pound-for-pound #1 and #2 fighters of the world is one that will not only make boxing history, but women’s sports history. MSG has hosted thousands of fights through its illustrious years, beginning more than a century ago on July 17, 1882; now, 140 years later, this matchup finally marks the very first time two female fighters are headlining a combat sports event at 'The World’s Most Famous Arena'. #ForHistory

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[Enlightened-One]

I can see Liam Smith winning this one, but he’ll probably be considered the underdog, since he’ll be facing an experienced American, fighting on home turf that has faced superior opposition than Beefy has.

But Jessie Vargas has traditionally been a small welterweight, with Liam Smith occasionally dipping his toes into middleweight “water” (on one or two occasions).

Vargas is also feather-fisted in comparison to the likes of Jaime Munguia and Canelo, which means that Jessie will have to outbox Liam, which won’t be an easy feat to achieve.

And even though Liam Smith was very recently outpointed against Magomed Kurbanov, most people felt he was robbed.

This is a 50-50 type fight, with Vargas probably considered the favourite, but despite that, I reckon that Liam Smith might win this one.

[Bandog]

I can see Liam Smith winning this one, but he’ll probably be considered the underdog, since he’ll be facing an experienced American, fighting on home turf that has faced superior opposition than Beefy has.

But Jessie Vargas has traditionally been a small welterweight, with Liam Smith occasionally dipping his toes into middleweight “water” (on one or two occasions).

Vargas is also feather-fisted in comparison to the likes of Jaime Munguia and Canelo, which means that Jessie will have to outbox Liam, which won’t be an easy feat to achieve.

And even though Liam Smith was very recently outpointed against Magomed Kurbanov, most people felt he was robbed.

This is a 50-50 type fight, with Vargas probably considered the favourite, but despite that, I reckon that Liam Smith might win this one.

Liam Smith? The same guy that Canelo fought after ducking Andrade? I think we all know why Canelo didn't try to uinify there.

I was hoping Canelo would have the stones to fight Andrade after Amir Khan at least?

[margaret thatcher]

liam smith, same guy who twice beat one of andrade's best ever opponents

[Enlightened-One]

I can see Liam Smith winning this one, but he’ll probably be considered the underdog, since he’ll be facing an experienced American, fighting on home turf that has faced superior opposition than Beefy has.

But Jessie Vargas has traditionally been a small welterweight, with Liam Smith occasionally dipping his toes into middleweight “water” (on one or two occasions).

Vargas is also feather-fisted in comparison to the likes of Jaime Munguia and Canelo, which means that Jessie will have to outbox Liam, which won’t be an easy feat to achieve.

And even though Liam Smith was very recently outpointed against Magomed Kurbanov, most people felt he was robbed.

This is a 50-50 type fight, with Vargas probably considered the favourite, but despite that, I reckon that Liam Smith might win this one.

Liam Smith? The same guy that Canelo fought after ducking Andrade? I think we all know why Canelo didn't try to uinify there.

I was hoping Canelo would have the stones to fight Andrade after Amir Khan at least?

The topic of this thread is Jessie Vargas vs. Liam Smith.

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Fight Week!

[Stobbo]

Smiths probably gonna stop him late. He's a good all rounder and will be bigger on the night.

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