A highly anticipated 12-round super-welterweight clash between former world champions Jessie Vargas and Liam Smith served as the co-main event on a historic night of boxing, live on DAZN, beneath the main event of Katie Taylor vs. Amanda Serrano. The action at Madison Square Garden in New York City was expected to commence around 7:00 p.m. EST on April 30, 2022.
The bout carried significant stakes for both men, with pre-fight discussions heavily leaning towards a world title shot for the victor and potential retirement for the defeated. This narrative underscored the crossroads nature of the contest for two fighters in their early thirties, each looking to solidify their place in the competitive 154-pound division.
Jessie Vargas, then 32, entered the ring following a substantial 26-month layoff, his last outing being a unanimous decision loss to Mikey Garcia in February 2020. The Las Vegas native brought a professional record of 29-3-2 with 11 KOs into the contest. A two-division world champion, Vargas had previously held the WBA (Regular) junior welterweight and WBO welterweight titles, showcasing a pedigree that included sharing the ring with elite fighters such as Manny Pacquiao, Timothy Bradley, and Mikey Garcia. His last victory came in April 2019, a sixth-round knockout of Humberto Soto. Prior to this rescheduled fight, Vargas had even suspended a political campaign for Nevada’s 4th Congressional District to fully concentrate on his boxing return.
In contrast, Liam Smith, 33, had been more active in the ring. The Liverpudlian’s most recent outing was a victorious eighth-round TKO against tough domestic rival Anthony Fowler in October 2021, a performance that earned him the WBA International light-middleweight title. Before that, Smith had suffered a controversial points defeat to Magomed Kurbanov in Russia in May 2021. A former WBO junior middleweight world champion, Smith’s sole world title reign ended in 2016 with a ninth-round stoppage loss to pound-for-pound king Canelo Alvarez. Smith’s record stood at 30-3-1 with 17 KOs before facing Vargas.
Pre-Fight Buildup and Postponement
The clash between Vargas and Smith had been brewing for some time, initially scheduled for February 2022. However, the fight was postponed when Jessie Vargas became ill with COVID-19, pushing the highly anticipated encounter to the end of April.
In the build-up to the rescheduled bout, both fighters expressed immense confidence and a clear understanding of the career-defining nature of the fight. Liam Smith, naturally the bigger man, was seemingly confident in his physical advantages. In an interview with DAZN, he stated: “Ultimately, I’m going to be too big and too strong for him. I’m a fully-fledged 154lber, I’ve been there my whole career and he’s gone from Light-Welter to Welter and now Super-Welter. If you can make 147lbs you are not a proper 154lber just yet and I think that’s going to play a part.” Smith further emphasized his intent, telling BoxingScene.com, “I’m gonna beat him up and enjoy doing it.”
Meanwhile, Vargas believed his pedigree, extensive experience at the world level, and his aggressive “Mexican style” would prove too much for Smith. He highlighted Smith’s previous losses at the world level, including the defeat to Canelo Alvarez. Vargas himself had faced and come up short against some of boxing’s biggest names, including Manny Pacquiao, Mikey Garcia, and Timothy Bradley, but maintained that these experiences had only sharpened his skills.
The Fight Unfolds: Smith Dominates
When the two finally locked horns at Madison Square Garden, the fight lived up to its billing as a high-stakes affair. Vargas started the fight well, landing several shots and appearing to be the busier fighter in the initial rounds, particularly with his jab and uppercuts. However, Smith, known for his relentless pressure and high-volume attack, began to impose his will as the rounds progressed.
A cut opened above Smith’s right eye in the third round, seemingly from a clash of heads, which spurred the British fighter to increase his aggression. The tide began to turn decisively in the middle rounds, with Smith consistently pressing forward and landing the harder punches. Vargas, despite his efforts, showed signs of slowing down and appeared increasingly exhausted from the third round onwards, struggling to find a second wind. By the eighth round, Vargas was spending much of his time fighting off the ropes, absorbing significant punishment. A cut also opened over Vargas’s left eye, adding to the concern for his well-being.
Between the ninth and tenth rounds, Vargas’s coach, Nonito Donaire, warned his fighter that he would stop the contest if Vargas didn’t show him more. However, Donaire didn’t get the chance. In the tenth round, Liam Smith continued his relentless assault, battering Vargas along the ropes. With Vargas unable to defend himself effectively, referee Steve Willis stepped in and halted the contest at 0:41 of the tenth round, awarding Liam Smith a technical knockout victory.
Aftermath and Divisional Implications
The victory was a significant one for Liam Smith, marking his second consecutive win and positioning him for another potential world title shot in the super-welterweight division. The fight, which was for the vacant WBO Intercontinental super-welterweight title, saw Smith become the first man to stop Jessie Vargas in his professional career. While some analysts questioned if the performance against an inactive Vargas truly showcased Smith’s ability to challenge top champions like Jermell Charlo or Brian Castano, or formidable contenders such as Tim Tszyu and Sebastian Fundora, the win undeniably boosted Smith’s standing.
For Jessie Vargas, the defeat proved to be the final chapter of his professional boxing career. Following the loss to Smith, Vargas announced his retirement from the sport. His prolonged inactivity and the physical toll of the fight against Smith were cited as major factors in his decision. The fight truly lived up to its “winner moves on, loser retires” billing, with Smith advancing his career and Vargas stepping away from the ring after a distinguished career as a two-division world champion. Smith went on to have several high-profile fights, including a TKO victory over Hassan Mwakinyo in September 2022 and a TKO win against Chris Eubank Jr. in January 2023, before suffering a TKO loss in their rematch in September 2023 and a unanimous decision loss to Aaron McKenna in April 2025.
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