OFF TO WAR
The 130pounders are the talk of the town this weekend, writes Paul Wheeler
This week’s guest columnist faces a stern assessment in Las Vegas
ON the same night (Saturday December 9) that Vasyl Lomachenko defends his WBO super-featherweight title against Guillermo Rigondeaux in New York, four fine super-feather fights adorn a show in Las Vegas at Mandalay Bay Hotel & Casino. Promotional duties are shared by Zanfer, Golden Boy, K2 and Matchroom, while the event will be televised live on Sky Sports Action/main Event (UK) and HBO (US).
In an intriguing 12-rounder, Liverpool’s former two-weight British champion Stephen Smith, 25-3 (15), collides with EX-WBC 130lb king Francisco Vargas,
23-1-2 (17). The Mexico City man won his world crown two years ago with a ninthsession stoppage of Takashi Miura, before retaining seven months later on a majority draw against another bruising warmonger in Orlando Salido, who also features on the bill. The Miura and Salido battles earned Vargas successive Boxing News
International Fight of the Year awards.
Francisco suffered severe facial lacerations against Miura and Salido, and that trend continued against the heavyhanded Miguel Berchelt in January, who KO’D Vargas in 11 rounds to take his WBC strap in another brutal barnburner.
Smith has never held a world title, although he did challenge for one in April 2016, when he was unanimously outpointed by then-unbeaten IBF superfeatherweight boss Jose Pedraza. The same fate befell “Swifty” seven months later against the brawling Jason Sosa. Since this defeat, he has had one outing – a firstframe blowout of the unknown Karoly Gallovich in June. Smith’s best win came just prior to the Pedraza clash, when he halted the usually durable Devis Boschiero – a former European super-feather titlist – in six in September 2015.
Both Smith and Vargas were highquality amateurs, with the highlight for the latter being his involvement in the 2008 Olympics, while Stephen nabbed an impressive bronze medal at the 2006 European Championships. Each 32-year-old trains under a top-class coach – Smith is guided by Joe Gallagher, while Vargas has recently linked up with Joel Diaz.
Vargas – who tested positive for the banned substance clenbuterol in April last year, blaming it on ingesting contaminated meat – is a career superfeatherweight who possesses advantages in height and reach over Smith. Although he occasionally demonstrates his capacity to jab and employ lateral movement, his standout attribute is his in-fighting ability. Brave and tenacious, the powerful pressure-fighter sets a torrid pace, and unleashes fierce combinations from his furious fists, including crunching uppercuts and vicious hooks.
Vargas’ all-out attacking approach allows him to land frequently, but also means he swallows his fair share of shots. Smith can be tagged too – as evidenced by his eighthround stoppage reverse to current IBF featherweight boss Lee Selby in September 2011. However, he is predominantly a smart and composed boxerpuncher who displays intelligent footwork and
impressive versatility.
Despite boasting a high work rate, Smith has admitted that he started too slowly versus Pedraza and Sosa. Against Vargas, he will aim to rectify this by rattling off accurate and well-timed combos to both head and body from the outset. Jabs and straight strikes are favourites of the Englishman, as are searing left hooks to the midsection.
During the Sosa fight, Smith had difficulties with his opponent’s warring style on the inside, which is one of Vargas’ top traits. Stephen will have his moments in an entertaining and actionpacked tussle, but Francisco’s strength and relentlessness can swing things his way. A late stoppage triumph for Vargas is possible, but the likelihood is that he will claim a points victory.
Also on the card, the previously mentioned Salido, 44-13-4 (31) 1NC – an ex-two-division world champ – can outscore fellow seasoned Mexican Miguel Roman, 57-12 (44), over 12.
THE VERDICT A super superfeatherweight spectacle.