VARGAS IN VEGAS WILL TEMPT LIAM
LIAM SMITH is in line for a shot at two-weight world champion Jessie Vargas after stopping Anthony Fowler in their Merseyside derby.
Smith knocked out Fowler in the eighth round at Liverpool’s packed M&S Arena.
And promoter Eddie Hearn claims he will fight Vargas next as he targets a second world title.
Vargas is a former WBA lightwelterweight and WBO welterweight champ – and Hearn believes the fight could happen in Las Vegas or Liverpool.
“Jessie Vargas is definitely a fight that can happen,” said Matchroom supremo Hearn. “He’s due a fight with us. Liam is ready for that fight in Liverpool, Las Vegas, wherever that fight is and I’m confident that fight will be next.”
Vargas has not fought since losing to Mikey Garcia in February 2020 and Smith would relish a clash with the American.
“I said beforehand, I don’t think the world champions are going to say ‘Liam Smith has beaten Anthony Fowler, let’s give him a shot’,” said the former WBO light-middleweight champ.
“Eddie is keen to make the Jessie Vargas fight. Hopefully he can push that. Vegas has been said, but after tonight I’d love it here, so either or.”
Smith, 33, recovered from a slow start to floor Fowler with a right hand in the fifth (above) and finished off the 2016 Olympian in the eighth with a left hook in front of a raucous crowd.
Hearn claimed he has proved he is back after Smith lost to Russian Magomed Kurbanov in May.
“For Liam Smith, what he showed is that he’s a world-class operator,” said Hearn. “He just went through the gears and hit him with a beautiful counter right hand in the fifth round when he decked him and really turned the fight.”