Boxing
Liam Smith believes he is 'too big' and 'too strong' for Jessie Vargas
Watch Taylor vs. Serrano live on DAZN April 30
Liam Smith will arrive at a crossroads come Saturday night at Madison Square Garden when he faces Jessie Vargas live on DAZN.
For Smith, a win would keep his dream alive of becoming a two-time world champion, a loss meanwhile could spell the end of his career, but the Liverpudlian is admanant that will not happen and questioned whether Vargas is fully focused on this fight, and instead starting to turn his attention to politics.
"You question if he wants to be here,” Smith said.
“I have this thing in my mind; he’s running for Congress, he hasn’t boxed for two years, he’s only got one fight left on his contract, so is this his last hurrah? Give me one more payday and I’ll move into politics?"
Smith and Vargas were originally set to meet on February 5, but the fight got postponed after Vargas contracted COVID-19. Now the pair will meet as a part of what will be a historic event main evented by Katie Taylor and Amanda Serrano.
When surveying the current super welterweight division, Smith was confident he can become a two-time world champion.
"When I look at the landscape of the 154lb division, I believe I can be World champion again. If I didn’t, I would retire because I’m happy, I’ve got two lovely daughters, I’ve ruled the world - so I could retire a happy man.
"People would bite your hand off for the career I’ve had, but I am realistic when I look at the champions and contenders and think ‘I can beat him, him and him’ so I am not done yet, I still have that fire in me.
"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."
