Liam Smith stops Jessie Vargas in round 10 on Taylor vs. Serrano card

On the undercard of Katie Taylor vs. Amanda Serrano, Jessie Vargas and Liam Smith went to war. With their careers on the line, Smith pulled out the win.

On the undercard of Katie Taylor vs. Amanda Serrano, former champions Liam Smith and Jessie Vargas fought for added time under the boxing sun.

Smith was the one who extended his boxing career.

It’s been years since Smith and Vargas held title belts, but the super welterweights tried to turn back time at Madison Square Garden on April 30.

Vargas (29-4-2, 11 KOs) looked like a rejuvenated fighter in the first few rounds. He jumped on Smith and landed the harder punches.

A cut opened up over Smith’s right eye in round 3 from a clash of heads. It was a bad cut that poured blood, but it woke Smith up.

Smith (21-3-1, 18 KOs) started to back Vargas up even though he lost round 4. Seeing his blood seemed to wake Smith up.

England’s Liam Smith got the better of Jessie Vargas to extend his career

Smith took over from round 4. He kept Vargas moving back and landed to the body and head.

All the energy Vargas displayed in the first three rounds dwindled in the proceeding rounds. Smith’s confidence grew as he walked through Vargas’s punches.

After round 9, Vargas’s trainer, Nonito Donaire, threatened to stop the fight. The referee did it for him in round 10.

Smith sent Vargas reeling to the ropes with a right hand and followed with a combination. Vargas was spent, and the referee waved the fight off, giving Smith the round 10 TKO.

At 32, Vargas looks finished. Smith is slightly older at 33, but his win over Vargas gives him his second consecutive victory by stoppage.