Jessie Vargas has been ruled out of his super-welterweight showdown with Liam Smith after testing positive for Covid-19.
The Las Vegas native was scheduled to meet fellow former world champion Smith on February 5 at the Footprint Center, Phoenix, Arizona, but the bout will now be postponed.
Vargas was last in action just shy of two years ago, losing via unanimous decision to Mikey Garcia in Frisco. Smith was coming off an eighth round TKO win over domestic rival Anthony Fowler in October.
“Despite being well, Jessie Vargas has tested positive for Covid and there will be a small delay to his Feb 5th fight with Liam Smith,” Eddie Hearn said. “There will be a further announcement of the new date in due course.”