Gavin McDonnell can take pride from points defeat to Rey Vargas in WBC title fight, says Paul Smith

Gavin McDonnell can still hold his head high after Rey Vargas claimed the WBC super-bantamweight belt with a points win, says Sky Sports expert Paul Smith.

The Doncaster man's brave effort was in vain as Vargas took the vacant WBC title with two scores of 117-111, 116-112, while the third judge controversially made it a 114-114 draw at Hull Ice Arena.

McDonnell had fallen short in his first fight at world level, but Smith believes the 30-year-old has emerged with credit after sharing 12 hard-fought rounds with a classy Mexican.

"At the end of the day, it's about levels, and I think Vargas showed tonight he was a level above," said Smith. "One quality operator.

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"I think he certainly knows he's been in a fight tonight, Vargas. He knows he has been made to work for that title and he certainly earned the belt that is around his waist.

He made himself, his family and his friends and the fans watching back home proud.

"Gavin McDonnell has left every ounce of himself in that ring tonight. He cannot ask for any more from himself. He gave everything in camp, he gave even more in the fight.

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"He made himself, his family, and his friends, and the fans watching back home proud.

"He did everything that he could tonight, he just came up against a better fighter."

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