Maurice Hooker says Vergil Ortiz Jr. is in for surprise
Maurice Hooker’s trajectory as an elite fighter changed radically in July 2019.
That was when the Dallas fighter was knocked out in six rounds by unbeaten former Olympian Jose Ramirez, who took Hooker’s WBO 140-pound title and his reputation as a rising star.
Hooker had planned to test dangerous waters again against another former junior welterweight champion, Regis Prograis. However, he decided to listen to his body and move up in weight after the fight fell through amid the coronavirus pandemic.
He needed less than a round to take out journeyman Uriel Perez in his welterweight debut in December. Now comes his do-or-die opponent: He’s scheduled to face unbeaten slugger and fellow Dallasite Vergil Ortiz Jr. on Saturday in Forth Worth, Texas (DAZN).
If Hooker (27-1-3, 18 KOs) wins, he becomes a player in a deep and lucrative division. If he loses, it will be a tough road ahead.
“This is a very big opportunity for me,” Hooker told Boxing Junke. “… When I beat him, I’ll be close to a [welterweight] title, one of the best.”
Maurice Hooker stopped Uriel Perez in his first fight since he lost his title to Jose Ramirez. Ed Mulholland / Matchroom Boxing
Yes, Hooker is confident.
He feels comfortable and strong at 147 pounds, which he said wasn’t the case in his last few fights at 140. And, just as important, he feels he’s growing as a fighter under the tutelage of new trainer Brian McIntyre.
Hooker worked with McIntrye and his team first in Omaha, Neb., and then in Colorado Springs, Colo., leading up to this fight. McIntrye also works with titleholders Terence Crawford, who is from Omaha, and Jamel Herring.
“I learned a lot more from these guys,” Hooker said. “The way they push me, they way they train me, just all around I think I’ve learned a lot. You’re about to see that I’m not the same fighter.”
The oddsmakers aren’t convinced: Ortiz, who has stopped all 16 of his opponents, is an 8-1 favorite to win the fight (BetMGM). That’s a significant margin in boxing.
Hooker insists he doesn’t care what anyone outside his team thinks. He was an accomplished amateur and a world titleholder as a professional, with victories over Terry Flanagan (to win his title), Alex Saucedo and Mikkel LesPierre in just the past few years.
He doesn’t need anyone to tell him how good he is – or isn’t. He knows what he’s capable of.
At the same time, he doesn’t understand why he would be written off after one setback against a top-tier opponent, Ramirez. Everyone loses eventually, right?
Hooker knows that first hand, having experienced it himself and handing 10 – yes, 10 – opponents their first setbacks (including two who were making their pro debuts).
“It doesn’t make sense,” he said. “That’s from a lot of people who don’t know about boxing. You can lose two, three times and still be one of the best, still be great. Everybody is stuck on records. How many undefeated guys has this guy [Ortiz] fought? None.
“I’m pumped up about this fight. I’m ready.”