By Matt Lieberman: A fight between unbeaten welterweight contender Vergil Ortiz Jr and former WBO 140-lb champion Maurice Hooker is in the works for March 27th on DAZN.
According to Mike Coppinger, Hooker (27-1-3, 18 KOs) and #2 WBO, #5 WBC Ortiz Jr (16-0, 16 KOs) is being negotiated for the main event in a DAZN card in Dallas, Texas. Both fighters are from Texas and still live there.
Both Hooker and Ortiz have heavy hands, and this is a fight that promises to be a war from start to finish.
Hooker with a chance to pick up a signature win
It’s a risky fight for the 31-year-old Hooker, considering he’s done nothing to redeem himself since losing to Jose Ramirez by a sixth-round knockout two years ago in a unification fight.
Hooker did rebound from that defeat to beat an over-matched Uriel Perez in stopping him in the first round in December 2019 but that wasn’t against a top contender.
A win here for Hooker would be huge for him, as it would bring him back to where he was before his loss to Ramirez.
Hooker’s best career wins:
- Terry Flanagan
- Alex Saucedo
- Mikkel LesPierre
- Cristobal Cruz
- Ghislain Maduma
Hooker has three career draws against these fighters: Darleys Perez, Tyrone Chatman, and Abel Ramos. Those were fights that Hooker could have easily lost, especially the fight with Perez.
It’s a step up for the 22-year-old Vergil Ortiz Jr to be taking on the 10-year professional Hooker, but it’s a very winnable fight for him.
The way Hooker was bulldozed by Ramirez, it’s difficult not to see the stronger puncher Ortiz Jr doing an even better job.
Ortiz has been brought slowly by his promoters at Golden Boy Promotions, and he’s still not faced a decent contender since turning professional in 2016.
Vergil’s best opponents thus far:
- Samuel Vargas
- Mauricio Herrera
- Antonio Orozco
- Roberto Ortiz
- Juan Carlos Salgado
- Brad Solomon
- Jesus A Valdez Barrayan
“Sources: Vergil Ortiz and Maurice Hooker are in advanced discussions toward a welterweight fight that would headline DAZN on March 27 in Dallas.
“Big-step up for one of boxing’s best young fighters. Love this matchup. @SteveKim323 first,” said @MikeCoppinger.
Vergil Ortiz Jr wants a title shot
Recently, Ortiz Jr has expressed interest in wanting to challenge WBO welterweight champion Terence ‘Bud’ Crawford, but nothing has come of that.
It’s likely that Crawford’s promoters at Top Rank will wait until the World Boxing Organization orders him to defend against Ortiz Jr before they let him take that fight.
There’s too much risk with little reward for the soon to be 34-year-old Crawford to take on a young lion like Ortiz.