Regis Prograis and Maurice Hooker were among the first boxers to feel the cancellation wrath of the coronavirus outbreak, as their scheduled April 17 super lightweight bout was immediately dashed due to the ongoing global pandemic.
However, the postponement hasn't curbed Hooker's hunger for the fight at all. In fact, the delay has only added to his insatiable appetite to fight. During an Instagram live chat with Matchroom Boxing USA president Eddie Hearn on Monday, Hooker spoke about the Prograis fight, saying he can't wait until they get the green light to scrap.
"I still want this fight," Hooker said. "I want to get in the ring and shut this guy up because he talks too much. I'm ready. I'm ready whenever it happens."
Although there hasn't been a rescheduled date just yet, Hooker didn't hesitate to reveal his approach for the bout.
"I'm just going to go in there, take it round by round, listen to my coaches," Hooker said. "I'm not going to go for the knockout unless I see it. I just believe I have every skill to beat him. I could outbox him, I could fight him inside ... I will beat him. I'm just going to win each round, round by round. I'll just take my time."
Hooker didn't take his time against Jose Ramirez in their super lightweight title unification bout in July. The Dallas native showed a willingness to trade dynamite early, instead, in what erupted in an explosive firefight and sixth-round TKO loss, when Ramirez knocked Hooker out on his feet against the ropes in what was one of the most thrilling fights of 2019.
Prograis (24-1, 20 KOs) would follow Hooker (27-1-3, 18 KOs) in suffering his first pro loss roughly three months later, when he dropped a majority decision to Josh Taylor in a super lightweight title unification bout of his own in October. Although Hooker got back into the win column with a first-round TKO of Uriel Perez in December, the bout was nothing more than a showcase for "Mighty Mo."
This impending Prograis vs. Hooker bout marks each fighter's official climb back to the top. Prior to the coronavirus outbreak, Hooker had been sharpening his skills sparring with WBO welterweight champion Terence Crawford, who's regarded by many as the top pound-for-pound boxer that the sweet science has to offer today. Hooker, 30, hopes that steel sharpens steel in the form of him working up to becoming a 140-pound champion again and will be looking to see direct results from training with Crawford during the Prograis fight.
Despite saying that he's not going to go for the KO, Hooker admitted to Hearn that he wants it badly.
"I want to knock this guy out," Hooker said about Prograis. "I want to shut him up and put him on his ass. The fans got me as an underdog. It's OK, it's cool ... I'm still going to beat him."
He added: "I want to be a champion again at 140 (pounds) before I move up. Then, I'll go to 147 (pounds) and fight anybody."