Maurice Hooker heads into his Mar. 20 showdown with Vergil Ortiz Jr. as the underdog, but their welterweight main event live on DAZN could be the launchpad to becoming a two-weight world champion.
Hooker and Ortiz, both born in Dallas, clash for the WBO Intercontinental title over 12 rounds at the Dickies Arena in Fort Worth, Texas. It's seen by many as the latest step up for the exciting Ortiz (16-0, 16 KOs) but former WBO light-welter champ Hooker (27-1-3, 18 KOs) is not interested in serving as merely a stepping stone.
“I just [need to] prove I can still be a world champion at 147, I still have it, you know?,” Hooker said during a recent virtual press conference, transcribed by Boxing Scene.
“We both from Dallas, Texas, we both fought in the amateurs, and you know, both did good things in the amateurs for Dallas. I know it’s a dream come true to fight another guy from Dallas, Texas.
"On a fight like this, you know, we give kids hopes and dreams to be like us one day.”
Hooker's sole pro defeat so far came to the undefeated Jose Ramirez in a 2019 light-welterweight unification bout. Since then, he has recruited a new training team headed up by Brian McIntyre, who also trains Terence Crawford.
“I mean, working with them is like being with family,” continued Hooker. “You know, we all look out for each other, so I feel very comfortable with them being in my corner.
"And with the game plan they got, I love it. So, I mean, this fight right here taught me to go in there and show them the new Maurice Hooker.
"You know, when I fought Jose it wasn’t my night. And this night, you know, it’s gonna be a good one.”
Ortiz vs. Hooker airs live on DAZN on Mar. 20. Sign up for that plus Chocolatito vs. Estrada, McCaskill vs. Braekhus, Whyte vs. Povetkin and much more in March, depending on your location. Fight fans in Argentina, Chile and Colombia should download the DAZN app via Google Play or Apple's App Store.