Welterweight’s rising phenomenon Vergil Ortiz Jr (17-0, 17KOs) made a daunting statement in the squared circle against Maurice Hooker (27-2-3, 18KOs), dropping the former WBO light welterweight champion within seven rounds.
The 147 title fight, held at the Dickies Arena in Fort Worth, Texas in front of a massive crowd presence including Errol Spence Jr and Terence Crawford, saw Ortiz Jr clinching the vacant WBO International title.
Vergil Ortiz Jr wins WBO international welterweight title as Maurice Hooker went down in 7th with an elbow injury
The fight started with both pugilists trading heavy jabs in the early first round. Ortiz Jr was able to make connections with some clean body shots and hooks, however, Hooker did some impressive counterwork in the next three rounds.
In the fifth, Ortiz landed heavy shots which were doing its effects on Hooker, as both fighters were exchanging combinations at the center of the ring. Towards the end of the sixth round, a staggering body shot, followed by an assault from Ortiz got Hooker hitting the canvas, but was able to beat the count at 8.
However, Ortiz drew conclusion in the seventh round, starting early offense including two massive left jabs, followed by connecting with body shot once more while Hooker, trying to defend himself from the body attack, dislocated his elbow and went down.
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Ortiz continues his unbeaten professional runs, and the win also marks his 17th knockout victory. Remarkably, all of the 22-year-old’s wins have come as either a KO or a TKO.
Following the fight, Ortiz revealed that he was targeting body shots because connecting to Hooker’s head was not doing any impact at all. However, with a convincing victory, Ortiz feels that he is ready for a title shot and his gaze is on Crawford.
I’m ready for a title shot. I’m not going to call anyone a bum. I would love that opportunity. Crawford is pound for pound. If I’m given the opportunity. I’m looking at you, Bud,” said Ortiz.
Hooker, on the other hand, opines that Ortiz is not ready for a title fight yet: “He’s good, but he’s not ready, to be honest.” Despite his elbow dislocation, “Mighty Mo” was at the receiving end of the booing from the crowd and had the choicest of words for it.
“I hurt my hand. For everyone that’s booing, f*** y’all,” the 31-year-old uttered before flipping the bird to the crowd.
A former WBC-NABF Junior super lightweight champion, Ortiz Jr won the vacant WBA Gold welterweight in August 2019 against Antonio Orozco and defended the title twice against Brad Solomon and Samuel Vargas.
