Maurice Hooker vs. Mikkel LesPierre - March 9, 2019

[Ruthless-RKO]

Maurice Hooker was invited by promoter Eddie Hearn to attend Friday’s DAZN show at Hulu Theatre in New York City, in part to scout a pair of super lightweight fights for potential future opponents.

Long before the opening bell, the unbeaten super lightweight titlist already has his next challenger lined up.

Hooker (25-0-3, 17KOs) is locked in for the second defense of his 140-pound crown, as he will face unbeaten Mikkel “Slikk Mikk” LesPierre (20-0-1, 9KOs), from Brooklyn by way of Trinidad & Tobabo.

The bout will serve as the chief support to a March 9 DAZN-streamed card, topped by the platform debut of Dmitry Bivol who defends his light heavyweight title versus Joe Smith Jr. at a location to be determined.

LesPierre’s promoter, Lou DiBella confirmed the news to BS.com.

“Mikkel LesPierre is a slick, talented boxer with a tremendous work ethic,” DiBella told BS.com of his client, a 33-year old southpaw who cut his boxing teeth on the Broadway Boxing series.

Hooker will still be in attendance on Friday, checking out former three-division titlist Jorge Linares in a crossroads bout with Pablo Cano as well as former 140-pound beltholder Chris Algieri in a 10-round clash with stablemate Danny Gonzalez.

The winner of both bouts were floated as potential future opponents for the reigning champ, but will now have to wait their turn as Hooker opted for a quick ring return.

[Ruthless-RKO]

Not surprised no one gives a crap about this one haha

[Ruthless-RKO]

Maurice Hooker just couldn’t do it.

The Dallas native struggled all week to make weight for his WBO junior welterweight title defense Saturday night at Turning Stone Resort & Casino. When a naked Hooker stepped on the scale Friday, he weighed 140½ pounds, half a pound over their division’s limit.

Being overweight has jeopardized Hooker’s title defense against Mikkel LesPierre on the Dmitry Bivol-Joe Smith Jr. undercard.

The 5-feet-11 Hooker, who’s unusually tall for his weight class, has one hour from the time he weighed in, approximately 5:25 p.m. ET, to return to the scale at a maximum of 140 pounds. If Hooker can’t make weight, the WBO will strip him of a title he won by beating Terry Flanagan by split decision June 9 in Manchester, England, Flanagan’s hometown.

The 34-year-old LesPierre (21-0-1, 10 KOs), a Brooklyn resident raised in Trinidad & Tobago, met his contractual obligation by officially weighing in at 138¾ pounds. If Hooker can’t come to the scale on weight, the WBO junior welterweight title will be at stake only for LesPierre.

[Ruthless-RKO]

The fourth time was the charm for Maurice Hooker.

Hooker came to the scale for the third time Friday night and made weight for his 140-pound title defense scheduled for Saturday night. Dallas’ Hooker officially weighed in at 140 pounds at Turning Stone Resort & Casino after failing three times to get down to the limit for the second defense of his WBO junior welterweight title.

[Best Coast]

The fourth time was the charm for Maurice Hooker.

Hooker came to the scale for the third time Friday night and made weight for his 140-pound title defense scheduled for Saturday night. Dallas’ Hooker officially weighed in at 140 pounds at Turning Stone Resort & Casino after failing three times to get down to the limit for the second defense of his WBO junior welterweight title.

Glad he finally made weight!! Even though Hooker is not close to being the best of the junior welter champs, he is one of the most exciting to watch. His slam-bang war of attrition with fellow unbeaten Alex Saucedo last year was one of the more dramatic comebacks of the year.

[oogiebe]

The fourth time was the charm for Maurice Hooker.

Hooker came to the scale for the third time Friday night and made weight for his 140-pound title defense scheduled for Saturday night. Dallas’ Hooker officially weighed in at 140 pounds at Turning Stone Resort & Casino after failing three times to get down to the limit for the second defense of his WBO junior welterweight title.

Glad he finally made weight!! Even though Hooker is not close to being the best of the junior welter champs, he is one of the most exciting to watch. His slam-bang war of attrition with fellow unbeaten Alex Saucedo last year was one of the more dramatic comebacks of the year.

Dude is a good watch, at the very least.

[Best Coast]

The fourth time was the charm for Maurice Hooker.

Hooker came to the scale for the third time Friday night and made weight for his 140-pound title defense scheduled for Saturday night. Dallas’ Hooker officially weighed in at 140 pounds at Turning Stone Resort & Casino after failing three times to get down to the limit for the second defense of his WBO junior welterweight title.

Glad he finally made weight!! Even though Hooker is not close to being the best of the junior welter champs, he is one of the most exciting to watch. His slam-bang war of attrition with fellow unbeaten Alex Saucedo last year was one of the more dramatic comebacks of the year.

Dude is a good watch, at the very least.

Mo's war with Saucedo is one of the few RECENT fights that I have already re-watched!!

[TheBeast]

Saturday 9, March 2019
Turning Stone Resort & Casino, Verona, New York, USA
promoter World of Boxing Promotions - Dmitry Ivanov, Main Events - Kathy Duva, Matchroom Boxing - Eddie Hearn, DiBella Entertainment - Lou DiBella, Star Boxing - Joe DeGuardia

Maurice Hooker 25 0 3
vs
Mikkel LesPierre 21 0 1
World Boxing Organisation World Super Lightweight Title

Hooker won by Decision




FULL CARD HIGHLIGHTS and VIDEO HERE:
https://www.the13thround.com/phpBB2/vie ... 8&t=129300


ENJOY!!

[Best Coast]

Hooker's strategy is interesting and different than most other fighters. In the early rounds he relies almost competely on the straight right hands, sometimes doubling up on them. Then he started throwing hard combos to the body and if he had done that earlier & more often he might have gotten Lespierre out of there later in the fight. In the later rounds Mo seemed to fight down to the level of his competition & lacked the sense of urgency he had against Saucedo. I think fighting on Saucedo's (and Flanagan's) home turf got him to turn it up a notch compared to tonight's fight.

[Ruthless-RKO]

[Best Coast]

Catterall is correct in the sense that it was not one of Hooker's better recent outings. He seemed to fight down to the level of his comp in the late rounds. I think the Mo Hooker that beat both Flanagan & Saucedo on THEIR home turf will be a much tougher night for Jack.