Vergil Ortiz Jr.’s next fight will come in a two-way homecoming.
Multiple sources have informed Boxing Scene of plans in place for Ortiz to potentially face Maurice Hooker. The crossroads bout–once finalized—is targeted to headline a March 27 DAZN event live from Dallas, where both welterweights are based.
News of the rumored matchup was first reported by Steve Kim of The 3 Knockdown Rule Podcast.
Ortiz (16-0, 16 KOs) will fight for the first time since a 7th round knockout of Samuel Vargas last July in front of acrowdless Fantasy Springs Casino inIndio, California. The event marked the first boxing telecast to air on DAZN since the pandemic, though with limited dates thereafter leaving Ortiz without a second fight in 2020 after enjoying a four-fight Prospect of the Year campaign in 2019.
The run in 2019 included Ortiz’s first true hometown headliner, topping an August 2019 bill in Grand Prairie, Texas. The unbeaten welterweight rose to the occasion, scoring a 6th round stoppage of former title contender AntonioOrozco.
Ortiz has longed for a step up in class as a title shot remains on his short list of goals to accomplish in 2021. A crosstown showdown with a former titlist in Hooker (27-1-3, 18KOs), who went through all of 2020 without a fight as he looks to campaign in the welterweight division.
The 31-year old Dallas native enjoyed a 13-month stay as a junior welterweight titlist, lodging two successful defenses before conceding his crown to Jose Ramirez in their July 2019 unification clash between unbeaten titlists in nearby Arlington, Texas. Hooker has since bounced back with a 1st round knockout win over Uriel Perez in Dec. 2019, marking his first fight with renowned head trainer Brian ‘Bomac’ McIntyre.
Should the date hold up, it would solidify a loaded 1st quarter schedule for DAZN, which includes four shows from Golden Boy Promotions, including its Jan. 2 card which also took place in Dallas.
Last edited by Ruthless-RKO on 19 Mar 2021, 09:28, edited 5 times in total.
Ortiz a bruiser. However, Hooker is a legit pro. Hooker will hang in there until the final bell rings. Prediction : Vergil wins going away ...via a wide unanimous decision.
I was hoping & expecting for Vergil to be fighting someone more competitive for his first bout in 7 months. Hooker & Samuel Vargas are both steps down from Brad Solomon in late 2019!!
A hometown battle between two Dallas, Texas natives will take place on March 20 as Vergil Ortiz Jr. (16-0, 16 KOs) and former world champion Maurice “Mighty Mo” Hooker (27-1-3, 19 KOs) clash in a 12-round fight for the vacant WBO International Welterweight Title. The bout will headline a card that includes the Unites States debut of heavyweight monster Arslanbek “Lion” Makhmudov and a world title clash between Anabel “Avispa” Ortiz and Seniesa “Superbad” Estrada.
Information regarding the venue will be announced shortly as it is pending commission approval. The fights will be streamed live exclusively on DAZN worldwide, including the U.S., Mexico and Russia.
“On his rapid ascent from prospect to contender, Vergil has absolutely blown away everyone we have put in front of him, including a former world champion,” said Oscar De La Hoya, Chairman and CEO of Golden Boy. “But with a win over Maurice Hooker, just one fight removed from a significant title reign, on March 20, Vergil can stamp his ticket to a world championship fight.”
Since debuting as a professional in 2016, Ortiz Jr. has knocked out every single person who has stepped into the ring with him. The native of Grand Prairie, Texas, who has roots in Michoacan, Mexico, has scored stoppage wins against the likes of Mauricio “El Maestro” Herrera, Antonio “Relentless” Orozco, Brad “King” Solomon and Samuel Vargas. The 22-year-old contender has been wanting to fight Hooker for some time, and he’s eager to demonstrate his abilities against a former world champion.
“First and foremost, I’m really grateful to be fighting back at home again,” said Vergil Ortiz Jr. “Not only that, but I’ll be fighting another Dallas native in Maurice Hooker. I’ve known Hooker since back in the amateur days. I know we’re going to give the fans back at home a fight to remember.”
Hooker is a 31-year-old former world champion who traveled to United Kingdom to defeat Terry “Turbo” Flanagan and capture the 140-pound WBO title. Then, Hooker scored big wins against undefeated contenders Mikkel “Slikk Mikk”LesPierre and Alex “El Cholo” Saucedo before suffering his first loss in an epic unification fight against Jose Carlos Ramirez. Now at welterweight, Hooker plans to derail Ortiz’s meteoric rise by putting an end to their long-standing rivalry.
"I've never been one to shy away from a fight,” said Maurice Hooker. “The decision to fight Ortiz was an easy one as it allows me to prove to the world something that I already know—that I'm one of the best welterweights in the world. I have a new team around me who has taken my game to a whole new level, and I feel amazing at this weight class. I can't wait to put on a show for all the fans on March 20. Dallas, get ready!"
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In the co-main event, Arslanbek “Lion” Makhmudov (11-0, 11 KOs) will make his highly anticipated United States debut in a 10-round defense of his NABF heavyweight title in a bout presented by Golden Boy and Eye of the Tiger Management. The 31-year-old Russian is on the fast track to a world title, and he already has his eyes set on the biggest names of the division.
Two-division champion Anabel “Avispa” Ortiz (31-3, 4 KOs) of Mexico City, Mexico and former flyweight champion Seniesa “Superbad” Estrada (19-0, 8 KOs) of East Los Angeles, California will meet in an epic 10-round fight for Ortiz’s WBA Minimumweight World Title. Ortiz is eager to make a statement in her United States debut, while Estrada looks to accomplish her dream of becoming a world champion in more than one division.
Luis “Matador” Hernandez (21-0, 19 KOs) of Chihuahua, Mexico will participate in a 10-round super lightweight battle against Alex Martin (15-3, 6 KOs) of Chicago, Illinois.
George Rincon (10-0, 7 KOs) of Dallas, Texas will return in an eight-round super lightweight fight against a soon-to-be-announced opponent.
Hector Valdez (13-0, 8 KOs) of Dallas, Texas will face Alberto Torres (11-3-3, 4 KOs) of Sacramento, California in an eight-round super bantamweight battle.
Oscar Acevedo (7-0) of Garden City, Kansas and James “Crunch Time” Willkins (9-1-0, 6 KOs) of Staten Island, New York will meet in an eight-round super featherweight bout between two Golden Boy prospects.
Undefeated welterweight Vergil Ortiz Jr. will return to the ring in a step-up fight on March 20th when he faces former 140-pound champion Maurice Hooker (pictured). Ortiz Jr (16-0, 16 KOs) faces Hooker (27-1-3, 18 KOs) on a Golden Boy Promotions event in Dallas, Texas, with the fight broadcast live around the world on DAZN. Ortiz is back in action after a run that has so far seen him win all 16 of his fights by knockout. He is excited to taking on Hooker, saying, “first and foremost, I’m really grateful to be fighting back at home again. Not only that, but I’ll be fighting another Dallas native in Maurice Hooker. I’ve known Hooker since back in the amateur days. I know we’re going to give the fans back at home a fight to remember.”
Hooker said: “I’ve never been one to shy away from a fight. The decision to fight Ortiz was an easy one as it allows me to prove to the world something that I already know—that I’m one of the best welterweights in the world. I have a new team around me who has taken my game to a whole new level, and I feel amazing at this weight class. I can’t wait to put on a show for all the fans on March 20. Dallas, get ready!”
Chairman and CEO of Golden Boy Promotions Oscar De La Hoya added: “On his rapid ascent from prospect to contender, Vergil has absolutely blown away everyone we have put in front of him, including a former world champion. But with a win over Maurice Hooker, just one fight removed from a significant title reign, on March 20, Vergil can stamp his ticket to a world championship fight.”
The highly anticipated welterweight showdown between rising knockout artist Vergil Ortiz Jr. (16-0, 16 KOs) and former world champion Maurice “Mighty Mo” Hooker (27-1-3, 19 KOs) will take place at Dickies Arena in Fort Worth, Texas.
The event, which is stacked from top to bottom with competitive undercard bouts, will take place Saturday, March 20 and will be streamed live exclusively on DAZN worldwide, including the U.S., Mexico and Russia
“It’s rare that two fighters get to square off in front of their hometown fans, but with Dickies Arena just down the road from where both Vergil and 'Mo' were born, this venue is exactly the right place for this fight,” said Oscar De La Hoya, Chairman and CEO of Golden Boy. “With a likely world championship opportunity at stake in front of friends and family, this is a guaranteed action fight to see either in person or on the DAZN app.”
“I’m very happy to be fighting in front of my friends, family, and fans back at home again,” said Vergil Ortiz Jr. “Dickies Arena is a perfect sized venue, and it looks like it will be able to hold a substantial number of fans, so everybody needs to come out and support all the fighters. I’m really hyped for this fight.”
“I’m excited to be fighting so close to home where my family, friends and hometown fans can come out and support my return to the ring,” said Maurice Hooker. “With Vergil and I both being from the Dallas area, this is a fight that had to happen in the DFW metroplex. We are going to put on one hell of a show for all of our hometown fans on March 20 at Dickies Arena."
As announced previously, the Ortiz vs. Hooker undercard will be stacked from top to bottom with highly competitive matchups.
In the co-main event, Arslanbek “Lion” Makhmudov (11-0, 11 KOs) will make his highly anticipated United States debut in a 10-round defense of his NABF heavyweight title in a bout presented by Golden Boy and Eye of the Tiger Management.
Two-division champion Anabel “Avispa” Ortiz (31-3, 4 KOs) of Mexico City, Mexico and former flyweight champion Seniesa “Superbad” Estrada (19-0, 8 KOs) of East Los Angeles, California will meet in an epic 10-round fight for Ortiz’s WBA Minimumweight World Title.
Luis “Matador” Hernandez (21-0, 19 KOs) of Chihuahua, Mexico will participate in a 10-round super lightweight battle against Alex Martin (15-3, 6 KOs) of Chicago, Illinois.
George Rincon (10-0, 7 KOs) of Dallas, Texas will return in an eight-round super lightweight fight.
Hector Valdez (13-0, 8 KOs) of Dallas, Texas will face Alberto Torres (11-3-3, 4 KOs) of Sacramento, California in an eight-round super bantamweight battle.
Oscar Acevedo (7-0) of Garden City, Kansas and James “Crunch Time” Willkins (9-1-0, 6 KOs) of Staten Island, New York will meet in an eight-round super featherweight bout between two Golden Boy prospects.
Tristan Kalkreuth (7-0, 6 KOs) of Duncanville, Texas will return in a six-round fight in the cruiserweight division.
Vergil Ortiz Jr. couldn’t have put together a better wish list than the circumstances surrounding his next fight.
The Boxin gScene 2019 Prospect of the Year and current welterweight contender enters his most notable headliner to date as he faces former 140-pound titlist Maurice Hooker. The crossroads clash between Dallas-based welterweights takes place March 20 at Dickies Arena in neighboring Fort Worth, Texas.
“It’s literally the most I could have asked for,” Ortiz told Boxing Scene ahead of his 2021 debut, which will air live on DAZN. “I feel very excited about this fight. It’s a big fight with another Dallas fighter, taking place in Dallas so that means a lot. I get to fight in front of my home fans, my friends, my family.”
The bout will mark the second time within his last four fights where Ortiz (16-0, 16KOs) will fight in the greater Dallas area. The previous occasion came in his true hometown of Grand Prairie, Texas, where he stopped former title contender Antonio Orozco in the 6th round of their Aug. 2019 DAZN headliner. The bout was marketed as his Ortiz’s biggest step up in class, fittingly going more rounds than at any other point in his career to that point.
That mark has since been surpassed, with Ortiz being extended deep into the 7th round before taking out Samuel Vargas in his most recent start last July in Indio, California.
From there came the decision that his next fight would be one to put the 22-year old contender on a path towards his first world title shot. An offer was made to face Hooker (27-1-3, 18KOs), a native of Dallas’ Oak Cliff section who has welterweight title aspirations of his own after having held a belt at junior welterweight for more than a year.
“He didn’t have to take this fight,” acknowledges Ortiz. “He just moved up to 147. He could have picked up an easier fight. He chose to fight me, an up-and-coming guy.
“I’m one of the hardest guys in this division but he’s not backing down from that. I’ve got to give him props for that.”
In agreeing to the fight, Ortiz is able to check off yet another wish list item.
“I wanted the fight before,” notes Ortiz. “I remember at a press conference when Maurice Hooker was still with DAZN, I told Eddie Hearn that I want Maurice Hooker next. He kind of just laughed it off.
“I guess nobody’s laughing now. The fight is happening now, it’s a great fight and I can’t wait.”
In the spirit of turning a negative into a positive, Vergil Ortiz Jr. is in a very good place both in his career and from a geographic standpoint.
The unbeaten welterweight contender is set for his second hometown headliner within the span of his past four fights, this coming in an all-Dallas showdown with former 140-pound titlist Maurice Hooker. The bout takes place March 20, live on DAZN from Dickies Arena in Fort Worth, Texas, mere miles from where both boxers are located.
It will mark the sixth major post-pandemic boxing cards to be staged in Texas, which has become a boxing hotbed. It’s one of the few states in the U.S. allowing fans in attendance for combat sports events, leaving Grand Prairie’s Ortiz (16-0, 16 KOs) with some leverage at the negotiating table to begin securing the dream fights he’s long craved.
“Obviously we want things to get better and go back to normal. But until that happens, it’s kind of cool that all of these big fights are taking place in my home state and I’m now a part of it,” Ortiz told Boxing Scene. “For these guys who want to fight with fans in attendance, right now their options are really only Texas and Florida.
“So, that gives me something to work with, maybe finally get these guys in the ring with me knowing they can make more coming here than fighting somewhere without any fans.”
The show will come one week after neighboring Dallas will play host to a junior bantamweight title unification rematch between lineal champion and WBC titlist Juan Francisco Estrada (41-3, 28 KOs) and four-division and reigning WBA 115-pound titllist Roman 'Chocolatito' Gonzalez (50-2, 41 KOs)
Ortiz had to experience a closed-doors atmosphere for his lone fight of 2020. It came atop the first DAZN show to air since the pandemic, taking place at Fantasy Springs Casino in Indio, California. Ortiz scored a 7th round stoppage of Samuel Vargas for his second straight win at the venue, having stopped Brad Solomon inside of five rounds in Dec. 2019 to cap a four-knockout Prospect of the Year campaign.
In his crossroads bout versus Hooker (27-1-3, 18 KOs)—a former junior welterweight titlist from the Oak Cliff section of Dallas—Ortiz returns to his roots. Prior to his pair of bouts in Indio came a true homecoming, when the undefeated welterweight scored a 6th round stoppage of former title challenger Antonio Orozco atop an Aug. 2019 show in Grand Prairie.
Prior to landing this upcoming fight, Ortiz was in attendance for the last show in his home region when Ryan García played to a socially distanced capacity crowd of more than 6,000 at American Airlines Center in Dallas. Talks of a showdown with Hooker had already swirled by that point, making it easier to picture what such a fight will look like once the show returns to his hometown.
“I was definitely envisioning it,” Ortiz admits in watching García’s 7th round stoppage of Luke Campbell in front of a raucous crowd. “It was just making me even more pumped up. Then—voila—this fight is happening next for me.
“It’s kind of badass that the universe was listening and that here we are fighting in my hometown.”
he March 20th Vergil Ortiz Jr. vs. Maurice Hooker DAZN card has received a slight adjustment, as unbeaten heavyweight Arslanbek Makhmudov is out of his co-feature bout with TBA and “will now return in April against a very big challenge.” Instead, veteran Pablo Cesar Cano will take on unbeaten Jonathan Navarro in a junior welterweight crossroads match.
The rest of the card, including Anabel Ortiz’s minimumweight title defense against Seniesa Estrada, remains intact.
Cano (33-7-1, 23 KO) remains as inconsistently lethal as ever at 31 years old, though he presently finds himself on his longest winning streak since 2012. Since suffering a second-round knockout loss to Marcelino Lopez in 2017, he’s taken a technical decision over unbeaten Ruslan Madiyev, demolished Jorge Linares, and survived an early knockdown to beat down Roberto Ortiz in two.
“I am very happy to be returning on such an important card on March 20” said Pablo Cesar Cano. “I am delighted for the chance to be active once again, especially because of all that has happened due to the pandemic. I am motivated, and I have a positive mentality. I’m going to make sure I train very hard to be at optimum shape on fight night.”
The 24-year-old Navarro (17-0, 9 KO) is definitely still in the building stage. His best win to date came in 2018, when he dominated and finished fellow unbeaten Damon Martin. Like Cano, he hasn’t seen action since 2019.
“I am very excited for this fight,” said Jonathan Navarro. “You’re not going to want to miss it. This fight will be a big step up for me, and it will bring me closer to becoming a world champion. We are working very hard back at camp and making sure we are prepared for Cano. I’m coming to make a statement in the 140-pound division. I will let everyone know that I’m coming for a belt very soon!”
