Vergil Ortiz Jr kept the hype train rolling strong tonight, passing an important and tough test against former titleholder Maurice Hooker, winning a seventh round stoppage in Fort Worth, Texas.
In front of a near-home crowd for both Dallas-based fighters, Ortiz (17-0, 17 KO) was the obvious fan favorite, but he took some heat from Hooker (27-2-3, 18 KO), too, as the two got into some really good exchanges in what was a very entertaining fight.
Hooker definitely won some rounds — or at least had solid arguments in them — before being dropped late in the sixth due to some strong body work from the younger fighter. Hooker came out for the seventh gunning for Ortiz, but was down again less than a minute into the round, and retired from the fight there with a hand injury (or two).
The 22-year-old Ortiz gave Hooker earned respect, as you would expect from him.
“He didn’t have to take this fight. I give him props,” Ortiz said. “I felt like I did pretty good. There’s always room for improvement, always. I could have done a lot of things better. He was durable, he could definitely take a punch. He was smart, he tried to get around my guard. I just knew what to do.”
Ortiz spoke more of Hooker’s durability, saying head shots weren’t hurting him so he went to the body. And then he made the big statement: he wants a world title fight, and he wants it now.
“I’m ready for a title shot. Whoever’s willing to give me the opportunity,” he said. “I’m not going to call anyone a bum, I’m not like that at all. I respect every fighter who gets in the ring. I do my talking in the ring.”
With WBO titlist Terence Crawford — who trains with Hooker — in attendance, he directed some comments toward Crawford, who earlier in the night had dismissed the idea.
“I would love that opportunity. Crawford is possibly the number one pound-for-pound boxer in the world, definitely top two,” Ortiz said. “If they want to give me that opportunity, I’m more than willing to do it. I don’t care if I’m ‘ready’ or not, I want that fight.”
Hooker had his disagreements with the crowd post-fight when he said he hurt both hands before the stoppage, but overall was complimentary toward Ortiz.
“It was a good fight, Vergil’s a good guy and a good fighter,” Hooker said. “I’ve been off for a year and a half. I had to get through the storm in the first three rounds. I started getting my rhythm, but he’s a good fighter, man.
Asked where Ortiz ranks among the best fighters he’s faced, Hooker shied away from a concrete answer, but offered his honest assessment of a potential Crawford-Ortiz fight.
“He’s young and up and coming, but there’s levels to this. I’ve been in there with the best,” he said. “Trying to get Terence Crawford, I don’t know. He’s good, man, Vergil’s good but he’s not ready, man. I’m being honest. I love Vergil, but he’s not ready. Build himself up, he’s going to be a world champion someday.”
Ortiz Jr. stings Hooker with a body shot 💥 pic.twitter.com/2DUKRzWX5D
— DAZN Boxing (@DAZNBoxing) March 21, 2021
