Red hot contender Vergil Ortiz has steamrollered a path through the welterweight division and is on the cusp of a world title shot, but the monster puncher is taking nothing for granted when he meets former WBO 140lbs champion Maurice Hooker in Fort Worth, Texas, on March 20.
The 22-year-old Ortiz (16-0, 16 KOs) has swiftly moved through the levels, sweeping aside every obstacle with aplomb in registering notable KOs of Mauricio Herrera, Antonio Orozco and Samuel Vargas.
Fellow Texan Hooker (27-1-3, 18 KOs) represents his stiffest test to date and Ortiz has cautioned fans that his ruthless KO streak has to end some time.
“People think I’m going to roll over everyone, but that’s not always the case. Some day I’m going to crash into someone I won’t be able to take down easily. I always go in with the mindset of winning, but not with the knockout. If I look for it, it may not come,” Ortiz told Jorge Ebro of El Nuevo Herald.
“The work has been very strong and we are doing sparring with a lot of fighters. So I hope to reach the Hooker [bout] in the best possible form. A lot of people want to compare what [WBC and WBO 140lbs champion] Jose Ramirez did against him, because he knocked him out quickly [Ramirez stopped Hooker in six in July 2019]. I don’t want to be compared, I’ll do it my way.
“A fight for a world title is coming. Fortunately, if I get it right in this fight, a lot of doors will open for those big purse opportunities. I feel like, after this fight, that’s going to happen quickly.”