The quality of opposition rises, but the KO streak continues. Red hot welterweight contender Vergil Ortiz maintained his spotless stoppage record with a seven-round win over former WBO 140lbs champion Maurice Hooker in an all-Texas battle at the Dickies Arena in Fort Worth on Saturday night.
The 22-year-old Ortiz (17-0, 17 KOs) dropped his foe twice with Hooker unable to rise from the second knockdown after suffering a hand injury, sending a pro-Ortiz crowd into a frenzy.
Both men fought with destructive intentions before Ortiz’s greater artillery won through. Ortiz started aggressively, bulling Hooker (27-2-3, 19 KOs) to the ropes. But Hooker utilised his considerable reach to tee off with right hands as a firefight broke out.
Yet Ortiz’s pace never wavered and gradually he broke the former champion’s spirit with his fierce right hands, persistent jab and body blows. A more mobile Hooker maintained the range better in the fourth and he was able to score with precise jabs and stout right-hand work. But Ortiz’s relentless pressure began to tell midway through the fifth as Hooker covered up on the ropes.
In the sixth, a flurry of blows sent Hooker to the canvas for the first time. But a spirited Hooker rose to engage toe-to-toe with the younger man. One round later, a hurtful right to the body sent Hooker down where he winced in pain with a right hand injury and referee Laurence Cole immediately waved it off.
Photo: Hogan Photos/Golden Boy.
Afterwards, Ortiz called out Terence Crawford, but the WBO welterweight champion – seated at ringside like WBC and IBF title holder Errol Spence – later stated he preferred to fight Manny Pacquiao or Shawn Porter next. Eventually, Ortiz will receive his chance and a litmus test of his power against the best in the business.
On the undercard, Los Angeles’ Seniesa Estrada (20-0, 8 KOs) outscored long-reigning champion Ana Ortiz (31-4, 4 KOs) to win the WBA strawweight crown. Scores were 100-89 (twice) and 99-90.
Estrada dropped Ortiz in the second with a right hand with the former champion from Mexico later having to overcome a swollen left eye. She had reigned since July 2013, making 12 successful defences, but Estrada was too fresh and forceful.