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Vergil Ortiz Jr. vs. Maurice Hooker
Final Press Conference
Vergil Ortiz Jr. (16-0, 16 KOs) and Maurice “Mighty Mo”
Hooker (27-1-3, 19 KOs) hosted a final press conference
today ahead of their 12-round fight for the WBO
International Welterweight Title. The action will take place
this Saturday, March 20 at Dickies Arena in Fort Worth,
Texas and will be streamed live exclusively on DAZN
worldwide, including the U.S. and Mexico.
Below is what today's main event participants had to say at
the press conference:
VERGIL ORTIZ JR, WELTERWEIGHT CONTENDER:
“I’m very thankful to be fighting back at home again,
especially after fighting in a bubble last year. It was a
really cool experience. I found that I really love the fans.
I enjoy the fans. So, what better place to come back and
fight than in the Dallas Fort Worth area?”
“This fight is really special to me. I asked for this fight
at 140 pounds. He was a good fighter then, and he is a good
fighter now. I want to fight the best. The only way to be
the best is to fight the best. I feel very confident. I have
the confidence of my promoter and team behind me. I had a
great camp, and I am ready to go.”
“We will find out on Saturday if my power and size will be
too much for him. I have never been in the ring with him
before, so I don’t know how he will take it. But it’s not
just power with me. It’s not just my physical attributes. My
best attribute is my thinking ability, and I’m going to do a
lot of that on Saturday.”
“This is going to be one of the first fights in Dallas
between two world class natives of the area. We are going to
put a really great show. I’m really excited about it. We’ve
trained really hard, and I hope you all enjoy the show.”
MAURICE HOOKER, FORMER WBO JUNIOR WELTERWEIGHT CHAMPION:
“This fight will mean everything to me. I’m happy to be back
at home where fans at home can see me. And it’s great to
give to the fans something special after all they have been
going through.”
“I have been watching Vergil Ortiz for a while now. I have
been supporting him since he started because he is from
Dallas. His 16-0 with 16 knockouts don’t mean nothing to me
until we get in the ring. I mean, it’s cute, but we will see
in the ring.”
“I’m excited. My team is excited. I’ve worked hard. The fact
that I’ve been called the underdog has pushed me more. I’ve
prepared well for this fight. I’m going to go in the ring,
do my business, and have fun with it.”
OSCAR DE LA HOYA, CHAIRMAN AND CEO OF GOLDEN BOY:
“Everyone is saying that he is the next big thing in the
welterweight division. And he is. But first he has to get
past Maurice Hooker, and that is no easy test. This is a
real fight and a tough test for him. If he beats him, then
he is going straight to the top of the division, where are
lots of big fights to make. I can’t say who I want him to
see next because this Saturday’s fight is a big test.”
“Hooker’s style, abilities and experience make him
dangerous. He’s going to show Vergil different angles. It’s
a different style than what Vergil has faced in the past.
But Vergil has a great corner. He is a great fighter and has
great team. They’ve studied Maurice. So that’s why I feel
this will be an amazing fight.”
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