Maurice Hooker needs new opponent for Dec. 20 fight, Campa out

Former WBO junior welterweight titleholder Maurice Hooker is set to return to action on Dec. 20, where he’ll dip a toe into the welterweight division with a 144-pound catchweight bout to see how he feels.

But Hooker is now on the hunt for a new foe, as original opponent Pedro Campa has dropped out due to injury.

Hooker (26-1-3, 17 KO) last fought on July 27 at home in Texas, where he was stopped in the sixth round of a unification bout against Jose Ramirez, who now holds the WBC and WBO titles. It was a hell of a fight, and Hooker was applauded for the way he took the loss graciously, both toward Ramirez and referee Mark Nelson.

Now 30, Hooker’s time at 140 may be up, but he’s not diving in at 147. If he fights at 144 and doesn’t like how he feels, he’s leaving open the option to stay at 140, and a big fight may well be easier to make at 140 than at 147, too.

The Dec. 20 DAZN-streamed card from Phoenix is set to be headlined by Daniel Jacobs vs Julio Cesar Chavez Jr in a super middleweight bout, plus Julio Cesar Martinez vs Cristofer Rosales fighting for the vacant WBC flyweight title.