Jacobs vs Chavez Jr results: Maurice Hooker returns with first round stoppage of Uriel Perez

Former junior welterweight titleholder Maurice Hooker bounced back from his first pro loss tonight in Phoenix, stopping Uriel Perez in the opening round on the Jacobs-Chavez undercard.

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Hooker (27-1-3, 18 KO) was working with a new team tonight, led by Brian McIntyre, who trains world titleholders Terence “Bud” Crawford and Jamel Herring, notably, now adding Hooker to his stable. The results were good this evening, as Hooker jabbed away early and then dropped Perez (19-5, 17 KO) on a body shot. The Mexican underdog did get up, but he couldn’t continue, still visibly grimacing in pain.

Hooker, 30, dipped a toe in at a higher weight here, fighting at a 144-pound catchweight, but told Chris Mannix of DAZN after the fight that the plan is to stay at 140 for his next serious outing, and that he wants back in the title picture after losing his belt to Jose Ramirez this summer.

“I just want my belt back,” Hooker said. “I’ll do whatever I can to get my belt back. Josh Taylor, whoever they got at 140. I want my belt back.”