Regis Prograis vs Maurice Hooker talks ‘getting serious’

Regis Prograis and Maurice Hooker both lost their 140-pound belts in fantastic battles in 2019, the kinds of losses that raised their profiles if anything, and now the rumored idea for a fight between the two in April is “getting serious,” according to Hooker promoter Dino Duva.

Hooker (27-1-3, 18 KO) dropped the WBO title in a unification fight in a fantastic fight against Jose Ramirez last July, then returned in December for an easy catchweight win over Uriel Perez. Hooker had flirted with the idea of making the move up to 147, but said after that win that the idea was to stay at 140 if he could get a big fight there.

Considering Ramirez is tied up with WBC mandatory Viktor Postol and WBA/IBF titleholder Josh Taylor seems likely to get tied up in some sort of litigation, the pickings are a little slim at junior welterweight, but Prograis — who dropped the WBA belt to Taylor in October, another excellent fight — is as big as remains, and vice versa for Prograis with Hooker.

Matchroom have reportedly offered terms for an April 11 or April 25 fight between the two, with the fight airing on DAZN if it happens.