Talking to our friends from Fight Hub TV, welterweight Vergil Ortiz discusses his expectations for this weekend’s fight against Maurice Hooker and questions what it will take for him to land a fight against some of the best welterweights in the world.
Ortiz on being the favorite against Hooker despite having less professional experience
“I mean, that stuff really doesn’t matter to me. Regardless if they said he’s the underdog or I’m the underdog, I’m still gonna train as if this was the hardest fight in my career. It doesn’t matter what people say, what the fans say, what the media says. I’m just gonna train, I’m gonna do my thing in the gym and I’ll do my thing in the ring.”
On Hooker’s long reach
“He definitely has a long reach and that could play a key role. It’s an obstacle to get over but obstacles are made to get over and that’s what we’re gonna do.”
On if he expects Hooker to be he toughest test
“I think so. I said it before, people try to sell the fight saying ‘this is gonna be the hardest fight of my career’ — I actually think it’s gonna be the hardest fight of my career and we’re not taking him lightly.”
How to Watch Ortiz vs Hooker
Date: Saturday, Mar. 20 | Start Time: 9:00 pm ET
Location: Dickens Arena - Fort Worth, TX
Streaming: DAZN
Online Coverage: BadLeftHook.com
On if Hooker training alongside Terence Crawford might help him for this fight
“I’m sure. When you get sparring like that, some experience, even pointers, which I’m sure he got, that helps tremendously. It really helps to be surrounded by greatness.”
On what advice Jose Ramirez gave him about facing Hooker
“Not necessarily keeping my head up but giving me confidence that I can do this, stuff like that. It wasn’t like ‘oh, you got to throw the jab.’ It wasn’t anything like that.”
On who he wants to fight if he beats Hooker
“I mean, honestly, it’s whoever gives me the opportunity. Like Oscar said, no one’s lining up to fight me. I feel like I really have to force my way in there, get a mandatory. I’m gonna do whatever it takes to be wanted to fight. I know people aren’t gonna want to fight me stylistically — they’re gonna want to fight me because I have a belt. That’s my main goal right there. Whatever fight gets me closer to get a belt I’ll gladly take it.”
On what he thinks it’ll take to get him a top tier opponent in the ring
“To be honest, I don’t even know. I’m just doing my thing now, I have a perfect record, 16-0, 16 knockouts — really can’t get more perfect than that. What else do I gotta do?”