Hooker Out At Least Two Months With Broken Hand

Former junior welterweight champion Maurice Hooker was in action Saturday night. It came up short against undefeated welterweight Vergil Ortiz after having his hand injured in his seventh-round knockout loss.

Dan Rafael speaking with Hooker’s trainer and manager, Brian “Bomac” McIntyre, got the update on his hand injury, which will sideline Hooker for at least two months.

“His hand is broken,” McIntyre said to Boxingscene. “Too swollen to cast. Splinted today and will cast Monday for at least four weeks. No hitting for two months.”

After seeing the doctor on Monday, Hooker said to BoxingScene, “I felt my hand break as soon as I landed that final punch in the seventh round on Saturday night. I’m in good spirits and enjoying time with my family. I’m going to follow doctor’s orders to ensure I come back 100 percent. Thanks to everyone who tuned in and supported the fight.”

THE FUTURE HAS ARRIVED. ✨ pic.twitter.com/tKa7ia0ZBY

— DAZN Boxing (@DAZNBoxing) March 21, 2021

The fight was a fun one while it lasted but in the seventh round of the spirited contest, Hooker was hit with a glancing shot in the seventh and immediately held his hand when he went down. Referee Laurence Cole counted him out at 36 seconds in the round while  Hooker was still holding his injured hand, signaling the end of the fight. 

While Hooker came up short against Ortiz, Golden Boy Promotions president Eric Gomez said that the in-ring effort earned him another fight once the injury is healed.

“We’ll do another fight with him,” Gomez said. “Hooker put up a hell of a fight, a good fight with Vergil. Hooker lost the fight but he didn’t lose too much. He came to fight, he put up a good fight, and he gave it his all.

“Once he is available to fight again, we will walk to him and his team and see what we can get done, but we look forward to when he can come back.”