Vergil Ortiz makes statement to welterweight division with TKO win over Maurice Hooker

The rising prospect may just be ready for primetime after another thrilling knockout victory

If there was any question whether Vergil Ortiz Jr. was the future of the welterweight division, the 22-year-old unbeaten prospect made an important statement on Saturday.  Ortiz (17-0, 17 KOs) took the best shots former 140-pound champion Maurice Hooker (27-2-3, 18 KOs) had to offer over seven exciting rounds before Hooker, who was down in Round 6, succumbed to an injured hand in a seventh-round TKO inside Dickies Arena in Fort Worth, Texas. Hooker, 31, appeared to be hurt to the body before taking a voluntary knee and grimacing while holding his right hand. Referee Laurence Cole counted Hooker out at 36 seconds of Round 7 as Ortiz, a fellow Dallas native, passed the biggest test of his young career in spectacular fashion.