Hooker: 140 is a Tough Division, Terence Crawford is Top Dog

By Ryan Burton

Rising 140 pound prospect Maurice Hooker (21-0-2) will return to the ring for the third time this year when he faces Darleys Perez (33-2-1) at the T-Mobile Arena on the Sergey Kovalev versus Andre Ward pay-per-view undercard. 

Hooker's previous two fights his year were also on Ward undercards and both ended with first round knockouts.

While not promising a knockout, he did say that he doesn't plan on the fight going the full ten-round distance.

"Keep an eye out on the fight. It might be an early night. I'm coming to fight and Darleys will be coming to fight. This could be his last chance so he's going to be coming with everything and this is my chance to show the world who I am," Hooker explained.

The 27-year-old Texan believes a win over the former interim champion will propel him to a big 2017.

Like many fans and insiders, Hooker feels that WBO/WBC super lightweight champion Terence Crawford is the division's kingpin but he believes that he is ready to become one of the best fighters in the weight class.

"To me I think Crawford is the best at 140. Everybody else, they are pretty good. I just think he's the best and at a different level. It's a tough division and I am happy to be there and hopefully I can fight one of those big names next," Hooker told BoxingScene.com.

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