By Ryan Burton
WBO #2 rated super lightweight Maurice "Mighty Mo" Hooker (23-0-3) cannot wait to get in the ring against the #1 rated Terry "Turbo" Flanagan (33-0) on June 9th. The two were scheduled to face each other for the vacant title on April 14th but when Billy Joe Saunders pulled out of the date with an injury the whole card was postponed.
The fight takes place in Flanagan's backyard at the Manchester Arena in the United Kingdom and Hooker is fully aware that he won't have any fans in the building. He believes that puts the pressure squarely on Flanagan, who previously held the WBO lightweight title.
"There is more pressure on him. I am ready to go. I am not fighting the fans. It is just me and him. Man to man. I am focused and ready to punch him in the mouth and show him," said an agitated Hooker.
The Dallas native has been critical of Flanagan in previous interviews on BoxingScene.com, saying that he had avoided the best fighters in the lightweight division like Mikey Garcia and Jorge Linares when he was still at 135 pounds.
Hooker took it a step further by saying that he would actually be mad if he has an early night against Flanagan.
"I will be upset if I knock him out in the first or second round. It has been a long training camp and we have been through a lot. Like I said I will be upset if he goes down in the first or second round. I want to punish him every round," stated Hooker.
While the fans in attendance won't be rooting for him, Hooker is confident that they will become fans after the fight. He believes that his skill set and drive will prove to be far too much for the betting favorite Flanagan and will convert some of his fans in the process.
"They are going to see a good fight and a new star. I am ready to give Flanagan a fight he has never seen before," Hooker told BoxingScene.com.
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