Literally born into the fight game and having experienced the sport at the top level both as a boxer and as a promoter. Oscar De La Hoya likes to believe he has a flair for recognizing talent.

With that comes the belief that in Vergil Ortiz Jr., a star in the making is on display this weekend.

“On paper, everyone keeps jotting him down that he’s the best, the (second) coming,” de la Hoya noted of the unbeaten welterweight contender, whom his Golden Boy Promotions company has proudly represented throughout Ortiz’s pro career. “He has to get past Maurice Hooker, he’s a real test.”

Ortiz (16-0, 16KOs) and Hooker (27-1-3, 18KOs) collide this Saturday in a battle of Dallas-bred welterweights, live on DAZN beginning 9:00 p.m. ET (8:00 p.m. locally) from Dickies Arena in Fort Worth, Texas.

The bout marks the first homecoming for both boxers since 2019. Ortiz fought in his true hometown of Grand Prairie, Texas, scoring a 6th round knockout of former title challenger Antonio Orozco in August 2019. At the time, it was the deepest that Ortiz has been extended as a pro, since going seven rounds before forcing Samuel Vargas to wilt in their clash last July at Fantasy Springs Casino in Indio, California.

Hooker’s last hometown appearance resulted in the first loss of his career. The previously unbeaten junior welterweight titlist suffered a 6th round knockout at the hands of Jose Ramirez in their July 2019 WBC/WBO title unification bout in Arlington, Texas. The 31-year old Dallas native has fought just once since then, a 1st round knockout of Uriel Perez in Dec. 2019 as he now campaigns in the welterweight division.

Many have the 22-year old Ortiz pegged as boxing’s next big thing, which is why Golden Boy sought out such a challenge in just his 17th pro fight. De La Hoya boasted eerily similar credentials at the time of his first step up in class when he faced former 130-pound titlist John John Molina. The fight came two weeks after De La Hoya’s 22nd birthday, having won the WBO belt at junior lightweight and lightweight, entering with a record of 16-0 (15KOs) ahead of the rugged Molina whom he outpointed over 12 scrappy rounds.

Ortiz is a heavy favorite to prevail this weekend, though still faces a significantly bigger opponent with more experience both at the title level and overall as a pro.

“I say this from experience, no other promoter right now can say that,” De La Hoya explains of what is at stake for Ortiz this weekend. “If he beats Maurice, he’s going straight to the top. There are a lot of welterweights out there not waiting in line to fight him. There are fighters like [WBO welterweight titlist Terence] Crawford who have the championship pedigree… a lot of fighters out there who aren’t in a hurry to fight him.

“Vergil Ortiz is on a great (knockout streak), and with the abilities to go as far as he wants to go. It’s up to him. He has the ingredients, the work ethic, the talent. He just has to go out there and grab it.”

Jake Donovan is a senior writer for BoxingScene.com. Twitter: @JakeNDaBox