Despite his welterweight ambitions, Hooker, a student of the sport, is still keeping an eye on his former weight category and he was quick to offer his opinion on the upcoming unification clash between Josh Taylor and Jose Carlos Ramirez. 

The pair have climbed the rankings at 10st in impressive fashion and their meeting that is set to take place on May 22nd in Las Vegas is arguably the standout on boxing’s current schedule.

Hooker, who lost to Ramirez in 2019, believes that Taylor will register a victory when the first bell sounds in just over two months.

“I’m leaning more towards Josh Taylor because he’s a boxer,” revealed Hooker when speaking to Boxing Scene in the build up to his clash with Golden Boy’s latest protege.

“He can hit and move, but I don’t know if he can handle Jose’s pressure, the way he keeps coming. So it’s a good fight, but I’m leaning towards Josh Taylor. I’d say a late stoppage. I think he’ll make Ramirez miss so much and attack, so I’ll say late stoppage. He’s [Ramirez] a warrior and he’s definitely there to get hit.”

You can watch Maurice Hooker take on Vergil Ortiz Jr this Saturday night on DAZN. Subscribe here.