Given the outcome, Hooker (24-0-3, 16 KOs) – who is co-promoted by Roc Nation Sports and Matchroom Boxing – will fight Saucedo (28-0, 18 KOs) for the WBO super lightweight title belt fight on ESPN+. Roc Nation Sports, Matchroom Boxing and Top Rank are expected to schedule the bout for either Nov. 16 or Nov. 17 in Oklahoma City.
“I’m very excited to defend my world title on a national platform and show the world what I bring to the ring,” Hooker said. “I feel like this is my time – I’m hungry, I’ve been working hard and I’m ready to make Alex Saucedo my next victim.”
“Maurice has earned all of his accolades and we’re incredibly proud of how he’s represented Roc Nation in the ring,” Roc Nation boxing promoter Dino Duva said. “We look forward to collaborating with Top Rank and Matchroom Boxing to finalize the details of this bout and it’ll be one that boxing fans won’t want to miss.”
When Hooker returns to the ring, it will mark his first bout since he toppled Terry Flanagan on June 9 via split-decision victory to capture the vacant 140-pound championship belt. The 29-year-old achieved the feat in his first career world title fight in Flanagan’s hometown of Manchester, where he earned scores of 115-113 and 117-111 while another judge scored it 117-111 in Flanagan’s favor.
Saucedo is coming off his own victory over Leonardo Zappavigna on June 30 in Oklahoma City, where he won via a seventh-round TKO.
ABOUT ROC NATION SPORTS:
Roc Nation Sports, a sub-division of Roc Nation, launched in spring 2013. Founder Shawn “JAY-Z” Carter’s love of sports led to the natural formation of Roc Nations Sports, supporting athletes in the same way Roc Nation has been working alongside and advocating for artists in the music industry for years. Roc Nation Sports focuses on elevating athletes’ career on a global scale both on and off the field. Roc Nation Sports conceptualizes and executes marketing and endorsement deals, community outreach, charitable tie-ins, media relations and brand strategy. In August 2014, Roc Nation Sports launched its boxing division, a full service promotional company that represents fighters such as WBO Super Lightweight champion Maurice Hooker, WBO Oriental Heavyweight champion Zhang Zhilei, IBF Intercontinental Light Heavyweight champion Meng Fanlong, Junior Younan, Darmani Rock, Tyler McCreary, Tramaine Williams, Wellington Romero and John Bauza. Roc Nation Sports’ roster includes premiere athletes such as Robinson Cano, Skylar Diggins, Kevin Durant, Geno Smith, Victor Cruz, CC Sabathia, Dez Bryant, Yoenis Cespedes, Todd Gurley, Jerome Boateng, Romelu Lukaku, Wilson Chandler, Justise Winslow, Willie Cauley-Stein, Miguel Sano, Melvin Ingram, Rudy Gay, Leonard Fournette, Juju-Smith-Schuster and Josh Hart, among many others