Blair Cobbs toned down his act and delivered his best win to date.

The Philadelphia-born, Hollywood-based prospect rebounded from the worst fight of his career with a ten-round, unanimous decision win over Maurice Hooker. Scores were 97-90, 97-90 and 96-91 in favor of Cobbs, who scored three knockdowns en route to the upset victory in their DAZN-televised welterweight battle Saturday evening at Dickies Arena in Fort Worth, Texas.

Both fighters were coming off knockout losses, though Hooker entered the fight with even more baggage.

The former WBO junior welterweight titlist hadn’t fought since a seventh-round stoppage loss to Vergil Ortiz in this very venue last March, having sat out for more than a year while fully recovering from a hand injury sustained that evening. Hooker—surprisingly met with boos for his second straight fight in his hometown—hit fight week badly overweight, having to give up $15,000 from his purse to have the contract limit adjusted to 150 pounds.

Things would get much worse from there.

Hooker was briefly in control early in the contest, not showing any respect to the naturally smaller, though fitter Cobbs. It would prove to be his undoing, as Cobbs caught Hooker with a left uppercut which was followed by a far more crushing right hook upstairs. Hooker was on unsteady legs as a flurry by Cobbs sent him to the canvas late in the round.

Cobbs continued on the attack early in round two. The charismatic figure looked to rebound from his first career defeat, a stunning ninth-round knockout at the hands of Alexis Rocha on March 19 in Los Angeles. He entered the fight with trainer Roger Romo—the brother of former two-time junior middleweight titlist Fernando Vargas—after parting ways with Hall of Fame trainer Freddie Roach.

The poise exhibited throughout fight week by Cobbs translated in the ring, scoring his second knockdown of the fight courtesy of a straight left hand early in round two. The same weapon had Hooker back on the canvas in the closing seconds of the round, recovering but looking completely out of sorts.

Hooker returned to his corner, where waiting to give him advice was stablemate and unbeaten three-division champion Terence ‘Bud’ Crawford (38-0, 29KOs). Both train under Brian ‘Bomac’ McIntyre, who echoed Crawford’s sentiments to settle down and use feints to set up his offense rather than walk straight in with his shots.

It was sound advice, met with middling results. Hooker managed to avoid the canvas in round three, though Cobbs was still consistently beating him to the punch. Hooker enjoyed greater success in round four, catching Cobbs with a hook upstairs though with the Philadelphia-born welterweight taking the shots well. Cobbs avoided a jab from Hooker, responding with a straight left and a right hook.

Cobbs was not without his share of adversity, however, as there was considerable swelling around his left eye. Hooker couldn’t fully take advantage, shooting his jab but not following with right hands. Cobbs shook off a right hand to the back of the head, using lateral movement to disrupt Hooker’s rhythm.

Time was called early in round six, as a clash of heads left Cobbs with deep cut just outside of his left eye. The cut was outside Cobbs’ direct line of vision, which was communicated by referee Laurence Cole who allowed action to continue after the southpaw was examined by the ringside physician. Hooker enjoyed a major momentum shift after the sequence, working his right hand as Cobbs fought through the blood and swelling under both eyes.

Cobbs regained control in round seven, remaining calm and looking for opportunities to connect with his straight left hand. Hooker was unable to plant his feet long enough to land anything of substance, as Cobbs consistently beat him to the punch and would frequently wag his tongue in mocking tone. Hooker was clipped by a winging right hook in the closing seconds, taking the shot well but unable to respond as he fell further behind on the scorecards.

Hooker was chastised by the referee after initiating another clash of heads at the start of round eight. It didn’t open the already existing cut above Cobbs’ eye, though required another visit by the ringside physician. Cobbs spent most of the rest of the round circling the ring, drawing boos from the crowd. Hooker stood center ring with his arms extended, daring Cobbs to stand and trade.

The fight trend prompted an impassioned speech from Crawford, imploring Hooker to use his jab, cut off the ring and let his hands go rather than just follow Cobbs around the ring. Cobbs wasn’t having any of it, employing a stick and move approach as he would land a left and then dart around the ring. Hooker was unable to do anything about it, walking forward and just throwing once punch at a time.

Cobbs stayed the course in the tenth and final round. Hooker was more effective in cutting off the ring, though moot since he was unable—or simply refused—to punch in combination. Boos continued to rain down, though Cobbs tuned it out and continued to use every inch of the ring. Hooker landed consecutive right hand in the final minute but left himself open for a counter left. Cobbs ended the fight with an overhand left just the before the bell, letting out his first ‘WOO’ once the fight officially came to a close.  

Cobbs improves to 16-1-1 (10KOs) with the win, going the distance for the first time in more than two years in doing so.

It’s a letdown for Hooker, who falls to 27-3-3 (18KOs) with the loss. The former titlist has suffered all three career defeats in his past four starts, all taking place in the greater Dallas area. Saturday’s setback came as the night was dedicated to the late Stacey Snyder, a kindhearted Dallas photographer who sadly passed away in late July.

Headlining the show, local hero and rising contender Vergil Ortiz Jr. (18-0, 18KOs) faces England’s Michael McKinson (22-0, 2KOs) in a scheduled 12-round welterweight title eliminator.

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