Maurice Hooker expects Jose Ramirez and Josh Taylor to have their moments when they meet May 22.

Ultimately, the former WBO junior welterweight title-holder thinks Taylor will wear down Ramirez and stop the undefeated, unified 140-pound champion late in their 12-round fight. Oddsmakers have installed Taylor as an approximate 2-1 favorite to beat Ramirez when they fight for Ramirez’s WBC and WBO and Taylor’s IBF and WBA belts at an undetermined venue in Las Vegas.

“I’m leaning more to Josh Taylor because he’s a boxer,” Hooker told BoxingScene.com. “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 to Josh Taylor.”

Hooker (27-1-3, 18 KOs) is well aware of the effects of Ramirez’s persistent pressure.

Ramirez (26-0, 17 KOs), of Avenal, California, eventually caught Hooker with a left hook in the sixth round that led to an abrupt end to their competitive title unification fight in July 2019 at College Park Center in Arlington, Texas. Once he hurt Hooker, Ramirez threw numerous unanswered power shots at Hooker’s head, which forced referee Mark Nelson to halt their scheduled 12-rounder with Hooker still on his feet.

Ramirez impressed Hooker that night, but Hooker anticipates Taylor becoming the first opponent to beat the 28-year-old Ramirez. The 30-year-old Taylor, a southpaw from Prestonpans, Scotland, also is undefeated (17-0, 13 KOs).

“I’d say [it’ll be] a late stoppage,” Hooker said. “I think he’ll make Ramirez miss so much and attack, so I’ll say late stoppage. [Ramirez is] there to get hit. He’s a warrior. He comes to fight and, you know, he’s definitely there to get hit.”

The 31-year-old Hooker, meanwhile, will attempt to rejuvenate his career Saturday night in his first fight at the welterweight limit of 147 pounds.

The Dallas native will face highly regarded contender Vergil Ortiz Jr. (16-0, 16 KOs) in the main event of a Golden Boy Promotions card at Dickies Arena in Fort Worth, Texas. DAZN will stream that show live, starting at 9 p.m. ET.

The 22-year-old Ortiz, of Grand Prairie, Texas, is listed as at least a 12-1 favorite over Hooker by most Internet sports books.

Keith Idec is a senior writer/columnist for BoxingScene.com. He can be reached on Twitter @Idecboxing.