Vergil Ortiz Jr. sent an emphatic message to the welterweight division, including the division’s top two fighters who were both in attendance.

An all-Dallas area showdown saw Grand Prairie’s Ortiz dismantle former junior welterweight titlist Maurice Hooker, scoring two knockdowns en route to a 7th round knockout Saturday evening live on DAZN in front of a sold-out crowd—including unbeaten titlists Errol Spence and Terence ‘Bud’ Crawford—at Dickies Arena in Fort Worth, Texas.

Hooker was down late in round six and again in round seven, the latter prompting an immediate stoppage 0:56 into the 7th round of their DAZN-televised main event.

“I thought I was going to finish him with a body shot,” Ortiz told BoxingScene.com of the fight ending sequence. “I started investing into the body and it got the job done.”

Despite both combatants boasting hometown roots, it was clear throughout the night which one pulled the crowd. Chants of “Ortíz!” filled the venue from the moment the unbeaten contender entered the arena floor and with every power punch he landed with conviction.

That didn’t deter either boxer from giving the local crowd an action-packed treat.

Hooker did his best to keep the fight at a distance in the opening round, pumping his jab in hopes of utilizing his height and reach advantage. Ortiz wasn’t having it, bullying his way inside with thudding right hands and left hooks. Eager to have his say, Hooker let loose with straight right hands toward the end of the round.

Neither fighter gave an inch during a furiously paced round two. Ortiz looked to work the body, with Hooker able to respond with jabs and right hands. A sequence on the inside resulted in Hooker falling to the canvas, with referee Laurence Cole correctly ruling it a slip. Hooker complained over a right hand he felt landed to the back of the head, though his protest falling on deaf ears. Ortiz continued to throw with knockout intentions, twice connecting with right hands which most certainly caught the attention of the former titlist.

Ortiz’s straight right hands began to take their toll on Hooker, most of which were set up by a persistent jab. Hooker was able to score with one-twos of his own, though failing to slow down the 22-year-old contender. Ortiz punctuated the round with a pair of left hooks, which Hooker absorbed and replied with a smile as the round came to a close.

Hooker provided a more mobile target in round four, leaving Ortiz to work harder in his effort to cut off the ring. The strategy worked in favor of Dallas’ Hooker, scoring with several right hands and getting the better of several exchanges on the inside before using his jab to return the fight to his desired distance.

Round five saw Hooker continue with constant lateral movement. Ortiz did his best to cut off the ring, wading through a few right hands to land heavy left hooks both upstairs and to the body. A mid-round rally by Ortiz drew a rise out of the very vocal crowd. Ortiz applied relentless pressure, with Hooker’s offense momentarily shutting down.

Ortiz opened round six targeting the body, landing a right hand and left hook on each side of Hooker’s long frame. Both fighters pumped their jab, Ortiz driving back his target and eventually breaking down Hooker. A right hand missed the target, though Ortiz was able to gather himself and connect with an uppercut and right hand which snapped back the head of Hooker. An ensuing attack forced the Dallas native to the canvas late in the round, though managing to beat the count and make it to the bell.

“I could tell the first time that I dropped him, that he didn’t want to get back up,” insisted Ortiz of the 6th round knockdown. “He was already demoralized.”

Hooker wasn’t as fortunate one round later.

Ortiz immediately jumped on Hooker at the start of round seven. Two left hooks and a right hand found a home, with Hooker wincing in pain from an injured right hand. The fight was immediately waved off, with immediate medical attention paid to Hooker.

"I felt a pop in my hand," Hooker told BoxingScene.com after the loss, his second in his last three fights as he falls to 27-2-3 (18KOs). "It's swollen. It hurts but I'm good." 

Ortiz remains a knockout every time out, improving to 17-0 (17KOs). The fight was his first since scoring a 7th round stoppage of Samuel Vargas last July in front of a crowdless Fantasy Springs Casino in Indio, California. Saturday’s main event had a true fight-night feel, with the fans loud and proud all night.

“I loved the energy,” Ortiz said of once again hearing the cheers. “I didn’t let it get to my head. I’m fine whether fighting with fans and fighting without fans but it felt good to be here and fight in front of this crowd.”

They also voiced their displeasure for Crawford, the reigning WBO welterweight titlist and Hooker’s stablemate through head trainer Brian ‘Bomac’ McIntyre. The subject immediately came up as to whether a head-on collision is in store for the pair of undefeated welterweights. Neither fighter is shy about such a pairing.

“Give me the opportunity and I’m more than willing to fight him,” said of the possibility of fighting for his first world title, which he hopes to come later this year. “I want anyone at the top, anyone that will let me prove that I am the best in the welterweight division.”

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