“Mighty Mo” Hooker…..with a little help from his friends

Hooker, with a little help (let’s face it, with a lot of help) from his friends) has gotten himself right there on the top rung of this sport. On June 9, 2018, he defeated the undefeated Terry Flanagan (33-0), to become the World Boxing Organization’s Super Lightweight World Champion. Being the Title Holder can be exhilarating and at the same time, a daunting task. First of all, you’ve suddenly become that guy in everyone’s cross-hairs; the star attraction who can’t get the least bit soft or worst yet consider taking time away from your daily training regime, a routine that involves waking up early each morning to run longer and faster, jump rope higher and quicker than an opponent who no doubt has the same intention. Is five or seven miles enough? At the gym, you’re precious hands need to be wrapped and wrapped meticulously while onlookers watch discerningly. Everything you do is now under a microscope.

It’s been quite a ride since that first pro fight back on April 29, 2011, almost eight years ago, at the Orpheum Theater in St. Louis, Missouri against Tyrone Chatman who at the time of Mo’s debut was well on his way sporting a 7-1 record with 5 KOs. For someone who wasn’t supposed to be a threat, one judge had Hooker winning every round, the second judge scored the bout even while the third had Chatman ahead 39-37 to end up with a Mixed Decision Draw.

Since that fateful night Maurice Hooker has remained undefeated aside from two additional draws. His staunchest supporters include the Verbeeks, Stacey, who has handled all of his photography work and promotional needs, while her husband Arnie has handled the fighter’s management, his travel and financial needs.

Worth mentioning: we recently discovered that the Verbeeks, who have roots in Netherlands, may also have some business ties in Scranton, Penna. with the Dunder Mifflin Paper Company. In the above photo we see Arnie Verbeek asking sales rep Dwight Schrute about how he would handle a very large requisition of paper.

Parra, Hooker’s trainer, has deep roots in the sport and goes back a long way, at least seven years, in the development of Hooker. As a former Amateur Champion, who later turned Pro, Parra is the son of Norman “Bumpy” Parra a Hall of Fame boxer (17-4-5) /trainer who was inducted into the California Boxing Hall of Fame back on October 20, 2012. To their credit, Vince and his father have trained more than a few standouts to include Mercito “No Mercy” Gesta.

The very adaptable Mr. Hooker has trained at multiple locations from the Parra home gym in Lakeside, Calif. to the Mapleview Gym in Dallas and then back to San Diego to train at the Pacific Coast Training Center in Birdrock, San Diego, Calif. receiving an assist from trainer/co-owner Eddie Locco. If the all important sparring partners couldn’t come to them, Maurice Hooker and Vince Parra were willing to travel to their location. With San Diego County having a plethora of Boxing gyms, 60 plus, it’s easy to see why so many great boxers have come our way to improve on their skills.

Also, that Pacific Training Center Gym is conveniently located between Pacific Beach and La Jolla, allowing the Champ to benefit from some more tranquil time at the beach or possibly in the Pacific Ocean as when he went jet skiing. With all of this close and unmistakable bonding, it appears Hooker has already realized the benefit of having his feet firmly planted on the ground with all these lasting friendships which he took pains to develop.

In these times, of money talks and bull-shit walks, talent alone isn’t going to get you where you want to go. In order for a boxer to succeed and become the World Champ, he or she must band together with the right people. In this collective, they’re going to need: 1) a financier, 2) a top trainer, 3) an equally schooled assistant, 4) a person continually monitoring your health in regards to what you eat, how you sleep and how you exercise, 5) that combined photographer plus marketing guru, a position currently held by the talented Mrs. Verbeek, 6) the oh-so important, mistake-free matchmaker (a chore which at times should turn into a group effort), 7) the all important supply of serious sparring partners (a list that will need constant updating), and finally, 8) the boxer will need lots of love and understanding from a family that doesn’t get to see their hero as often as they would like. They too must realize they are part of this team and the necessity of their father or mother training is often difficult, stressful but a lofty goal.

Perhaps it’s finally time to check in on Maurice “Mighty Mo” Hooker’s opponent on Saturday. That would be 34-year-old, 5’8″ tall Mikkel Les Pierre (21-0-1, who has 10 KOs after facing just 7 opponents with a winning record. In other words, his record is padded and the majority of his wins came against truly inferior opponents. Now don’t cringe when I tell you this: Les Pierre also has a regular full time job which has nothing to do with the promoting of his boxing career. He’s also lacking sufficient help from the management of the venerable, now run-down Gleason Gym in Brooklyn. Les Pierre rarely goes on the offensive and prefers to wait on you to throw counter punches. If Mo Hooker wanted to, he could spend the entire fight touching Les Pierre from the outside and register a one-sided unanimous decision win.