Sunday 20 November 2016 10:06, UK
Maurice Hooker held on to his unbeaten record by claiming a controversial draw with Darleys Perez in Las Vegas.
The American super-lightweight made a sluggish start and struggled to match the man that lost his WBA lightweight title to Antony Crolla a year ago, yet somehow avoided his first defeat.
Hooker did wake up in the latter stages of the 10-rounder at the T-Mobile Arena, but even the American fans were stunned when the judges called it level at 97-93, 93-97 and 95-95.
The man known as 'Mighty Mo' has been billed as one of America's brightest young prospects but with the bright lights shining on him, he was overshadowed by Perez.
The man who lost his world lightweight title in Manchester last year made a crisp start and in the opening round, his busy combinations and constant movement meant that Hooker's pin-point jab was about all he was throwing.
The American went down in the fourth and although it was just a slip it was reflective of the opening half, with the Dallas prospect flat and reluctant to get involved, never mind get into his stride.
Perez was more than comfortable until the end of the seventh, although clearly the judges were impressed by Hooker's belated decision to finally try and fight.
His crisp straight right finally came into play and a few left hooks landed downstairs but it was anything but a show-stopper.
Hooker stepped it up again in the ninth and his trainer told him he needed a knockout in the last. Perez's experience saw him slip and slide out of range, and appear to win a deserved points decision, but the judges did not agree.
