A battle between two former junior welterweight champions has fallen victim as the latest cancellation on the boxing calendar due to the coronavirus outbreak.

Regis Prograis (24-1 20 KOs) and Maurice Hooker (27-1-3 18 KOs) were set to meet at the MGM National Harbor in Oxon Hill, Maryland on April 17 on DAZN, but a source with direct knowledge of the fight’s promotion told krikya360.com that the event has been cancelled.

On Sunday, Maryland Governor Larry Hogan indefinitely shut down the state’s casinos, which includes MGM National Harbor in Oxon Hill. Hours later, MGM International announced the temporary closure of its Las Vegas casinos and resorts.

The source said they’d be surprised if the fight and event can be revived in a different locale on four-week notice considering the current state of global affairs regarding mass gatherings, sporting events and coronavirus.

Matchroom Boxing wants to salvage the Prograis-Hooker show at a new locale, The Athletic reported Sunday, but krikya360.com’s source said it could ultimately be a futile attempt because the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommended Sunday that organizers cancel or postpone events with 50 people or more for the next eight weeks.

Matchroom head Eddie Hearn expressed intent Friday to move forward with his slate of European-based events, and he could move around fight cards if he were inclined—and allowed to move forward with by the host country.

Prograis and Hooker were scheduled to meet at a catchweight at 143 pounds. Both boxers lost their stake of 140-pound crowns in 2019—Prograis a WBA strap, and Hooker a WBO belt.

Prograis dropped a fight of the year candidate to Josh Taylor in a unification clash and the final of the World Boxing Super Series in October, with the Scotsman Taylor edging out Prograis via majority decision.

Hooker hosted José Ramírez in a unification bout in Dallas in June, but came up short and was stopped in the sixth round.

Manouk Akopyan is a sports journalist and member of the Boxing Writers Assn. of America since 2011. He has written for the likes of the LA Times, Guardian, USA Today, Philadelphia Inquirer, Men’s Health and NFL.com and currently does TV commentary for combat sports programming that airs on Fox Sports and hosts his own radio show in Los Angeles. He can be reached on Twitter, Instagram, LinkedIn and YouTube at @ManoukAkopyan or via email at manouk[dot]akopyan[at]gmail.com.