MANCHESTER, ENGLAND -- Maurice Hooker has told Terry Flanagan he will need to travel to the United States for a rematch.
Hooker won his first world title belt in his first world title shot at the age of 28 with a split points decision (115-113, 117-111, to 117-111) over Flanagan at Manchester Arena.
In beating Flanagan, who was badly cut in the seventh round, Hooker (24-0-3, 16 KOs) captured the vacant WBO super-lightweight title that his training partner Terence Crawford had relinquished.
"Of course a rematch would have to be in America, I'm not worrying about the rematch, if it happens it happens," Hooker said.
"If we do it, it would have to be in Dallas. I want to get home to my kids and my family. I've been gone since January, I train in Colorado with Terence Crawford. Me and Crawford were in camp together, he's my guy.
"Took me a while to warm up but once I got warmed up I was ready."
Hooker felt Flanagan (33-1, 13 KOs), from Manchester, illegally used his head at times and admits he was worried when the scores were being read out.
"I was thinking I hope I don't get robbed, I was a bit nervous because I wanted a fair shot," Hooker said.
"It hasn't soaked in but it means a lot, being a world champion was my dream and it came true tonight.
"I thought I needed to knock him out to win and it was a good fight.
"Terry is a dirty fighter, the referee was telling me to shut the **** up and telling my coach to as well.
"We know Terry is a dirty fighter. He was coming in with his head constantly. I wanted the referee to warn him and tell him something but he did nothing."
Hooker says the wait for a world title was worth it.
"Boxing is a learning process," he added. "My team weren't going to throw me to the wolves, I got to learn."