Fighters competing on Saturday’s undercard headlined by the lightweight unification bout featuring WBC Franchise/WBO/WBA champion Vasiliy Lomachenko and IBF kingpin Teofimo Lopez met the media Tuesday for a Zoom press conference.
The most anticipated fight of the fall — the Oct. 17 lightweight unification showdown between WBC Franchise/WBA/WBO world champion Vasiliy “Loma” Lomachenko and IBF kingpin Teofimo Lopez from the MGM Grand Las Vegas “Bubble”— now has a two-course televised appetizer befitting the occasion.
The fighting pride of Oklahoma City put forth a clinic in Las Vegas. Junior welterweight contender Alex Saucedo, fighting for the second time since falling short in a world title bid, bested Sonny Fredrickson by unanimous decision Tuesday evening at the MGM Grand Conference Center — Grand Ballroom.
Live boxing is back! Don’t miss Saucedo vs. Fredrickson- TONIGHT at 8 p.m. ET / 5 p.m. PT live on ESPN & ESPN Deportes – from the MGM Grand Conference Center – Grand Ballroom (Las Vegas)
(ESPN & ESPN Deportes, 8 p.m.
Maurice “Mighty Mo” Hooker (25-0, 17 KOs) successfully defended his WBO junior welterweight world title in his return to the ring on Friday night, toppling Alex Saucedo (28-1, 18KOs) via a seventh-round TKO in Saucedo’s hometown at the Chesapeake Energy Arena in Oklahoma City.
The fairytale ending wasn’t meant to be. Oklahoma City native Alex Saucedo fell short in his first world title challenge, as Maurice Hooker defended his WBO junior welterweight title against Saucedo via 7th-round TKO In front of 4,102 fans at the Chesapeake Energy Arena in Oklahoma City.
This Friday night live on ESPN, from the Chesapeake Energy Arena in Oklahoma City, Alex Saucedo challenges Maurice Hooker for Hooker’s WBO junior welterweight strap.
ESPN (Midnight ET)
• Maurice Hooker 140 lbs vs. Alex Saucedo 139.4 lbs
(Hooker’s WBO Junior Welterweight world title – 12 Rounds)
ESPN+ (6:30 p.m.
The “Red River Rivalry” — the pugilistic version — has kicked off. WBO junior welterweight champion Maurice Hooker, from Dallas, Texas, will defend his world title Friday evening against Oklahoma City native Alex Saucedo at the Chesapeake Energy Arena, home of the NBA’s Oklahoma City Thunder.
Alex “El Cholo” Saucedo grew up in Oklahoma City, a short bike ride from the Chesapeake Energy Arena. It was called the Ford Center back then, but Saucedo always dreamed of headlining a world title fight in his hometown.