There is a new undisputed WBO lightweight king. Teofimo Lopez toppled Vasiliy Lomachenko by unanimous decision in a superstar-making performance Saturday evening from the MGM Grand Conference Center, and in doing so, he became the youngest undisputed champion (23) in the four-belt era.

Lopez (16-0, 12 KOs) won by wide margins (119-109, 118-110 and 116-112), fulfilling the prophecy by his father/trainer, Teofimo Lopez Sr., who predicted long ago that his son would be undisputed champion by his 16th professional fight.

Lomachenko (14-2, 10 KOs), a three-weight world champion, saw his 13-bout winning streak come to an end.

Said Lopez, “I had to dig deep, man. I’m thankful. I’m grateful. And each and every day, I take that in. I thank God first because I couldn’t do it without him.

“I’m a fighter. I gotta dig in deep. I knew he was coming. I didn’t know if they had him up on the scorecards or not, and I love to fight. I can bang, too. I don’t care, man. I’ll take one to give one. That’s what a true champion does. I find a way to win.

“You just gotta keep pressuring him, press the gas, stick the jab and don’t really give him that opportunity to set up. Every time he did want to throw, I had something ready for him.”

Barboza Decisons Saucedo

In a battle of junior welterweight contenders, the unbeaten Arnold Barboza Jr. (25-0, 10 KOs) notched the most significant win of his career, surviving a knockdown to defeat former world title challenger Alex “El Cholo” Saucedo (30-2, 19 KOs) via 10-round unanimous decision. Barboza, ranked in the top 10 by two of the major sanctioning bodies, now has his sights on a world title shot.

Barboza said, “This was like a championship fight to me. It’s all because of my father {head trainer Arnold Barboza Sr.}, not me. I did this for kids and my father. My dream is to get a house for my kids. I came that much closer today.

“I want a championship fight. No more messing around. No more tune-up fights.”

Photos by M. Williams / Top Rank

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(ESPN, ESPN Deportes & ESPN+, Approximately 10 p.m. ET / 7 p.m. PT)

• Vasiliy Lomachenko 135 lbs vs. Teofimo Lopez 135 lbs
(Undisputed WBO Lightweight World Title — 12 Rounds)
Judges: Steve Weisfeld, Julie Lederman and Tim Cheatham
Referee: Russell Mora

• Alex Saucedo 140 lbs vs. Arnold Barboza Jr. 140 lbs
(Vacant WBO International Junior Welterweight — 10 Rounds)

Photos by M. Williams / Top Rank

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In 2018, Maurice Hooker won his first world title, and he will defend that title for the first time against fellow unbeaten Alex Saucedo this Friday night. But his toughest battle may be in December, when he has to get Christmas gifts for his eight children.

“Oh man, Christmas is tough,” he laughs. “You gotta get them what they want.”

It doesn’t even end there, as three of kids have birthdays in January, followed by one in February.

“Then I get a little break,” Hooker chuckles. But that’s just from birthday parties and gift buying. As far as his day job is concerned, the only thought is of keeping busy and chasing his peers at the top of the junior welterweight division. It’s the same philosophy he had after he came home from Manchester, England in June with the WBO title after beating Terry Flanagan.

“Let’s get back to work,” he said. “It don’t stop after I win the title. It’s a new story and I’m starting a new career. Now I’m 0-0 and Alex Saucedo is my first defense. We start over now.”

The new chapter may just be beginning, but the last one bears looking at, as Hooker could have been a statistic growing up in the Oak Cliff neighborhood of Dallas, but through boxing, he found his path, and when he beat Flanagan, he fulfilled his promise and became an example for those coming up the way he did.

“It’s been a long journey,” he said. “But I’m here now, so I’ve got to take advantage of it.”

If there’s one thing notable about Hooker’s personality, it’s that he isn’t fond of sitting back and smelling the roses, but even he had to smile when he found out that artist Jules Muck, aka MuckRock, had painted a mural of him in his hometown. Hooker has just seen photos of the mural thus far since he’s been away at training camp, but soon he will see it up close for himself.

“I can’t wait to see it,” he said. “It means everything and it’s more motivation to me.”

A mural that takes up the side of a building, a championship belt, the respect of his hometown. It’s all heady stuff, but waiting for Hooker in Oklahoma City this Friday is a hometown hero in his own right in the unbeaten Saucedo, a fighter hoping to become only the second fighter from OKC to win a world boxing title. So if Hooker was hoping for a warm welcome in his first fight as champion, that’s not likely to be the case. But that’s okay, because fighting and beating Flanagan in Manchester was a good test when it comes to winning the big one on the road.

“I’m comfortable because a lot of the pressure is on him,” Hooker said. “He’s gotta do right for his fans and he has to win, so more pressure is on him. I’m just going in there to do my job.”

And though he’s taking Saucedo as seriously as he can, he also watched the challenger’s recent tougher than expected win over Lenny Zappavigna and believes it spoke volumes about the local hero’s chances of pulling off the win.

“I thought he (Saucedo) was gonna win and beat that guy with ease,” said Hooker. “But he had trouble. I think the ref should have stopped it, but being that he was fighting at home, they didn’t. He sat on the ropes and didn’t really swing. He sat there for a minute, and aw man, he just took a beating in that fight. I know in his mind he had to have thoughts like, ‘Is boxing for me?’ Every fight he has, he gets cut or he goes to war and that’s got to take a toll on your body fight after fight. It’s gotta catch up to him.”

Hooker plans on making it catch up to Saucedo in two days.

“My style and the way I fight, I can do some real damage to his career, and not just the fight,” he said. “The dude gets hit a lot. No defense at all. We’ll see Friday.”

If Hooker successfully defends his crown, his place in the one of the sport’s most exciting divisions gets even stronger, and while several of the top guns at 140 battle it out in the World Boxing Super Series, he does have WBC champ Jose Ramirez in his lane and then the WBSS winner. It’s a great place to be in, and he’s loving it.

“That’s very exciting,” he said. “That’s more motivation and I’m ready for them – for Alex Saucedo and everybody else.”

That’s the talk of a champion, one who knows that while thinking about the future is nice, nothing happens without a win on Friday. And with that night all to himself, the 29-year-old is in a statement-making mood.

“People are going to see good boxing, old school like Muhammad Ali,” Hooker said. “Use the jab, move around the ring, but keep your eyes up because it might end in a hurry. I’m an exciting fighter and I’ve got power in both hands. Alex Saucedo is young and he’s hungry and he’s coming. And I’m prepared for everything he brings.”

But is he prepared for Black Friday shopping?

“It’s gonna be a good Christmas,” he laughs.

Article by Thomas Gerbasi

https://www.boxingscene.com/hooker-warns-i-some-real-damage-saucedos-career–133699

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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.

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This will be the first title defense for Hooker (24-0-3, 16 KOs), who won the belt June 9 when he traveled to Manchester, England, and defeated Terry Flanagan via split decision.

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Saucedo (28-0, 18 KOs) earned his first world title shot with a sensational, bloody seventh-round TKO against Lenny Zappavigna on June 30 at the Chesapeake Energy Arena.

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The undercard, including the welterweight showdown between Egidijus “The Mean Machine” Kavaliauskas and Roberto Arriaza, will stream live at 6:30 p.m. ET on ESPN+

Hooker and Saucedo worked out Monday at the Azteca Boxing Club. This is what they had to say.

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Maurice Hooker

“This is his first time in a world title fight, so he’s nervous. It’s his first big fight at home. A championship. I know he’s nervous.”

“I’ll tell you this. Don’t blink, because I’m coming.”

“I’m feeling good, feeling confident in myself. I’m ready to fight.”

Alex Saucedo

“Maurice Hooker is a champion for a reason. He’s a great fighter with a good reach and power in both of his hands. We have a tough fight on our hands, but we will be ready for anything that he brings to the table.”

“I’m going to show boxing fans the real me on Nov. 16. He can say what he wants about me getting hit a lot, but I don’t have any draws on my record. He says I’ve been hit a lot, but if you have three draws on your record, that means you’re not that hard to hit.”

“I am a different fighter than Terry Flanagan, who he won the title from. As always, I’m going to give it my all in the ring. I just want to beat him up and become the new WBO junior welterweight champion of the world.”

“Hooker’s fight with Flanagan. All I have to say is I’m a different fighter than Flanagan. On Friday, he will see the type of fighter I am.”

Promoted by Top Rank, in association with Roc Nation Sports and Matchroom Boxing USA, tickets for this world championship event are on sale now. Priced at $250, $150, $75, $50, and $35, tickets may be purchased at the Chesapeake Energy Arena box office, online at Ticketmaster.com, all Ticketmaster outlets, or by phone at 1-800-745-3000.

(Photo Credit: Stacey Verbeek)

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Egidijus “The Mean Machine” Kavaliauskas is closing in on a world title opportunity. WBO Intercontinental champion Roberto Arriaza, a knockout artist from Nicaragua, is standing in his way. Kavaliauskas and Arriaza will square off on Friday, Nov. 16 at the Chesapeake Energy Arena in Oklahoma City as the co-feature to the previously announced Maurice Hooker-Alex Saucedo WBO junior welterweight title fight.

WBO World title bout Hooker-Saucedo will be televised on ESPN at midnight ET, while Kavaliauskas-Arriaza and the rest of the undercard will stream live at 6:30 p.m. ET on ESPN+ — the new multi-sport, direct-to-consumer subscription streaming service from The Walt Disney Company’s Direct-to-Consumer & International segment in conjunction with ESPN.

“I am happy to be on this card and to move one step closer to my ultimate goal, which is a world title shot.” Kavaliauskas said. “Arriaza is a dangerous opponent, and I never overlook anyone. This is going to be an action-packed fight, and I am confident that I will be victorious.”

Kavaliauskas (20-0, 16 KOs) turned pro in 2013 following a decorated amateur career that included roughly 300 fights and Olympic berths in 2012 and 2008 for his native Lithuania. He turned heads early in his pro career, winning 11 of his first 12 fights by knockout. Kavaliauskas turned the corner to world title contention in September 2017 with a seventh-round TKO against Mahonri Montes to win the NABF welterweight title

He has defended the belt twice in 2018, knocking out former world champion David Avanesyan in the sixth round and grinding out a unanimous decision versus Juan Carlos Abreu on July 7 in Fresno, Calif.

Arriaza (17-0, 13 KOs), a 28-year-old native of Masaya, Nicaragua, is 2-0 in 2018, including a 20-second knockout against Sammy Valentin. The Valentin win earned Arriaza the WBO Intercontinental title, and an upset win over Kavaliauskas would put him in line for a world title opportunity.

The rest of the undercard is as followed:

Super lightweight contender Cletus Seldin (21-1, 17 KOs) looks to rebound from his first career defeat against Nelson Lara (17-10-4, 9 KOs).

Lightweight prospect Albert Bell (12-0, 4 KOs) will make his Top Rank debut against Carlos Padilla (16-8-1, 10 KOs) in an eight-round fight.

The big-punching Trevor McCumby (24-0, 19 KOs) will fight Felipe Romero (20-15-1, 14 KOs) in an eight-rounder at light heavyweight.

Tyler Howard (15-0, 10 KOs), who is coming off a second-round TKO win on July 14 in New Orleans, will take on Isiah Seldon (12-1-1, 4 KOs) in an eight-round middleweight showdown. Seldon is the son of former heavyweight world champion Bruce Seldon.

Oklahoma-born heavyweight knockout artist Trey Lippe Morrison (15-0, 15 KOs) will fight an opponent to be determined in a six-rounder. Lippe Morrison last fought June 30 in Oklahoma City, knocking out Byron Polley in the third round of a crowd-pleasing bout.

Oklahoma City native and bantamweight prospect Aaron Morales (4-0, 3 KOs) will fight an opponent to be determined.

Philadelphia’s Rasheen Brown will make his pro debut against Sebastian Baltazar (1-2, 0 KOs) in a four-round super bantamweight bout.

John Rincon, from Corpus, Christi, Texas, will make his pro debut in a four-rounder at lightweight.

Promoted by Top Rank, in association with Roc Nation Sports and Matchroom Boxing USA, tickets for this world championship event are on sale now. Priced at $250, $150, $75, $50, and $35, tickets may be purchased at the Chesapeake Energy Arena box office, online at Ticketmaster.com, all Ticketmaster outlets, or by phone at 1-800-745-3000.

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OKLAHOMA CITY (Sept. 27, 2018) – The “Red River Rivalry” is coming to Russell Westbrook’s house.

Dallas native Maurice “Mighty Mo” Hooker will make the first defense of his WBO junior welterweight world title on Friday, Nov. 16 against No. 1 contender and Oklahoma City product Alex “El Cholo” Saucedo at the Chesapeake Energy Arena, home of the NBA’s Oklahoma City Thunder.

Hooker-Saucedo will headline a special one-fight telecast live on ESPN and ESPN Deportes at midnight ET/9 p.m. PST. The soon-to-be announced undercard will stream live at 6:30 p.m. ET on ESPN+ — the new multi-sport, direct-to-consumer subscription streaming service from The Walt Disney Company’s Direct-to-Consumer & International segment in conjunction with ESPN.

Promoted by Top Rank, in association with Roc Nation Sports and Matchroom Boxing USA, tickets for this world championship event will go on sale Friday, Oct. 5 at 10 a.m. CDT. Priced at $250, $150, $75, $50, and $35, tickets may be purchased at the Chesapeake Energy Arena box office, online at Ticketmaster.com, all Ticketmaster outlets, or by phone at 1-800-745-3000.

“On Nov. 16, I’m turning his dream into a nightmare,” Hooker said. “He will find out why I am world champion. I don’t care where I fight. The ring is my home. I’m gonna punch him in the mouth, Mexican style!”

“On behalf of Roc Nation Sports and Matchroom Boxing, our co-promoter with Maurice, I am over-the- top excited about this great matchup between Maurice Hooker and Alex Saucedo,” said Roc Nation Sports Promoter Dino Duva. “It has fight of the year written all over it. It’s a top-notch cross-state rivalry and is a very personal grudge match. Saucedo is a very tough kid, but I’m very confident in Maurice. He’s getting better and better with every fight, so I can’t wait to watch ‘Mighty Mo’ bring home the victory again. He will continue his journey to superstardom and prove he’s the best 140-pounder in the world.”

“I am very excited for this huge opportunity at home,” Saucedo said. “It doesn’t get better than fighting for the title in front of the home crowd. It’s a blessing. There’s a big rivalry between Texas and Oklahoma, so I know the Chesapeake Energy Arena is going to be packed. I want that title around my waist and to represent Oklahoma City with pride. Only one world champion has come from my city. I am going to be the second.”

“Alex Saucedo is a tremendous, world-class fighter,” said Top Rank CEO Bob Arum. “Maurice Hooker is a worthy champion, but Alex will have the home crowd on his side in what promises to be an incredible atmosphere. Oklahoma City loves Alex, and the arena is going to be packed to the rafters to watch him make history. This fight, which will be held the night before the Oklahoma Sooners face Kansas at home, will attract thousands to the Chesapeake Energy Arena.”

Hooker (24-0-3, 16 KOs), a seven-year pro, compiled a 97-7 amateur record. Following a draw in his professional debut, he won 12 consecutive bouts before fighting to a hard-fought, eight-round draw against Abel Ramos in a nationally televised bout. Hooker has won three consecutive bouts since his third draw, a 10-rounder versus Darleys Perez on the undercard of the first bout between Andre Ward and Sergey Kovalev. In his last bout, on June 9, he punched his passport for the second time as a pro and traveled to Manchester, England, to face hometown hero Terry Flanagan for the vacant WBO junior welterweight title. Hooker controlled the distance and was effective as the counter puncher, earning the split decision in hostile territory.

Saucedo (28-0, 18 KOs) moved from Mexico to Oklahoma City when he was 7 years old and grew up only a few miles from Chesapeake Energy Arena. A decorated amateur, he signed a professional contract with Top Rank at 17 years old and turned pro on Nov. 19, 2011 with a first-round TKO against Cedric Sheppard. An Oklahoma kid with Hollywood connections, Saucedo is managed by Churchill Management Group, which counts Mark Wahlberg and Peter Berg among its investors. It was on June 30 at the Chesapeake Energy Arena that Saucedo earned a shot at Hooker’s title. On that night, he fought the tough Australian Lenny Zappavigna, rebounding from nearly getting stopped in the fourth round to knock out Zappavigna in the seventh round in one of the year’s best fights. If he beats Hooker, he will become only the second Oklahoma City product to win a world title. Sean O’Grady made Oklahoma City boxing history on April 12, 1981, scoring a unanimous decision against Hilmer Kenty in Atlantic City to win the WBA lightweight crown. Nearly four decades after the “Bubblegum Kid” tasted world championship glory, Saucedo wants to make a little OKC fistic history of his own.

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Purse Bid Minutes

WBO JR. WELTERWIGHT PURSE BID MAURICE HOOKER vs. ALEX SAUCEDO

Purse Bid was convened for August 14th 2018 at 11:30 am EST held at:

WBO HEADQUARTERS 1056 MUÑOZ RIVERA AVENUE SUITE 711-714
SAN JUAN, PR 00927 787-765-4444

Purse Bid Attendees:

  1. WBO President, Francisco Valcarcel, Presiding
  2. Mr. Dino Duva representing Maurice Hooker & Matchroon Boxing
  3. Mr. Carl Moretti representing Alex Saucedo & Top Rank
  4. Mr. Gardy Lopez from Top Rank
  5. WBO Attorney – Gustavo Olivieri, Esq.
  6. WBO Public Relations – Jose Sanchez Fournier

The Purse Bid Notice was issued on August 6th 2018 for the date of August 14th 2018 to all Bona-Fide Promoters. The Purse Bid officially began at 11:56 am.
Mr. Valcarcel greeted everyone present.

Mr. Carl Moretti, representing Mr. Alex Saucedo from Top Rank, Inc., handed Mr. Valcarcel his first envelope, thus initiating the Purse Bid. The envelope contained a check in the amount of $1,000.00 (One Thousand) Dollars for the Purse Bid Service Fee and proof that Top Rank is a bona fide licensed WBO Promoter.

Mr. Dino Duva, representing Mr. Maurice Hooker from Matchroom Boxing, handed Mr. Valcarcel his first envelope containing a check for $1,000.00 (One Thousand) Dollars to cover the Purse Bid Service Fee and proof of current WBO license.

Mr. Valcarcel stated for the record they are bona fide promoters.

Mr. Valcarcel then indicated for the record that Mr. Moretti was to provide the second envelope that held an offer of the Purse Bid amount of $1,625,000.00 (One Million Six Hundred Twenty-Five Thousand) Dollars. The proposed site for the bout is Oklahoma City, OK with the proposed date of November 16 or 17, 2018.

Then, Mr. Valcarcel opened the second envelope belonging to the representative of Mr. Hooker that contained a check in the amount of $155,555.00 (One Hundred Fifty-Five Thousand Five Hundred Fifty-Five) Dollars, representing 10% of the Purse Bid Amount of $1,555,555.00 (One Million Five Hundred Fifty-Five Thousand Five Hundred Fifty-Five) Dollars. The proposed sites for the bout are TP Garden in Boston Massachusetts, Stub Hub Center in Los Angeles, CA and the Madison Square Garden Theater in New York City with the proposed date of October 20, 2018.

The Bid was awarded to Top Rank, Inc.

Mr. Valcarcel then informed Mr. Moretti, winner of the Purse Bid, about Section 11.2.4 of the WBO Regulations for World Championship Contests that states, “…the date of the fight shall not be later than ninety (90) days or earlier than forty-five (45) days from the date of the Purse Bid…”

Mr. Dino Duva questioned the possibility of a higher percentage for the division Champion, Maurice Hooker. However, Mr. Valcarcel stated for the record that in accordance to the WBO Regulations of World Championship Contests. The Champion shall receive 75% of the purse and the Challenger shall receive the remaining 25%.

Finally, Mr. Valcarcel stated the following conditions:

  1. If the Champion becomes injured prior to bout, an Interim Title will be held.
  2. If the Challenger becomes injured prior to the bout, the next available contenderwill be selected.
  3. The fight shall be held within the time frame pursuant to the WBO Regulations ofWorld Championship Contests.
  4. If the winning bidder does not comply with our Rules, the Bid can be awarded tothe second highest bidder.
  5. The winner was informed that the signed contracts must be sent to the WBO nolater than ten (10) days after the Purse Bid.

Mr. Valcarcel then congratulated the winner, Top Rank, Inc., and thanked all present for their participation. The Purse Bid ended at 12:30 pm.

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WBO News: Top Rank wins the Hooker-Saucedo Purse Bid

The purse bid for the mandatory bout between World Boxing Organization (WBO) Junior Welterweight World Champion Maurice Hooker (24-0-3, 16 KOs), of Texas, and first-ranked Alex Saucedo (28-0, 18 KOs), from Oklahoma, was held today at the WBO central offices in San Juan, Puerto Rico.

Top Rank won the rights for the fight with a successful bid of $ 1.625 millions. Top Rank Vice President Carl Moretti, personally presented the winning bid. The fight is scheduled for November in Oklahoma.

Matchroom Boxing also participated in the purse bid and was represented by Dino Duva.

The WBO exhorted both Top Rank and other promoters to submit their boxers to doping controls, not only immediately prior to and after the title fights, but throughout the entire training phase of both combatants.

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Congrats on your victory over Lenny Z in an absolutely fantastic fight and fight of the year candidate. You probably took a bit more than you wanted to going into the fight, but it was terrific and by far the biggest win of your career. Can you give us some thoughts on your performance? We definitely put in a lot of work for that fight. We knew it was going to be tough, we knew Lenny Z was a tough guy with a strong KO percentage. That fourth round was a little off for me and it got tough when he countered my lazy jab with a good right hand. That was a tough round for me, but other than that I feel like I had the first few rounds pretty well and got back to business after the fourth round.

GL: What was going through your mind in that fourth round?

Alex Saucedo: “Not much-just surviving. I had all of the support here from the people of my city and it was good we gave them a great show, I’m glad everyone enjoyed yet and now everyone is saying it’s a fight of the year candidate.”

GL: How many stitches did it take to close you up?

AS: “I got five stitches.”

GL: After the fight Arum called you a Hispanic Arturo Gatti, how do you feel about that comment?

AS: “Yeah, I mean I’m a warrior in there and I’m always going to try to get the win no matter how. That’s what I did in this fight, I had to be a warrior and that’s ok.”

GL: When are you hoping to get back in action?

AS: “I have no date yet, I just need to recover from these cuts and then hopefully we’re going to be back in the ring before the end of the year against Maurice Hook for the WBO title. I’m going to be back in the gym and start working out within the next week and then whenever I get the fight date I’m going to head back out to big bear.”

GL: OKC, OKC. They were cheering for you like you played on the Thunder. Will fighting at home moving forward be a priority of yours?

AS: “I definitely want to come back and fight here, I understand if Maurice Hooker doesn’t want to come here, but I’ll fight him wherever. I don’t care, I’ll fight him in his backyard. I’m definitely wanting to give my fans of Oklahoma City another great show for the world title, but we’ll see what happens.”

GL: You guys were fighting like you would’ve gotten offended if one of you would have missed a punch. Is that the kind of fighter you’re going to be moving forward or are you going to look to incorporate some more defense?

AS: “There’s a lot of things that I’ve seen I did wrong so I’m definitely going to work on these things that we didn’t do right in the gym. We’re definitely going to go back to the gym and fix a lot of things, but I’ve always been an aggressive fighter that goes forward, but there’s some things I need to change.”

GL: A lot of boxing fans aren’t going to want to see you change much, because as boxing fans we all love those rock em sock em robots kind of fights, but it’s probably best for your longevity if the defense is tightened up a bit.

AS: “Definitely and I think that’s something we’re going to be working on, but it’s like I said I’ve always bene an aggressive fighter and I’m just glad that everybody enjoyed the fight.”

GL: Arum also said that you will be a main event fighter moving forward. How do you feel about that?

AS: “I think it’s great to hear that from the man. He knows his fighters, he knows what he’s doing and he’s made so many big name champions so that coming from Arum is a great thing, so I’m just going to keep doing my job and keep working hard in the gym, keep working on the things I need to work on and just move forward.”

GL: You referenced Maurice Hooker for the title as your next fight, what do you think about Hooker as a fighter?

AS: “He’s a great fighter and I probably think it’ll be a great fight. I think it’ll be a totally different fight than Lenny Z, but I’m always going to be the guy who comes forward and puts the pressure. He’s had three draws with guys who fight that similiar style and I’m looking forward to getting that title and bringing it back to OKC. He’s tall and he’s got reach with power in both hands, but you’ve seen the draws he had.”

GL: Yes I have and I’m not trying to denegrate your upcoming title fight, but I thought Perez won that fight versus Hooker.

AS: “Yeah, yeah, there’s a couple of fights that I thought was tough for him. We know what he likes and what he doesn’t. When we fight he’s going to be in there with the best Saucedo ever.”

GL: Closing thoughts?

AS: “I appreciate everyone that has been supporting, this is only the beginning we’re going to be moving onto bigger and better things and fighting the champions.”

By G. Leon
http://www.boxingtalk.com/pag/article.php?aid=35371

Photo by Mikey Williams / Top Rank

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