Alex Saucedo Vs Lenny Zappavigna Involved in a Fight Of The Year Candidate!

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By Joshua “City” Brewer

Tonight, on ESPN we had a Fight of the Year candidate in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, as the co-feature to the Top Rank promotions card on ESPN. OKC’s own Alex Saucedo, 28-0, 18 KO’s, took on veteran Lenny Zappavigna, 37-4, 27 KO’s. Saucedo took control in the first round and showed that he was ready for the moment. In the second round Saucedo dropped Zappavigna with a short right hook as Zappavigna started to swing for the fences. Zappavigna was cleary hurt bot the shot and visibly showed such visibly. The third round was one of the best in boxing as Zappavigna caught Saucedo midway through and started to unleash in a flurry of combinations that left Saucedo bloodied and dazed.

Miraculously, Saucedo was able to hold on though he almost went down on several occasions. Fighting in front of his hometown fans, Saucedo had grit and will that wouldn’t allow him to give up. The fourth round was just as intense and we saw both fighters have their moments landing heavy, head-snapping shots. Saucedo closed the round as the aggressor landing his straight right and looked as though he had regained control.

Both fighters were dripping blood in the fifth round and came out with just as much intensity. Saucedo maintained control throughout the first two minutes and landed a number of unanswered shots on Zappavigna that left him more cut and bloodied than when he started the round. Zappavigna showed tremendous heart and continued to battle back though he was cleary losing the round. Between rounds heading into the seventh, the ringside doctor stepped in with a close look as Zappavigna’s corner proclaimed that they’d give him another round. At this point Zappavigna’s face was beyond grotesque. Zappavigna fought mostly off the back foot in the seventh but Saucedo was clearly in control and landed a number of hard and precise right hands that only worsened Zappavigna’s condition. Finally, Zappavigna’s corner through in the towel midway through in order to ensure their fighter would be able to recover and come back another day.

What a fight! Both deserve tremendous respect. Officially it went down as a technical knockout victory for Alex Saucedo at 2:31 of round sevend. Much heart shown by both fighters and may the both recover and fight another day. Saucedo moves on to have his name thrown in the hat with the best at 140 pounds. In the post fight interview Bob Arum confirmed that Saucedo would be taking on newly crowned WBO world junior welterweight champion Maurice Hooker later in the year. For all of the remaining fights in 2018, you’re on notice.

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