Juan Alejandro Saucedo Ortiz (born June 24, 1994) is a Mexican-born American former professional boxer who competed from 2011 to 2020. who challenged for the WBO light welterweight title in 2018. At regional level he held the WBO-NABO and WBO International light welterweight titles between 2017 and 2018.

Alex Saucedo
Born
Juan Alejandro Saucedo Ortiz

(1994-06-24) June 24, 1994 (age 30)
Meoqui, Chihuahua, Mexico
NationalityAmerican
Other namesEl Cholo
Statistics
Weight(s)
Height5 ft 10 in (178 cm)
Reach72 in (183 cm)
StanceOrthodox
Boxing record[1]
Total fights32
Wins30
Wins by KO19
Losses2

Professional career

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Saucedo made his professional debut on November 19, 2011, scoring a first-round technical knockout (TKO) victory over Cedric Sheppard at the Reliant Arena in Houston, Texas.[2]

After compiling a record of 25–0 (15 KOs) he faced Gustavo David Vittori for the vacant WBA-NABA (USA) and WBO-NABO light welterweight titles[3] on November 11, 2017, at the Save Mart Center in Fresno, California. After suffering a cut above his left eye from an accidental clash of heads in the second round, Saucedo upped the pressure in the third to score three knockdowns; left hooks twice sent Vittori to the canvas on one knee, with the end coming after another left hook sent him crashing to the canvas, prompting the referee to wave off the fight and award Saucedo the WBA and WBO regional titles via third-round knockout (KO).[4] He defended the titles in his next fight, facing Abner López on March 10, 2018, at the StubHub Center in Carson, California. In a closely contested fight Saucedo retained his titles with a seventh-round KO after dropping López with a left hook to the body.[5]

For his next fight he dropped the WBO-NABO title in an attempt to add the vacant WBO International title to his collection, facing Lenny Zappavigna on June 30, 2018, at the Chesapeake Energy Arena in Oklahoma City. During a gruelling and bloody fight in which both men received cuts – Saucedo over his left eye and Zappavigna over both – Saucedo scored a knockdown in the third round en route to a seventh-round TKO after Zappavigna's corner threw in the towel with 29 seconds left of the round.[6] At the time of the stoppage Saucedo was ahead on the scorecards, with two judges scoring the bout 59–54 while the third scored it 58–55.[7]

Following his win over Zappavigna, Saucedo became the mandatory challenger for the WBO light welterweight champion, Maurice Hooker. The pair squared off on November 16, 2018, at the Chesapeake Energy Arena. Both fighters started the bout with intent; Saucedo moving forward with aggression as Hooker remained on the outside to box at range. Saucedo scored a heavy knockdown in round two, knocking the champion to the canvas with a right hand. Hooker rose to his feet but was visibly hurt, allowing Saucedo to pound away with right hands and uppercuts, leaving the champion with a bloodied nose at the end of the round. Hooker recovered from the knockdown in the next round, sticking behind his trademark jab and landing punches as Saucedo tried to get on the inside. Saucedo found success in the fifth round as he backed the champion onto the ropes, switching his attacks from head to body. Hooker fired back in the final seconds of the round to knock Saucedo off balance. Hooker upped the pressure in the sixth, landing clean punches which began to mark Saucedo's face, causing swelling to his left eye. The pressure continued in the seventh; Hooker landed a right hand which sent Saucedo stumbling into the ropes, prompting referee Mark Nelson to rule it a knockdown and initiate a standing eight count as he deemed the ropes kept Saucedo on his feet. Following Nelson's count, Saucedo was met with a flurry of punches which sent him stumbling across the ring, prompting Nelson to wave off the fight, awarding Hooker a seventh-round TKO victory. At the time of the stoppage Saucedo was losing on the scorecards with two judges scoring the bout 57–56 and the third scoring it 58–55, all in favour of Hooker. According to CompuBox stats, Saucedo landed 133 out of 486 (27%) punches and Hooker landed 174 out of 509 (34%).[8]

After a year out of the ring he came back in November 2019 to defeat Rod Salka via first-round KO in a scheduled eight-round bout.[9]

Professional boxing record

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32 fights 30 wins 2 losses
By knockout 19 1
By decision 11 1
No. Result Record Opponent Type Round, time Date Location Notes
32 Loss 30–2 Arnold Barboza Jr. UD 10 Oct 17, 2020 MGM Grand Conference Center, Paradise, Nevada, U.S. For vacant WBO International light welterweight title
31 Win 30–1 Sonny Fredrickson UD 10 Jun 30, 2020 MGM Grand Conference Center, Paradise, Nevada, U.S.
30 Win 29–1 Rod Salka KO 1 (8), 2:17 Nov 2, 2019 Dignity Health Sports Park, Carson, California, U.S.
29 Loss 28–1 Maurice Hooker TKO 7 (12), 1:26 Nov 16, 2018 Chesapeake Energy Arena, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, U.S. For WBO light welterweight title
28 Win 28–0 Lenny Zappavigna TKO 7 (10), 2:31 Jun 30, 2018 Chesapeake Energy Arena, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, U.S. Retained WBA-NABA (USA) light welterweight title;
Won vacant WBO International light welterweight title
27 Win 27–0 Abner López TKO 7 (10), 1:17 Mar 10, 2018 StubHub Center, Carson, California, U.S. Retained WBA-NABA (USA), and WBO-NABO light welterweight titles
26 Win 26–0 Gustavo David Vittori KO 3 (10), 1:16 Nov 11, 2017 Save Mart Arena, Fresno, California, U.S. Won vacant WBA-NABA (USA) and WBO-NABO light welterweight titles
25 Win 25–0 Wilberth Lopez UD 8 May 26, 2017 UIC Pavilion, Chicago, Illinois, U.S.
24 Win 24–0 Johnny Garcia TKO 2 (8), 2:42 Mar 17, 2017 Hulu Theater, New York City, New York, U.S.
23 Win 23–0 Raymond Serrano UD 8 Nov 4, 2016 Treasure Island Casino, Paradise, Nevada, U.S.
22 Win 22–0 Claudinei Lacerda UD 8 May 21, 2016 Laredo Energy Arena, Laredo, Texas, U.S.
21 Win 21–0 Clarence Booth UD 8 Feb 13, 2016 Sportsmans Lodge, Studio City, California, U.S.
20 Win 20–0 Martín Ángel Martínez UD 6 Oct 24, 2015 CenturyLink Center, Omaha, Nebraska, U.S.
19 Win 19–0 Edgar Ortega TKO 3 (10), 2:15 Aug 8, 2015 Municipal Gym, Meoqui, Mexico
18 Win 18–0 Jake Giuriceo TKO 3 (8), 0:49 May 30, 2015 Florentine Gardens, Los Angeles, California, U.S.
17 Win 17–0 Eduardo Flores TKO 3 (8), 2:05 Feb 7, 2015 State Farm Arena, Hidalgo, U.S.
16 Win 16–0 Daniel Calzada UD 6 Nov 29, 2014 CenturyLink Center, Omaha, Nebraska, U.S.
15 Win 15–0 Miguel Alvarez KO 2 (8), 0:31 Sep 27, 2014 OKC Downtown Airpak, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, U.S.
14 Win 14–0 Gary Bergeron TKO 3 (6), 1:35 Sep 6, 2014 Laredo Energy Arena, Laredo, Texas, U.S.
13 Win 13–0 Gilbert Venegas UD 6 Mar 1, 2014 Alamodome, San Antonio, Texas, U.S.
12 Win 12–0 Francisco Reza TKO 1 (6), 2:10 Feb 1, 2014 Laredo Energy Arena, Laredo, Texas, U.S.
11 Win 11–0 Steve Hall TKO 3 (6), 0:11 Nov 9, 2013 American Bank Center, Corpus Christi, Texas, U.S.
10 Win 10–0 Alexis Pena KO 1 (6), 1:00 Aug 17, 2013 Laredo Energy Arena, Laredo, Texas, U.S.
9 Win 9–0 Boyd Henley UD 4 Jun 29, 2013 WinStar World Casino, Thackerville, Oklahoma, U.S.
8 Win 8–0 Norman Allen TKO 2 (6), 1:40 Mar 16, 2013 WinStar World Casino, Thackerville, Oklahoma, U.S.
7 Win 7–0 Eddie Cordova TKO 3 (4), 2:14 Dec 15, 2012 Toyota Center, Houston, Texas, U.S.
6 Win 6–0 Terrence Harris TKO 2 (4), 2:12 Oct 11, 2012 Remington Park, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, U.S.
5 Win 5–0 Donald Ward MD 4 Aug 11, 2012 Convention Center, Arlington, Texas, U.S.
4 Win 4–0 James Harrison UD 4 Jun 16, 2012 Sun Bowl, El Paso, Texas, U.S.
3 Win 3–0 Luis Alejandro TKO 1 (4), 1:51 Mar 30, 2012 Civic Center, Aransas Pass, Texas, U.S.
2 Win 2–0 Jean Colon KO 1 (4), 1:03 Feb 4, 2012 Alamodome, San Antonio, Texas, U.S.
1 Win 1–0 Cedric Sheppard TKO 1 (4), 2:28 Nov 19, 2011 NRG Arena, Houston, Texas, U.S.

References

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  1. ^ "Boxing record for Alex Saucedo". BoxRec.
  2. ^ "BoxRec: Alex Saucedo vs. Cedric Sheppard". boxrec.com. Archived from the original on November 26, 2018. Retrieved June 25, 2020.
  3. ^ "BoxRec: Alex Saucedo vs. Gustavo David Vitorri". boxrec.com. Archived from the original on November 26, 2018. Retrieved June 25, 2020.
  4. ^ Rafael, Dan (November 11, 2017). "Beterbiev stops Koelling, wins vacant light heavyweight title". ESPN.com. Archived from the original on November 13, 2017. Retrieved June 25, 2020.
  5. ^ Salazar, Francisco (March 10, 2018). "Alex Saucedo Tested, Knocks Out Abner Lopez in Seventh". BoxingScene.com. Retrieved June 25, 2020.
  6. ^ Rafael, Dan (July 2, 2018). "From all boxing fans, thank you, Saucedo, Zappavigna". ESPN.com. Archived from the original on July 4, 2018. Retrieved June 25, 2020.
  7. ^ "BoxRec: Alex Saucedo vs. Lenny Zappavigna". boxrec.com. Archived from the original on November 23, 2018. Retrieved June 25, 2020.
  8. ^ Rafael, Dan (November 17, 2018). "Hooker stops Saucedo on his turf, keeps belt". ESPN.com. Archived from the original on November 18, 2018. Retrieved June 25, 2020.
  9. ^ Salazar, Francisco (November 2, 2019). "Alex Saucedo Takes Out Rod Salka in One Round". BoxingScene.com. Retrieved June 25, 2020.