What happened to Alex Saucedo?

In what ended up being his final bout, Alex Saucedo suffered brain hemorrhages, ending his great boxing career.

Here is all the information we currently know about the world title contender, his remarkable career, and its untimely end.

Who is Alex Saucedo?

Alex, whose real name is Juan Alejandro Saucedo Ortiz, was born on June 24, 1994, in Meoqui, Chihuahua, Mexico.

‘El Cholo’ was Alex’s boxing moniker until his early retirement.

Cholo is defined by Dictionary.com as “a teenage boy who is a member of a street gang” or “a term used to refer to a Mexican or Mexican American that is typically disparaging.”

The gifted professional boxer advanced through the fight game’s ranks and gained a chance to compete for the world title.

However, a severe brain injury ended his career.

Early life

Before his father made the decision to relocate the family to the United States, Alex spent his childhood in Mexico.

“My father used to work in the United States, and I was living in Mexico,” El Cholo told FanSided in 2018.

He fell in love with Oklahoma while working in the oil fields when I was seven or eight years old.

“He transported us to Oklahoma from Chihuahua, Mexico. In third grade, I reached that point.

When I arrived, I also began boxing at that age. Being in Oklahoma has been a boon.

Alex’s pugilistic fascination brought him to Dallas’s Maple Avenue Boxing Club in the summer of 2011.

Sparring with a legend

He sparred with Errol Spence Jr., a Team USA boxer and multiple national title winner, there when he was sixteen years old.

Jesus Chavez, a former two-division champion, was training one of his fighters in the gym when he noticed this sparring session.

“I got a kid for you” was Chavez’s message to his former manager, Lou Mesorana.

Mesorana played a significant role in influencing Alex’s boxing career.

Boxing career

On November 19, 2011, at the age of 17, El Cholo made his professional debut by defeating Cedric Sheppard via technical knockout in the first round.

His career took off right away, and by 2017, he had amassed an outstanding 25-0 record with 15 knockouts.

In November 2017, Alex defeated Gustavo David Vittori via third-round knockout to win the uncontested WBA-NABA (USA) and WBO-NABO light welterweight belts.

In March 2018, he defeated Abner L. Pez to successfully defend these titles.

On June 30, 2018, Saucedo fought Lenny Zappavigna for the unclaimed WBO International light welterweight title, which was his most noteworthy bout.

Saucedo won a hard-fought and brutal fight by TKO in the seventh round.

World title shot

Because of his achievements, Alex was given the opportunity to face Maurice Hooker for the WBO light-welterweight title on November 16, 2018.

Even though Alex got off to a great start and even knocked down his opponent in the second round, he lost the bout by TKO in the seventh round.

Brain injury & retirement

Alex Saucedo’s final bout took place in Nevada, USA, on October 17, 2020, against Arnold Barboza Jr.

In round 10, El Cholo was defeated by unanimous decision.

It was reported that following the fight, he had experienced two brain bleeds.

Alex had to make the painful decision to give up boxing at the young age of 26 as a result of this heartbreaking news.

With a stellar 30-2-0 record at the end of his career, he had won 30 of his 32 bouts, lost two, and drawn none.

“My career is done,” he said to ESPN. However, I’m happy to be alive.

“After one of these, I have never witnessed another boxer emerge unscathed.

“But if I get hit again, I might not be able to talk about it.”

Saucedo documentary

A documentary on Alex’s quick rise and abrupt departure, Saucedo, debuted at the deadCenter Film Festival in June 2024.

The video, which was directed by Emmett Berg, offers a close-up view of his life after he was forced to quit boxing professionally due to severe brain injuries.

It gives viewers insight into the difficulties faced by athletes who have to quit their sport suddenly because of health issues.

Netflix will release Saucedo on December 15, 2024.

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