Saucedo excited to fight on home turf
As Alex Saucedo stepped on the scale, his friends and family in attendance erupted in cheers.
Saucedo has wanted to fight in Oklahoma City again ever since his last bout since here four years ago, but this time the venue (Chesapeake Energy Arena) is much larger than where he KO'd Miguel Alvarez at Downtown Airpark.
“I’m excited,” Saucedo said. “I want to thank everyone for coming out.”
His family sported “Team Saucedo” T-shirts as Saucedo received the loudest applause of weigh-ins.
Saucedo (27-0) fights Leonardo Zappavigna
(37-3) as he looks to stay undefeated.
“He’s a tough opponent, but I’m ready,” Saucedo said. “We’ve prepared ourselves 100 percent and now we’re here. This is my moment.”
Lippe-Morrison not bothered by weight difference
Trey Lippe-Morrison is used to fighting at a disadvantage.
When the Tulsa native steps into the ring on Saturday, he will be outweighed by 40 pounds. But Lippe-Morrison doesn’t care. In fact, he doesn’t even see it as a challenge.
“To me, heavyweights, that division, [the weight difference] doesn’t matter,” Lippe-Morrison said.
Morrison is used to being in this position. In a previous fight, Morrison weighed 220 pounds while his opponent was 278.
It’s the life of being in the heavyweight division. Even though he’s seen significant weight disadvantages, Morrison is undefeated at 14-0, with all his wins coming by way of knockout.
Morrison doesn’t see why Saturday will be any different.
“He doesn’t hit nowhere near like I hit,” Morrison said. “As soon as I touch him in the jaw, it’ll be night night.”
Ramirez ready for first fight in OKC
Gilberto Ramirez enters Saturday night’s fight in Oklahoma City as the World Boxing Organizaton's super middleweight champion.
But the last time Gilberto Ramirez came to OKC, things didn’t go according to plan.
Four years ago, Ramirez flew to Oklahoma for a fight at a casino, he couldn’t remember which one.
As he prepared for the fight, Ramirez learned firsthand how unpredictable Oklahoma weather can be.
A storm moved in and forcing street closures near the casino. Those wanting to attend the fight couldn’t make it to the casino, so the event was cancelled.
This time should be different and Ramirez is ready to face undefeated Alexis Angulo.
“I know Angulo doesn’t have a loss yet,” Ramirez said. “But he will.”
AUSTIN MOSELEY, STAFF WRITER