Saucedo had help outside the gym to get acclimated to America
Tiffany Olvera couldn’t stay seated. Her hands were almost bruised from clenching her fists. She had lost her voice from screaming.
Olvera was at Chesapeake Energy Arena the night of June 30, watching Alex Saucedo fight Lenny Zappavigna in a junior welterweight prizefight. Olvera wasn’t excited just because an Oklahoma City boxer was rising to the top of the ranks. Wasn’t excited just because the fists were flying and the blood was flowing and Saucedo-Zappavigna might be America’s fight of the year.
Olvera was emotionally invested in the boxing match because Saucedo is one of her boys.
Fifteen years ago, Saucedo was a 9-yearold third-grader, recently arrived from Chihuahua, Mexico. He had no friends. He couldn’t speak English.
Boxing helped him find his way. Olvera helped him speak English.
The 20-year teacher at Heronville Elementary School, southwest of downtown Oklahoma City, impacts the lives of her students while they’re in class, and they carry her spirit long after they’ve moved on from Heronville. “I’ll die at Heronville,” Olvera said with a laugh.
Saucedo fights Maurice Hooker on Friday night at the ‘Peake for the
World Boxing Organization junior welterweight championship. It’s the first world title fight in OKC since 1971. Olvera will be there for Saucedo. Just as she was at Heronville.
“She’s been supporting my career ever since,” Saucedo said. “She’s the first one that’s seen me come to this state. She taught me how to speak English. She did a lot for me. And I’m very thankful.”
Saucedo these days is a charming, engaging, unassuming personality with a soaring public profile. But there was a time he was withdrawn and disconnected.
Saucedo’s father got his son out of the house by taking him to a boxing gym. The rest is Oklahoma sports history.
Olvera got Saucedo out of his shell by doing what she’s been doing for a generation. Caring about kids while she educates them.
“He was a good kid,” Olvera said of the 9-year-old Saucedo. “Got the drive and determination. Happy to see one of my kids doing good.”
Olvera has seen the story. A kid is in a new country. Everything is different. Doesn’t speak English. Probably left some family behind. It’s not a recipe for instant joy.
“I’m amazed to see how far he’s come,” Olvera said of Saucedo. “He’s just a great guy.”
Olvera first went to see Saucedo fight at the Downtown Airpark.
“Was amazed, it was so cool,” Olvera said. “I said, ‘OK, this is good.’”
It gets even better Friday night, if Saucedo can beat Hooker and become Oklahoma City’s first world boxing champion since Sean O’Grady almost 40 years ago. But Saucedo’s story isn’t limited to boxing gyms and title fights. It extends to Heronville Elementary and people who make a difference in the lives of little kids.
Berry Tramel: Berry can be reached at 405-760-8080 or at btramel@oklahoman.com. He can be heard Monday through Friday from 4:40-5:20 p.m. on The Sports Animal radio network, including FM98.1. You can also view his personality page at newsok. com/berrytramel.