Boxing at Chesapeake Energy Arena

[Laramie]

Alex Saucedo, left, punches Johnny Garcia, during the first round of a super lightweight boxing match on March 17, 2017, in New York. Saucedo stopped Garcia in the second round. [AP PHOTO]

Oklahoma Scene: Alex Saucedo returning home for Top Rank bout in OKC: https://newsok.com/article/5593226/a...y-arenahttp://

[Laramie]

Title Night OKC

TOP RANK | ESPN World Championship Boxing: https://www.chesapeakearena.com/even...c-espn-toprank

[Urbanized]

Definitely going to watch. Super cool that it is nationally televised live from Chesapeake Arena. This kid is going to get a title shot and some are saying he's the most exciting fighter at any level in the sport right now. I miss boxing. Used to watch it all of the time with my dad (in the seventies and even early eighties), until promoters discovered closed-circuit and pay per view and ruined the sport. MMA far healthier as a sport these days. I will say that my love for the sport diminished when - watching by myself as a teenager - I watched live when Ray Mancini killed Duk-koo Kim in the ring. Tough memory.

[okatty]

In terms of Oklahoma connections I recall the Sean O’Grady fights in 80 and 81. I was in college and they were a HUGE deal. Lost in Scotland to Jim Watt and then got another shot the next year and beat Helmer Kenty.

Also recall coming to OKC and watching Gerry Cooney fight Larry Holmes at the Myriad - close circuit in 82.

Urbanized is exactly right....boxing ultimately became even more of a cess pool and has never been the same.

I plan to tune in tonight.

[OKCRT]

In terms of Oklahoma connections I recall the Sean O’Grady fights in 80 and 81. I was in college and they were a HUGE deal. Lost in Scotland to Jim Watt and then got another shot the next year and beat Helmer Kenty.

Also recall coming to OKC and watching Gerry Cooney fight Larry Holmes at the Myriad - close circuit in 82.

Urbanized is exactly right....boxing ultimately became even more of a cess pool and has never been the same.

I plan to tune in tonight.

I was one of them at the Myriad for the Cooney Holmes fight. Def. a Cooney crowd. O'Grady use to train at a place on Nw23rd St. I remember when he got a new Corvette for something another he was driving around in. I'm pretty sure O"Grady won that Kenty fight on Halloween night or that might have been when he lost the title fight..

[okatty]

That was a pretty racially charged crowd....quite a few altercations outside the arena after the fight. Was a wild evening I recall. I think the Halloween was the Kenty fight. The Watt fight was during the day in US because it was night in Europe.

[bradh]

This is a GREAT fight, would have totally gone to this if I still lived there.

[bradh]

Urbanized, these ESPN fights never let down. I way more enjoy boxing over MMA

[okatty]

That fight was unbelievable. When ESPN has to change camera angles because of blood splattering on the lens its pretty brutal.

[bradh]

That was Ward/Gatti-esque

[Urbanized]

Man, that was something else. Honestly one of the best fights I can remember watching in many, many years. Both dudes with a TON of heart. Excited for Saucedo’s future. Title shot! Predict OKC will become a bit boxing-obsessed, for a few months at least.

[OKCRT]

That was a brutal bloodbath but very entertaining. Both fighters have hearts of champions. Best fight I have seen in years.

[bradh]

OKC should embrace the combat sports spotlight. With OSU's wrestling history, I believe they've put a few guys in UFC, this new boxing excitement, wouldn't hurt.

[OKCRT]

I was a bit surprised that the Doc let Lenny Z come back out in the 7th. Lenny was still a dangerous fighter but the blood was flowing and there's no way he could see the right hand coming. Like a good fighter does , Salcedo took aim and pounded on his face. Lenny's corner couldn't watch any more and threw the towel,or waived the fight. But really surprised the Doc didn't stop it since I have seen them stop fights for less.

[kukblue1]

What was attendance like?

[LordGerald]

Events like this our great for our city. Not that I have issues with casinos, but arenas were the original home for boxing and wrestling and I loved that this event was at CHK. I remember seeing Frank "Rootin Tootin" Newton at the Myriad. I had ring-side seats because my brother got me a photo pass. The ring girls were sponsored by Paul Meade insurance. I think I won an SPJ for my photo.

[OKCRT]

The announcer called the Chesapeake the Thunder Dome a few times. I never did see the attendance figures but I thought the announcer called it a packed house with heavy Mexican support.

[Urbanized]

I was a bit surprised that the Doc let Lenny Z come back out in the 7th. Lenny was still a dangerous fighter but the blood was flowing and there's no way he could see the right hand coming. Like a good fighter does , Salcedo took aim and pounded on his face. Lenny's corner couldn't watch any more and threw the towel,or waived the fight. But really surprised the Doc didn't stop it since I have seen them stop fights for less.

I was also surprised. He was bleeding badly from the middle of the first round, and obscenely so most of the fight. Might be the bloodiest fight I can remember ever seeing. Arturo Gatti maybe..? Last night the camera was regularly being spattered with blood, ringside announcers complaint about their suits being ruined. It was gruesome. Both guys showed amazing heart after knockdowns, after being cut repeatedly (especially Lenny Z). Almost ashamed to admit how much I enjoyed it. Definitely thought it should have been called (or called by corner) several times. Then again, neither fighter ever seemed defenseless. Great, GREAT fight.

[Urbanized]

The announcer called the Chesapeake the Thunder Dome a few times. I never did see the attendance figures but I thought the announcer called it a packed house with heavy Mexican support.

Yes, of course Saucedo is originally from Chihuahua and went to Capitol Hill, so makes sense that he’d have a bunch of Latino fans and especially Mexican-identifying fans, but the main even also featured a world champion from Mexico.

Rare nationally-televised sporting event by the way where announcers got details right during B-roll city shots, such as knowing details of how the Ferris Wheel at Wheeler ended up in OKC. But did anyone notice that shot was a flipped mirror image?

[bradh]

Announcers being on point should be no surprise, Joe Tessitore is one of the best (except for that whole "Texas is back! Line when they beat Notre Dame).

[Urbanized]

^^^^^^^^
The call was definitely excellent. The whole thing made me want to care about boxing again, but on many levels it feels like its time has passed.

Excited for Saucedo though. If his trainers can dial in just a couple of things it seems like he could be one to watch for years to come. Really cool that he’s from OKC and man, he repped HARD.

[Urbanized]

[Laramie]

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[Laramie]

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[TheSteveHunt]

I thought it was funny David Holt didn't even know this was going on....shows how much he cares about the South side, with one of it's great athletes fighting on ESPN and all that...