Alex Saucedo's action-packed boxing career is over prematurely, following the confirmation of weekend reports that a pair of brain bleeds after his last fight were forcing him to retire at the age of 26.
Renowned boxing writer Mark Kriegel initially reported on Saturday that the after-effects of Saucedo's engrossing war with Arnold Barboza Jr. on Oct. 17 would make it extremely dangerous for the Mexican, who now resides in Oklahoma, to return to the ring.
World Boxing News reports that Saucedo himself has confirmed the report, quoting him as telling Kriegel: “My career is done. But I’m glad to be alive.”
Saucedo's unanimous decision defeat to the undefeated Barboza, on the undercard of the champion vs. champion bout at lightweight between Teofimo Lopez Jr. and Vasiliy Lomachenko, was 10 rounds of mesmerising exchanges, with both warriors focusing almost entirely on landing head shots on the other.
Post-fight statistics had them tallying almost a thousand punches thrown between them, at close to 100 per round. But despite a fantastic fight, the consequences for Saucedo were sobering.
He spent three days in the hospital afterwards, and will now step away with an admirable 30-2 record (19 KOs). His only other defeat came on Nov. 16, 2018 in a seventh-round stoppage loss to then-WBO light welterweight champion Maurice Hooker.
Phil Jay, editor of World Boxing News, said: "At the tender age of 26, Saucedo has been forced on to pastures new. It’s hard to see how he will leave the sport behind, though.
"Saucedo lived and breathed the sport and was highly-touted to seal a world title belt eventually. Furthermore, WBN would like to wish Alex all the best for the future."
Bad Left Hook's Scott Christ wrote: "It’s always a shame when a fighter has to retire early like this, but there’s the blessing that this wasn’t worse, too, and that Saucedo can live his life from this point on.
"He was someone I enjoyed watching ply his trade, a true warrior, and hopefully everyone will appreciate the career he had, the entertainment he gave us, and the passion he displayed in the ring."