Gilberto Ramirez/Alex Saucedo Media Day
*Signal Hill, Calif. (June 19, 2018)* — Gilberto “Zurdo” Ramirez and Alex
“El Cholo” Saucedo showcased their skills for the media Tuesday at Hill
Street Boxing Gym as they finalize preparations for their respective
nationally televised bouts, June 30 at the Chesapeake Energy Arena in
Oklahoma City.
In the main event, Ramirez (37-0, 25 KOs) will defend the WBO super
middleweight title against unbeaten Colombian challenger Alexis Angulo
(23-0, 20 KOs), while Oklahoma City native Saucedo (27-0, 17 KOs) will face
Australian puncher Lenny Zappavigna (37-3, 27 KOs) for the WBO
International super lightweight title.
Ramirez-Angulo and Saucedo-Zappavigna will be televised live on ESPN and
ESPN Deportes at 9 p.m. ET. Undercard action, including appearances by 2016
Olympic gold medalist Robson Conceicao, female fighting sensation Mikaela
Mayer, and heavyweight knockout artist Trey Lippe Morrison, will be
broadcast on ESPN+ beginning at 6 p.m. ET.
Promoted by Top Rank, tickets to this world championship extravaganza are ON
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1-800-745-3000.
This is what the fighters had to say.
*Gilberto “Zurdo” Ramirez*
*On Alexis Angulo*
“We’ve seen a couple of tapes. He’s a big puncher. He has a good record,
and I have been preparing very hard for him. I’ve been doing a lot of
sparring with different guys, and I’m ready to put on a great performance
for Oklahoma City and the people watching on ESPN.”
“He’a dangerous fighter because we don’t know what he brings. Like I said,
I prepared really well for this fight. We don’t know what kind of strategy
he brings to the ring, so we’re preparing with different styles.”
*On the super middleweight division*
“I am looking for unification fights. That’s what I want. But first things
first. We have a tough fight with Angulo, and after that, we are looking at
any of those fighters. Let’s do it. Let’s make it happen.”
*On being active after a long layoff*
“For me, being more active is helpful. I like fighting three or four times
a year. It makes me feel good and motivated. If you don’t fight enough, it
hurts you in the ring.”
*Alex “El Cholo” Saucedo*
*On Lenny Zappavigna*
“Lenny is an aggressive fighter and I am as well. We both have great
knockout percentages, so it’s going to be a great fight for Oklahoma City.
I’m ready.”
*On Oklahoma City*
“I want to give all my people back home a great event. We have ESPN and Top
Rank coming through. It’s going to be a special night for the city, and I
am proud to represent my people. I want everyone to come out and support
this event. If everything goes well, we’ll be back with bigger things.”
“I wanted to bring a tough fight to the city, so they could see that we’re
ready to move on to bigger things. It’s going to be a tough fight, but I
believe I’m ready to put him out of there as well.”
“I was born in Chihuahua, Mexico. I came to Oklahoma City when I was 7
years old. I started third grade in Oklahoma City, and I’ve been there ever
since. Everyone watched me as an amateur fighter, as a professional
fighter. Now they have the opportunity to see me fight on ESPN, at the
Chesapeake Energy Arena, on one of the biggest boxing events in Oklahoma.
I’m really motivated about and excited to give everyone a show.”
*On a future title shot*
“There are two guys with belts, Jose Ramirez and Maurice Hooker, who I’d
love to fight. But right now, I need to worry about June 30.”
*On his preparation*
“I felt great in sparring. I feel like my trainer {Abel Sanchez} and I
worked on everything we wanted to.”
