Maurice Hooker is set to defend the WBO junior welterweight title on Friday night when he takes on Alex Saucedo in Oklahoma City, live on ESPN.
Thursday’s weigh-in got a little physical, with Saucedo (28-0, 18 KO) brushing Hooker (24-0-3, 16 KO) back with a bit of an elbow, and Hooker responding with a little shove before things were quickly broken up.
And don’t worry, they were both on weight. Saucedo weighed in at 139.4, with Hooker at the limit of 140.
Hooker won the WBO title in June, traveling to the United Kingdom to defeat Terry Flanagan for the vacant belt. Saucedo is coming off of a TKO-7 win over Lenny Zappavigna on June 30, in what was a hell of a battle.
Tomorrow night’s card will also feature a welterweight showdown between Egidijus Kavaliauskas (20-0, 16 KO) and Roberto Arriaza (17-0, 13 KO). ESPN coverage begins at Midnight ET.