OKLAHOMA CITY - The fairytale ending wasn’t meant to be. Oklahoma City native Alex Saucedo fell short in his first world title challenge, as Maurice Hooker defended his WBO junior welterweight title against Saucedo via 7th-round TKO In front of 4,102 fans at the Chesapeake Energy Arena in Oklahoma City. (photos by Mikey Williams).

Saucedo (28-1, 18 KOs) landed the first major blow of the night, knocking Hooker down with a right hand in the second round, causing blood to gush from his nose.

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Hooker responded with a late flurry to end the round. The fight entered a familiar pattern, as Saucedo marched forward and Hooker (25-0-3, 17 KOs) landed flush counter punches.

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Eventually, Hooker took over, as cuts over Saucedo’s left eye opened up. Hooker, using precision punching,  knocked Saucedo down with a right hand in the seventh. The end came soon after, and Hooker, a native of Dallas, Texas, left Oklahoma with his world title.

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Egidijus “The Mean Machine” Kavaliauskas wanted to show the world that he deserves a crack at a welterweight world title. The statement was emphatic, as Kavaliauskas blew out the previously unbeaten Roberto Arriaza (17-1, 13 KOs) in three rounds to retain the NABF title and pick up the WBO Inter-Continental Belt.

Kavaliauskas (21-0, 17 KOs) made no secret that the man he wants to face next is WBO welterweight champion Terence “Bud” Crawford, who was seated ringside.

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