Alex Saucedo retires at 26 because of brain bleeds

The career of junior welterweight contender Alex Saucedo is over at 26 because of brain bleeds, according to multiple reports.

Saucedo suffered two brain bleeds during his unanimous-decision loss to Arnold Barboza Jr. on the Teofimo Lopez-Vasiliy Lomachenko card on Oct. 17 in Las Vegas, ESPN reported.

Saucedo told ESPN that the damage was caused by a clash of heads in the first round of the 10-round fight.

“My career is done,” Saucedo said. “But I’m glad to be alive.”

He went on: “I’ve never saw another fighter come out alive after one of these. But if I get hit again, I might not be able to talk about it.”

Saucedo reportedly spent three nights at a hospital in Las Vegas.

The Mexican-born Oklahoman (30-2, 19 KOs) lost by a seventh-round knockout to Maurice Hooker in November of 2018, his only major title fight.

He rebounded to defeated Rod Salka and Sonny Fredrickson, which led to the Barboza fight. A victory over Barboza would’ve been a significant step toward a second title shot.