MEXICAN-BORN BOXER WHO LOST
TO PENALOSA DEAD
Houston, Texas, March 7, 1998 - Mexican-born Hipolito Saucedo, who lost a lopsided decision to World Boxing Council (WBC) superflyweight champion Gerry Penalosa in Connecticut last August 1997, is dead.
Saucedo, 30, committed suicide two weeks ago. He was found dead with a bullet wound in the head. He left a suicide note that read: "Everything would have been so different if I had won the championship."
Apparently Saucedo easily got depressed. Durng his ring career, he retired twice. After turning pro at age 16, he took a one-and-a-half year layoff to recover from the loss on cuts to Ray Medel in his debut. He was despondent for rushing his first pro outing.
Frustrated because he worked so hard and earned so little in his boxing career, he quit boxing again and got involved in carpet layering. Then he worked with the Salvation Army before making another comeback.
Against Penalosa, Saucedo was no match. The three judges scored identical 100-89 shutouts. In the final round, Penalosa dropped Saucedo to one knee.
Penalosa, meanwhile, is busy preparing for his mandatory defense against top contender Joel Luna Zarate of Mexico tentatively set for April 4 at the Cuneta Astrodome.
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