Blood and guts warrior Leonardo Zappavigna 37-4 (27) is set to hang up the gloves after his brave stand against world-rated junior welterweight Alex Saucedo 28-0 (18) at the Chesapeake Energy Arena in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma on Saturday night broadcast live on ESPN in the United States.
The 30-year-old Australian veteran climbed off the canvas in the third round to put a beating on Saucedo in the fourth, a round that has already been shortlisted as Round of the Year. But Saucedo came back strongly in the fifth and continued to mark up and break up Zappavigna’s face, which was cut and swollen by the time his corner threw in the towel in the seventh round.
“I always felt so close to just beating him and fighting for a world title, that was my dream. It hurts when you have a dream in your head and you don’t get a hold of it,” said Zappavigna told Ring magazine after the fight.
Zappavigna’s manager Mike Altamura was one of the first to advise the tough-as-nails Sydneysider that now was the time to hang up the gloves.
“He was speaking to my wife and was like ‘that’s enough. I don’t want to be a part of it anymore. I want him to be able to talk to his kids when he’s 50. I want him to be healthy.’ I understand where he’s coming from,” said Zappavigna, a married father of two.
In recent years Zappavigna’s career has been plagued by cuts. His 2010 points victory over Fernando Angulo saw him bleed profusely from a cut around his right eye and ever since he has had problems with his face bursting open during fights.
“From there on, just getting cut and cut, and now my skin just doesn’t hold up. You just touch me and I cut. It’s like I’m going in knowing I’m gonna cut,” said Zappavigna.
Despite the seeming inevitability of retirement, Zappavigna is yet to come to terms with his fighting career being over.
“It’s hard to say I’m retiring but I think I’ve got no choice. My skin on my face is just getting worse as I go on in my career,” said Zappavigna.
“It’s more to do with the eyes that is pulling me to retirement. I feel good, I’m in great shape, I feel healthy, I’m young, I’m fit. If I can fix [my eyes] up, I wouldn’t mind having another go.
“Now, I don’t know where I stand. If I got a phone call for a good fight for good money, definitely I’d take the fight. I’m just taking it easy and seeing what happens. I think it’s over for the moment.”
 is set to hang up the gloves after his brave stand against world-rated junior welterweight Alex Saucedo 28-0 (18) at the Chesapeake Energy Arena in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma on Saturday night broadcast live on ESPN in the United States.){kind=link}