The landscape of the 147 lb division is always going forward and it’s always going to be a money division in the sport of boxing. Of course the two biggest names on the list haven’t, and may never fight each other. Obviously, those two names are Floyd Mayweather, Jr. and Manny Pacquiao. After that, the division is wide open, and a fighter like Devon Alexander is ready to step up.
Alexander has a fight scheduled with the IBF welterweight champion, Randall Bailey, coming off his upset victory over Mike Jones. Most didn’t think Bailey could pull the upset, including Alexander. “I didn’t expect him to beat Mike Jones. All Bailey did was look for the right hand all night, and it landed. Jones was trying to avoid the right hand all night. Jones was flinching with his eyes every time Bailey would throw a punch, but hey; that’s boxing,” Alexander told ThaBoxingVoice.com.
As if fighting for a title wasn’t motivating enough for Alexander, the words fired from both camps have picked up and has added more fire to the fight. According to the humble Alexander, “I don’t come out and start anything. He started the drama first, and said he was going to knock me out ever since I was with Don King. I said a few words to respond, but I’m a humble guy and I’ll let my hands do the talking in the ring.”
Bailey possesses one of the best right hands in boxing and probably is the best one punch knockout artist in the sport today. Alexander isn’t too concerned about that and says, “I’m not going in there and expecting to get hit by the right hand. I’m going in there to take the title. I’m younger and faster and I know what I’m capable of doing. I’m a be in his butt from the opening bell, you saw with (Miguel) Cotto, if you don’t let him bully your around, he has trouble.”
The knock on Alexander’s career has always been the fight with Tim Bradley and his hometown fights, where many feel he gets home cook decisions. Alexander has a big fan base in St. Louis and feels justified when it comes to making fights in his city. “I have a big fan base and it takes two to tango, if my opponent doesn’t have a fan base, then we’re going to go where we will be able to sell this fight. It’s not my fault it happens like that. If I have a well known name, we will be able to take it somewhere else,” stated Alexander. Regarding his fight with Tim Bradley, Alexander learned from his mistakes and would to get in there with Tim, should he not rematch Pacquiao. “We still have a rematch clause in our contract. I learned from the last time out and would love a rematch; it will definitely be a different outcome.”
If Alexander is victorious, there may be plenty of doors open for the former 140 lb champion. He would become a two division champion with plenty of names available for him at 147. With names ranging from Kell Brook, Paulie Malignaggi, and Amir Khan (should he move up as he has said), Alexander is ready for all comers. “Amir Khan is overrated to me personally. I agree with Danny Garcia’s dad when he said that Khan is a glorified amateur fighting professionally. He struggled with Maidana and McCloskey. I have no doubt in my mind I will dominate him from round one to twelve,” stated Alexander.
Should he beat Bailey, Kell Brook would be his mandatory coming over his hard fought victory over Carson Jones this past Saturday. Although he didn’t get a chance to see the fight, his coach Kevin Cunningham did. From the sounds of it, Team Alexander wasn’t too impressed. “I didn’t see the fight but my coach told me about it. According to him he has a lot of flaws and his promoter definitely said he wanted the winner of me and Randall Bailey. Jones was definitely in his butt and I heard the fight could have been either way,” stated Alexander.
Since leaving Don King, Alexander has brought in the best to back him, with Golden Boy Promotions as his promoter and Al Haymon as an advisor. However, while he feels certain people at the top use those 2 brokers to cherry pick, he’s using them to get the fights he wants, and that’s the best fights available. Having fought guys like Juan Urango, Timothy Bradley, Lucas Matthysse, and now Marcos Maidana, he wants to keep loading up his resume and be known as a throwback fighter. “I want to be an old school fighter. If you the best in the division, you take on the best. Now everyone just cherry picks for the most money. My coach Kevin Cunningham is old school and that’s how he brought me up. The team behind me will get me the best. The only way I’m going to prove myself is beating the best and eventually getting that big shot,” said Alexander. That big shot is known as either Mayweather or Pacquiao.
For Full audio of the interview, click here: http://www.blogtalkradio.com/thaboxingvoiceradioshow/2012/07/08/glen-johnson-and-devon-alexander
