Fight preview: Timothy Bradley vs. Devon Alexander
Timothy Bradley is always in excellent shape for every fight. Behind him is Sam Jackson who helps with Bradley's training regime.
What’s at stake? Both the WBO and WBC welterweight title belts. Both boxers have amazing speed and accuracy; both are dedicated beyond words. One is from the desert and the other from the intercity.
Timothy Bradley (26-0-0, 11 KOs), who fights orthodox, is trained by Joel Diaz. He’s 27, stands 5’6” tall with a 69” reach. He began to box at age 10 and had 140 amateur bouts. He took the titles at the National PAL Tournament, and became the Under-19 National Tournament Champion and Jr. Golden Gloves Champion. He was a two-time National Champion before he turned professional.
Devon Alexander (21-0-0, 13 KOs), a southpaw, had an outstanding amateur career, compiling a record of 300-10. He was a four-time Silver Gloves champion from ages 10-14; three-time PAL national champ; Junior Golden Gloves and Junior Olympics national champion; 2003 U.S. national champion in the 19-and-under division; and 2004 U. S. light welterweight national champion.
While growing up, he lost his father to cancer and his mother had the chore of raising 13 children. One of her offspring, Vaughn Alexander, is currently serving an 18 year prison sentence.
At this stage, Alexander’s no nonsense trainer, Kevin Cunningham, has taken over the reigns as his disciplinarian. Cunningham had this to say, “Without a doubt, Devon is the hardest working fighter.”
In his last couple pro fights, Alexander, who stands 5’7” tall and has a 71” reach, faced Andre Kotelnik, and won an unanimous decision victory with all three judges scoring the bout 116-112. Before that bout, he beat toughies like Juan Urango and Junior Witter.
If we compare opponents, it appears Bradley has faced the stronger of the two schedules. In Bradley’s last fight, he won an unanimous decision over Luis Carlos Abregu from Salta, Argentina. Abregu had been undefeated in 29 fights. It was the first bout for Bradley as a welterweight (140-147 lbs.) and he was facing a guy who’s four inches taller. Before that last fight he faced and beat toughies like: Lamont Peterson, Nate Campbell, Kendall Holt, Miguel Vazquez and Junior Witter.
The pre-fight banter:
Comments from Bradley of Palm Springs: “I know my opponent is working hard, so I work harder at putting in that extra mile running, that extra round sparring.”
When asked about facing the undefeated Alexander the Great, Bradley said, “I beat his brother in the amateurs. I heard some of the things he’s been saying; that it’s going to be an easy fight. Earlier he was calling me a coward. That I’ve been running from him, because I’m scared. Some people, you have to teach them how to lose. I have to teach Alexander how to lose.”
“The way I look at it (boxing), either his family is going eat, or your family’s going to eat.”
To quote Alexander from the rough streets of St. Louis, Missouri: “Let him say what he wants. I’m going to throw punches that he’s not going to see.”
Alexander’s trainer, Kevin Cunningham, answered a question about Bradley’s temperament in the ring and getting real mad: “He (Bradley) better be ready come January 29, or he’s going to get real pissed off.”
Larry Merchant’s views on the subject: “We have two young fighters at their peak and the winner of this, gets on the short list to fight Manny Pacquiao.”
Roy Jones Jr.: “When I was in the same position, I’d get mad when I’d hear another boxer talking about being better than me. All you want to do, is put an end to that talk.”
Prediction: Both of these fighters are sensational, but I’d have to give the nod to Alexander because he’s a lefty, has a two inch reach advantage, is an inch taller and packs a wallop from every angle. Plus, he, rather than Bradley, is more likely to score a knockout.
