On Saturday night, at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas, Nevada, two fighters with lightning fast hands and careers to rebuild will face each other in the ring. Devon Alexander, St, Louis, Missouri, has bested big names such as Lucas Matthysse, Marcos Maidana, and Jesus Soto Karass. He is a good technical boxer who uses speed to control distance, with respectable losses to fellow fast fighters Timothy Bradley and Shawn Porter. Alexander shouldn't lose all hope however, because Bradley and Porter are short volume punchers who can work inside. Amir Khan, who faces Alexander Saturday night, is the same height as Alexander, and will try and beat him at his own game.
This strategy has wo rked for Khan before. He ripped Paulie Malignaggi, a fast, skillful boxer, apart in their 2010 fight, scoring an eleventh round TKO. A year later he overwhelmed Zab Judah with his superior speed, nearly shutting him out before knocking him out with a fifth round body shot.
Khan, Bolton, UK, will win the fight by unanimous decision. He struggles with heavy hitters and inside fighters and Devon Alexander is neither. Khan is faster than Alexander, and a bigger puncher (Alexander has had almost no success stopping elite level opponents). Since Shawn Porter and Lucas Matthysse, two heavier punchers, could not knockout Alexander, so a stoppage is unlikely. A few years ago this would have been a more interesting fight. Then trained by Freddie Roach, a offensive-minded trainer, Khan, 29-3(19), could have added the tools to dissect Alexander's defense. Now with Virgil Hunter, Khan seems more content to stick his jab, maintain distance, and hold on the inside. With nearly equal skills and superior physical ability Khan should win handily.
The first rounds will be won by Khan through sheer activity. This will also be a period of study, since both will try and gauge the other's speed. By the middle rounds, Alexander, 26-2 (14), will find himself getting hit with shots that he doesn't see coming. This will throw off his game plan and put a shocked, confused look on his face. Khan, anxious to end the fight impressively, will fire five and six punch combinations from all angles. The fleeing Alexander will remind viewers of Chris Algieri fleeing Manny Pacqiuao's onslaught last November. A sturdy fighter, Alexander will recover and finally regain his rhythm, even landing a few flush shots heading into the championship rounds. Seeing his fighter buckle a bit, Hunter will advise Khan to play it safe. As a result, the rest of the fight should prove a snoozer, with Alexander lacking the power to create a comeback, and Khan coasting with his jab knowing he has the victory locked up.
This strategy has wo rked for Khan before. He ripped Paulie Malignaggi, a fast, skillful boxer, apart in their 2010 fight, scoring an eleventh round TKO. A year later he overwhelmed Zab Judah with his superior speed, nearly shutting him out before knocking him out with a fifth round body shot.
Khan, Bolton, UK, will win the fight by unanimous decision. He struggles with heavy hitters and inside fighters and Devon Alexander is neither. Khan is faster than Alexander, and a bigger puncher (Alexander has had almost no success stopping elite level opponents). Since Shawn Porter and Lucas Matthysse, two heavier punchers, could not knockout Alexander, so a stoppage is unlikely. A few years ago this would have been a more interesting fight. Then trained by Freddie Roach, a offensive-minded trainer, Khan, 29-3(19), could have added the tools to dissect Alexander's defense. Now with Virgil Hunter, Khan seems more content to stick his jab, maintain distance, and hold on the inside. With nearly equal skills and superior physical ability Khan should win handily.
The first rounds will be won by Khan through sheer activity. This will also be a period of study, since both will try and gauge the other's speed. By the middle rounds, Alexander, 26-2 (14), will find himself getting hit with shots that he doesn't see coming. This will throw off his game plan and put a shocked, confused look on his face. Khan, anxious to end the fight impressively, will fire five and six punch combinations from all angles. The fleeing Alexander will remind viewers of Chris Algieri fleeing Manny Pacqiuao's onslaught last November. A sturdy fighter, Alexander will recover and finally regain his rhythm, even landing a few flush shots heading into the championship rounds. Seeing his fighter buckle a bit, Hunter will advise Khan to play it safe. As a result, the rest of the fight should prove a snoozer, with Alexander lacking the power to create a comeback, and Khan coasting with his jab knowing he has the victory locked up.