Timothy Bradley has vowed to bring the smile back to boxing’s 140lbs division when he takes on Devon Alexander on January 29.
The mega-fight at 140llbs that everyone is calling for – Manny Pacquiao against Floyd Mayweather – is unlikely to happen with Pacquiao set to face Sugar Shane Mosley in May and Mayweather due in court this month.
But a clash between 23-year-old WBO light-welterweight champion Bradley (26-0 11KOs) and Alexander, 23, (21-0 13KOs) – 3-0 with two knockouts in world title fights – is a mouth-watering prospect.
“I do think the state of boxing right now is at a low,” said Bradley, who beat Yorkshireman Junior Witter back in 2008. “But having great fights like this in the 140 division, I think it’s going to bring it back.
“We are the most talented division in boxing and we are going to bring it back just like the old days. If it’s an awesome fight like I think it’s going to be we are going to do it again for the boxing fans and for the world.
“This is the best fight in boxing because you are not going to see Manny and Floyd fight any time soon.
“This is the biggest fight of my career and I’m ready to seal the deal. I am going to seize the moment.
“It may be the biggest opportunity I may ever get in my whole entire life and I definitely want to be victorious in this fight.
“This is a huge fight. I don’t know on what scale everyone else out there sees this fight but this is the biggest fight of my career and Devon’s career. It shows what type of fighters we are.
“We are young and both in our prime and you rarely ever see two undefeated guys – two world champions – Americans, fight each other. You rarely see that and it’s come down to this. I am seeded No 1 and he has to prove to the world that he is better than I am.
“That’s going to be a hell of a challenge. I am fired up, I’m ready and I’m hungry to show the world that I am the best 140-pounder out there. This division is loaded and I feel I am the best and I’ve got to prove it on January 29.”
Alexander, the current WBC and former IBF light-welterweight champion, halted Witter in 2009 and is fiercely proud of his unbeaten record.
“My zero means a lot. It means that I have a perfect record and I have been victorious every time,” he said.
“I want it to be like my name says – Alexander “The Great” warrior, he was undefeated like the record says. Right now they cannot call me a hall-of-famer because I have not done enough yet, but no one has beaten me.
“It is my time now and I’m going to seize the moment. Most 23-year-olds don’t get the opportunity to unify titles – this will be my third time.
“I am seeking greatness and why not do it early. Not when I’m 27, 28 or 29, why not do it now? There is no pressure. The hard work is in the gym. I am doing the hard work right now. I have been bred to do this.
“This is the moment I have been waiting for. I don’t let myself get all hyped. I don’t let my emotions get involved. I show my emotions in the ring so I don’t need to do it outside the ring.”
