Floyd Mayweather Jr. is a fighter who is always going to generate a certain amount of interest and in the past weeks the Grand Rapids pugilist has caused much speculation through his rekindled friendship with promoter Don King. Seeing the two men together near King?s South Florida confines, flaunting money and obviously enjoying each other other?s company, really makes you wonder if they are soon going to be working together on a much more professional level.
It was reported that King had offered to have Mayweather come to the Savvis Center in St. Louis, Missouri this weekend as a special ringside guest for the HBO-televised doubleheader headlined by Jr. Welterweight champion Devon Alexander vs. Andriy Kotelnik. Seeing how cozy King and Mayweather have become, it is very likely that Mayweather will take him up on that offer and that he will be gracing the HBO airwaves yet again, only this time as a spectator.
Mayweather will always bring a certain amount of flare to the game but nothing should take away the fact that this is still Alexander?s time to shine. While Mayweather draws attention for his braggadocios nature it is a fighter like Alexander who serves as the ying to his yang due to his modest nature and low key persona. But make no mistake about it, the 23-year old can fight and will be looking to showcase his progression against the very capable Kotelnik tonight.
Alexander’s tanning camp for this particular fight took place out in Las Vegas, Nevada as he and trainer Kevin Cunningham brought their cohesiveness to Barry?s Boxing on the East side of town. Asked how it was being away from home and preparing himself for another world title fight, Alexander seems appreciative.
?First of all it is a different atmosphere,? the IBF and WBC champion said of Las Vegas. ?You are away from distractions. You are away from all of that. The air is thinner up here than in St. Louis. By the time I get to St. Louis I am going to be ready. I?m going to throw a million punches in [this] fight.?
Kotelnik is a former champion in his own right with a 31-3-1 record with 13 stoppages. He has only lost to quality opposition, his losses being to Junior Witter, Souleymane M?baye, and most recently to WBA champion Amir Khan. And for as much buzz as interim kingpin Marcos Maidana has gotten these days due to his power punching, frenetic style, it should be noted that the Argentinean?s only loss came via split decision to Kotelnik in February of last year. Alexander insists he is fully focused on his Ukranian foe.
?Definitely,? Alexander confirmed. ?I remember a long time ago when I lost my first amateur fight. I took the dude for granted. I learned to not take anybody for granted. I thought the dude was weak and I lost my first fight but that?s what kept me grounded and that told me never to take anybody for granted. Kotelnik is a solid fighter and he?s going to come to fight but I am going to be ready.?
If Alexander is to get past Kotelnik this weekend he may very well be in line for a huge clash in early 2011, as their have been rumors of HBO pushing for a showdown with fellow undefeated champion Timothy Bradley in January. Asked for his take on the matter Alexander insists he is open to simply facing the best fighters in the world.
?All the big names at 140,? Alexander said when eyeing his future. ?Bradley, that?s my first victim. He stopped me from becoming a well known name around the world. We?re going to go after him next and after that the sky is the limit. Amir Khan is a solid fighter but I don?t see anything special about him. He has a good jab, he?s long but he showed a lot of flaws from what I saw when he fought [Paulie] Malignaggi. He?s no threat and I saw a lot of flaws in him. I?ll take him down when I get to him.?
In just mere hours Devon Alexander will have his chance to again impress the boxing world, just as he did in his last fight when he iced power-punching Juan Urango after connecting with a pair of right uppercuts. With the boxing landscape seeming somewhat barren, especially after the latest fallout between Mayweather and Manny Pacquiao in efforts to make their November 13th clash a reality, this is the perfect time for Alexander to step up his game.
Despite constantly praising himself, Floyd Mayweather has often seemed to have an appreciative eye for talent when he sees it and has spoken highly of Alexander in the past. While a fighter like Floyd seems to love the spotlight and everything that comes with it, Alexander seems to have a much more blue-collar approach and notes that first and foremost boxing is a job and he must take care of the business at hand.
?I?m grateful but when it?s all said and done it?s still a 9 to 5 to tell you the truth. Because this is my living and this is how I make my living. It?s still a 9 to 5 to me.?
