Boxing has needed this type of fight for years. Perhaps not since Oscar De La Hoya and Felix Trinidad met in their welterweight unification bout in 1999 has the sport featured two young unbeaten champions ready to make their push to elite fighter status.
Devon Alexander and Timothy Bradley recognize the importance of their super-lightweight unification fight Saturday night at the Silverdome in Auburn Hills, Mich. An impressive, crowd-pleasing performance could elevate the winner?s future fight dates to pay-per-view tier.
?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,? Bradley said in a recent conference call. ?We are young and both in our prime and you rarely ? ever ? see two undefeated guys, two world champions ? Americans ? fight each other.?
Their nationality further underscore the need to impress.
The sport desperately searches for breakthroughs from young U.S.-born fighters.
Floyd Mayweather Jr.?s fight dates remain on hold, pending the outcome of his legal problems.
Meanwhile, Bernard Hopkins and Shane Mosley are in the latter stages of their careers, although the same could have been said about the age-defying Hopkins five years ago.
A St. Louis native, Alexander (21-0, 13 KOs) believes he is capable of becoming a dominant American ring presence. Alexander, 23, is in his second year as World Boxing Council titleholder.
?It is my time and I?m going to seize the moment,? Alexander said. ?Most 23-year-olds don?t get the opportunity to unify titles.
?I am seeking greatness and why not do it early? Not when I?m 27, 28 or 29, why not do it now??
Bradley, of Palm Springs, Calif., intends to shatter Alexander?s aspirations.
Like Alexander, Bradley (26-0, 11 KOs) wants to become relevant when the sport transitions to a post-Mayweather, Hopkins and Mosley era.
?My biggest goal in boxing is just to be remembered,? Bradley said. ?Whether I win seven or eight world championships, that will be in the history books, and I just want to be remembered.
?That is my biggest goal. You do that by fighting the best.?
Holyfield result
Evander Holyfield wanted to prove that, despite being extremely past his prime, he still matters in the heavyweight division.
But Holyfield, 48, couldn?t validate such claims and continued to distance himself from his multiple title reigns in the 1990s during a bout against Sherman Williams late Saturday in White Sulphur Springs, W. Va.
The match ended in a no-contest when Holyfield could not continue fighting after sustaining a deep cut above his left eye during an accidental headbutt in the second round.
The bout was stopped after the third of the scheduled 10-round fight.
The fight needed to last four rounds to determine a decision.
?Stuff like this happens and I?ll shake it off,? Holyfield said. ?Hopefully, I?ll get [the eye] stitched up and it won?t be a problem. Life goes on, it?s part of boxing.?
