The Times is here inside the Silverdome in Pontiac, Mich., to provide live round-by-round coverage of the world title unification junior-welterweight bout between Palm Springs’ Timothy Bradley (26-0, 11 KOs) and St. Louis’ Devon Alexander (21-0, 13 KOs).
The fighters are scheduled to touch gloves at 7:20 p.m. Pacific time.
There’s much at stake in the bout, given the interest by Golden Boy Promotions to place the winner in another unification bout against England’s Amir Khan, possibly at Staples Center, in the summer.
For Bradley, the bout represents his first million-dollar check — he’s earning $1.1 million — and the opportunity to leave himself strongly positioned with another HBO fight before he becomes a free agent and the object of a lucrative bidding war.
Alexander might have grander visions against someone like Manny Pacquiao or Floyd Mayweather Jr. Victory here will give him and his Don King-led camp the right to portray him as the world’s top fighter in the sport’s richest division.
Here’s the round-by-round updates (with unofficial scoring):
Before a crowd of 6,247 at the Silverdome outside Detroit, WBO champion Bradley and WBC champion Alexander take to settling the rich argument of who stands as the most talented fighter in the loaded 140-pound division.
Round 1: Referee Frank Garza and judges Duane Ford, Omar Mintun and Tom Miller are the arbiters. The southpaw Alexander tries to jab. Bradley goes to the body. They exchange power punches. Alexander’s speed looks strong, but Bradley forces him to ropes and lands. Round to Bradley, 10-9.
Round 2: Bradley holds and lands a right. Alexander’s jab not landing. Bradley dodges it, goes to body. Nice rights to the head and body by Bradley. Bradley whiffs and stumbles. Alexander lands softly. Nice right to body by Bradley. Round to Bradley, 10-9. Bradley leads fight, 20-18.
Round 3: Bradley lands a left. Big lefts by Bradley as he charges forward. Bradley punches noticeably harder. Bradley to the body. Alexander gets in a right. Bradley clinches. Alexander poked in right eye. Action stops. Resumes. Fighters come together, best shot to Bradley with an overhand right. Round to Bradley, 10-9. Bradley leads fight, 30-27.
–Lance Pugmire
