By Ryan Burton

 

Devon Alexander's trainer/manager Kevin Cunningham reached out to BoxingScene.com to comment on statements made by Amir Khan in a story by Mark Vester that ran on BoxingScene.  Khan had said that we wanted to fight Marcos Maidana and that Tim Bradley and Devon Alexander should fight.  Khan suggested a four man tournament that would prove who the best junior welterweight in the world is.

 

BoxingScene.com:  Give us your thoughts on the Khan story we ran.

 

Kevin Cunningham:  Basically we are in full agreement with Amir Khan.  As you know we love the idea.  We have been talking about the idea of the top four in the hottest division in boxing fighting each other for a while.  We would sign on immediately. 

 

BoxingScene.com:  It looks like Tim Bradley moving up to welterweight to fight Carlos Abregu is pretty much a done deal.  Would you want to start the tournament right after your August 7th fight?

 

Kevin Cunningham:  Yeah.  If Bradley takes care of business in July and Devon takes care of business in August, Team Alexander definitely agrees with Amir Khan.  The top four guys should sign up for a four man showdown.  We would agree to fight Bradley and then the winner of Khan-Maidana or Khan-Marquez.

 

BoxingScene.com:  Do you agree with the way Khan wants it to be seeded?  Khan versus Maidana and Alexander versus Bradley?

 

Kevin Cunningham:  However they want to put it together we will take it.  We just want to fight the best guys out there.  Personally my opinion is once Devon and Bradley fight you will know who the best junior welterweight in the world is.  That will produce the best junior welterweight in the world.  It doesn't matter how you seed it.  I think Devon and Tim are the two best.  After that you will have the top guy.  We would love to fight Bradley and then if Khan beats Maidana or Marquez, who ever he fights, we would love to fight Khan.  This four man tournament will create a lot of excitement in boxing.

 

BoxingScene.com: Do you think they should have the first round of the fights within a week or two of each other to generate more buzz for the championship fight?

 

Kevin Cunningham:  Yes.  If they don't do a huge doubleheader I think they should be back to back.  One week and then the next week the next two guys. 

 

BoxingScene.com:  If it gets down to Alexander-Khan I know you would prefer to have the fight in the U.S. but would you guys be willing to go to the U.K. for the fight?

 

Kevin Cunningham:  No.  We don't need to go overseas.  That fight should be in the United States.  The United States is where stars are born. 

 

BoxingScene.com:  Do you think the final fight should be in a neutral venue such as Las Vegas?

 

Kevin Cunningham:  Yes, definitely.  It could be in Vegas or Madison Square Garden in New York.  Those are the most logical spots.

 

BoxingScene.com:  You must have been happy to see Khan said basically what you and Devon have been saying for months.

 

Keving Cunningham:  Yes I am.   I see Amir Khan is anxious.  It seems like he is really excited about doing a four man showdown with the top four in the division.  It is something that Team Alexander has always expressed interest in.  Once Devon takes care of business in August we will sign the contract that night for a four man showdown.  We will sign a contract for Tim Bradley and then the winner between Khan and Maidana.   We will sign for the four man showdown that night.  Now what excuses are Team Bradley going to come up with to not participate in the tournament?  As you know as well as I know ,they (Team Bradley) have a million excuses on why they want to stay away from Devon and what not.  If you want to claim the number one spot you have to participate in a showdown such as this.  Another thing I want to say is this, I think that by having the top four guys fight other, the guy that comes out of this has to be in the Pacquiao Mayweather discussion.  So my question is why wouldn't you want to participate in something like this?

 

BoxingScene.com:  Closing thoughts?

 

Kevin Cunningham:  I just want to let the fans know that Team Alexander is 100% on board with this idea.  We have talked about a tournament for a while now.  Khan is on board with it.  I hope Bradley gets on board with it.

 

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