By CompuBox
Although Devon Alexander was already WBC super lightweight champion, the undefeated St. Louis product remained a largely unknown quantity entering his unification showdown with IBF titlist Juan Urango.
We know a lot more about him now.
The man nicknamed “The Great” used lively legs, fast hands and a wicked right uppercut to do what no professional opponent has ever done to Urango – score a knockout victory. With the eighth round stoppage, Alexander certified his elite status in one of boxing’s most talent-rich divisions.
As is the case with most boxer-puncher confrontations, the speedier Alexander built a solid numerical lead in the first five rounds. He threw and landed more punches overall in each round as he went 115 of 349 (33 percent) to Urango’s 74 of 232 (32 percent) while also piling up a 63-10 edge in landed jabs. Alexander’s piston-like jab was working overtime as he averaged 48 per round (nearly double the junior welterweight average of 24.8).
The tide turned in rounds six and seven as Urango dramatically upped his output from 46.4 over the first five rounds to 66, closing the gap in overall connects to 51-48 but establishing a 46-18 canyon in power connects.
With Urango exerting more physical and psychological pressure, Alexander responded well. He increased his own output from 70 to 79 punches per round while escalating his jab average from 48 to 54. In other words, Alexander handled adversity by doing even more of what worked in previous rounds, leading to the explosive payoff in the eighth.
Both men rose to the challenge by achieving improved accuracy over recent efforts. Alexander was 173 of 530 overall (33 percent) to Urango’s 127 of 375 (34 percent) as opposed to three-fight averages of 31.6 percent for Urango and 24 percent for Alexander. As expected, Alexander out-jabbed Urango (96 of 358, 27 percent to 12 of 74, 16 percent) and Urango led in power connects 115-77 but each landed at a high rate (38 percent for Urango, 45 percent for Alexander).
The PunchZone stats revealed Alexander’s head-oriented attack and Urango’s more balanced offense. Of Urango’s 127 connects, 77 were to the head and 50 to the body. Urango’s right hands landed most frequently as 33 struck the left side of Alexander’s head and 32 hit the ribs while Urango’s left hand produced 20 head connects and 18 body connects. The remaining 24 connects hit Alexander’s jaw. There were rumors that Urango entered the bout with an injured left elbow and this provides statistical proof that Urango’s left hand was not as productive as his right.
Alexander’s attack to Urango’s face was equally balanced as he struck the left side of Urango’s head 56 times, the right side 46 times and the chin 45 times. That trend also applied to his 26 body connects as Alexander’s right hand landed 14 times and his left connected 12 times. Neither man recorded a low blow.
Alexander couldn’t have asked for a better HBO debut, for he not only showed physical talent but also the ability to instantly turn adversity to achievement. Further unifications with WBA champ Amir Khan, interim WBA king Marcos Maidana and WBC king Timothy Bradley now rate as among the best fights that can be made.
