By Ryan Burton
BoxingScene.com spoke to Kevin Cunningham, manager/trainer of WBC/IBF junior welterweight champion Devon Alexander. When asked to assess Alexander's performance against Andriy Kotelnik from last Saturday, Cunningham had this to say - "it wasn't Devon's best performance. Athletes have nights where they are on and nights where they are off and Devon definitely had an off night."
Going into the fight, few people gave Kotelnik much of a chance to win the fight
even though he is the only man to beat Marcos Maidana.
"I was telling people all along that Kotelnik was a great fighter. You don't win a silver medal in the Olympics and become a world champion without being good." Cunningham had been trying to secure Maidana and Tim Bradley among others before reaching an agreement to fight Kotelnik. "We tried to get Bradley, Maidana and Khan. Kotelnik was the only guy that would fight us. He is one of the top guys in the division."
When asked if Alexander's off performance could be attributed to looking ahead to a January date with Bradley, Cunningham quickly brushed aside that notion. He felt it was more the fact that this was Devon's first big fight that he was headlining in his hometown of St. Louis.
"Devon stepped off the airplane and 350 fans were there waiting for him. Then he had more at city hall. He visited the Rams plus the Cardinal game. I think all the festivities of the week drained him emotionally. He was able to get through it and he will be a better fighter for it."
Cunningham continued "he also had the Fox film crew with him in d here at home filming Greatway to Greatness. It basically was his first 24/7. True champions find a way to win and Devon found a way."
Cunningham has his sights set on a January 29th unification fight with Tim Bradley. He thinks Alexander's off night may actually help their cause.
"I hope after watching this fight that Tim Bradley grows some balls and fights us. That is the fight the fans want to see."
Alexander-Bradley would help HBO start off 2011 with a bang.
