By Jhonny Gonzalez
On the 25th of this month, Marcos Maidana (31-2-0, 28 KOs) will move up to the welterweight division to face Devon Alexander (22-1-0, 13 KOs), who also makes his first appearance at 147. Maidana is training very hard in Puerto Rico and views Alexander as the toughest task that he's ever faced in the ring, because of the new weight and the speed of his opponent.
"This seems to be the toughest fight of my career, but I'm going to come in there all or nothing. I like going to war, it's what I choose to do [in the ring]. I feel stronger [at 147], I lost none of my explosiveness. The sparring partners tell me that they feel my power in sparring. I'm going to put pressure on him. I'm going to corner him, not let him get any air and not allow him to run. It will be my toughest fight, because he is left-handed, and skilled and faster than me," Maidana said.
Maidana wants to avoid the past mistake of his countryman, Lucas Matthysse, who had Alexander in trouble but failed to finish him off and then lost a close decision.
"I do not want to go out in the manner of Lucas Matthysse. I'm all or nothing. I'm going to his backyard, so I have to knock him out," Maidana said.
