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NAME
Devon Alexander || Timothy Bradley
NICKNAME
Alexander The Great || Desert Storm
AGE
23 || 27
HOMETOWN
St. Louis, Missouri. || Palm Springs, California.
STATISTICS
21 (KO 13) - 0 - 0 || 26 (KO 11) - 0 - 0
SIZE
5'7", 71" reach, 140 pounds. || 5'6", 69" reach, 140 pounds.
STANCE
Southpaw || Orthodox
ABILITY/TECHNIQUE:
Devon Alexander: Alexander is a very skilled fighter. He has great balance and uses a very fundamental approach to throwing his punches. He's not someone who relies too heavily on angles. However, his speed allows him to parry shots well and he's quick enough to avoid some of the shots that sneak in. In this particular contest, Devon also has a slight size advantage and that could also help him in the use of his very nice jab. His footwork is decent and he also has a decent amount of power, with more than half of his fights ending in stoppages. His fast hands help with his potential lack in raw power.
Timothy Bradley: Bradley has a variety of skills. He has great head movement, as well as fast hands and feet. While he isn't the most powerful puncher, he does have the ability to hurt you with shots you don't see coming, as he did with Junior Witter. He's a versatile fighter that can fight coming forward or going backwards, and has the ability to determine which will better suit him, mid-fight. His stamina is also something that allows him to keep his speed and decent power throughout the entirety of the fight. His chin is also very impressive. While he's been knocked down, he's never looked completely out of it.
WEAKNESSES:
Devon Alexander: Alexander doesn't handle a well-timed jab too effectively and seems to be open to counter shots and flurries. He's also someone that cane take a little too much time to get his own shots off in general, a little passive at times. While he's never been knocked down as a professional, he fights in a style that would allow you to assume he doesn't hope to have to test his chin. (Obviously, this is every boxers goal, but it applies to some more than others.) Also, he doesn't have the most experience at the top level as a professional.
Timothy Bradley: Bradley does have a great chin, but that chin can be dented. He was dropped twice against Kendall Holt. While the first knockout was simply a brilliant shot that hit him perfectly, the second was simply a shot he couldn't completely handle. He's also open for an uppercut occasionally, and Devon has a nice one. He's a fighter that can get off to a fast start, but he can pay for it in the early rounds, like with the aforementioned Holt.
OPPOSITION/CHAMPIONSHIPS:
Devon Alexander: In terms of alphabet championships, Alexander has already unified a couple straps in a relatively short professional career. In doing so, he had to beat Junior Witter and Juan Urango, respectively. He then defended both of those championships in a controversial bout with Andriy Kotelnik. A bout many felt that he might have lost. However, he received a decision for his efforts and against the stated opposition has gone 3-0, with two of the bouts ending in stoppage. Still, the struggles with Kotelnik do raise some eyebrows. He's also 3-0 in championship bouts.
Timothy Bradley: Like Alexander, Bradley has yet to capture an true World championship. However, he has also won multiple ABC belts. Like Devon, he also won his first championship by defeating Witter. However, Bradley did get to Witter first and won a decision on foreign soil. Since then, he's also gone on to beat; Edner Cherry, Kendall Holt and Lamont Peterson in championship bouts. Including Witter, he's 4-0 in championship bouts, all having gone the decision. There's also the no contest against Nate Campbell that he looked to be dominating and the win up north at 147 pounds, against Luis Carlos Abregu. He's looked impressive in these wins, and has also beaten two undefeated fighters in a row in his last two bouts.
THE QUESTIONS: Who wants to remain undefeated most? How will Devon deal with someone who's also quick and has good timing? Would Bradley be able to take the uppercut that Devon landed on Urango? Can Bradley take Devon into deep water? Will Bradley box or brawl mostly? Will Alexander look to impress after the Kotelnik bout? Was the bout simply a fluke? Can Bradley handle the speed of a potentially faster opponent?
THE OUTCOME: The fight will start rather slowly. In many ways, it will be high-speed Chess. Alexander will have his moments, but Bradley will take 2 or 3 rounds out of the first fourth of the bout. Bradley will do this by stepping in and off-setting the work of Devon with a jab and some inside work. After a few rounds, Devon will pick up the pace, and Bradley will become slightly more defensive, but still landing quality shots when he catches Devon stepping forward. Towards the middle of the bout, the 7th through 9th, there will be some very close rounds, though both fighters will have their moments. Entering the most important rounds of the fight, Bradley will become more offensive, hoping to close out the bout strong. It's in these rounds that in some form or fashion, Bradley might taste the canvas. However, if he manages to regain his composure, the bout will be his to win. I predict that he will survive these moments, regardless of if he goes down and win a comfortable decision.
Winner, Timothy Bradley, 12UD.
Vote, opine, what have you.
RECORD IN THESE PREDICTIONS: 5-0
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