St Louis is a Sporting town they have three major franchises The Blues, The Rams & The Cardinals with the later being very successful. Second only to the Yankees in terms of World series they have won. If Devon “The Great” Alexander 21-0(13) wins his upcoming unification with Tim Bradley on 29 January they could well have a new franchise. Alexander 23, is one of the City’s big success stories already having won the WBC & IBF 140 titles. Earlier this year he was awarded the key to the City for his hard work and what he has achieved. He regularly gives back to the community and is trying to help the less privileged in his hometown which was voted the most dangerous in America in 2010. It was that crime that saw his talented older brother end up in prison, to Alexander’s credit he has steered clear of that and will hope that he can kick of his 2011 with a win against Bradley and prove that he’s one of the most dangerous fighters in the world.
Hello Devon, welcome to 15rounds.com
Anson Wainwright – You have a huge unification fight with Tim Bradley coming up in early 2011. What are your thoughts on that fight?
Devon Alexander – It’s a big fight that everybody wanted to see, it’s what HBO want to see. It’s a big fight. It’s a very good thing (That the fight is happening)
Anson Wainwright – What do you think are Bradley’s strong points?
Devon Alexander – He’s going to come in shape, in extreme shape. He’s coming in for 12 rounds. That’s the only thing I see Bradley has and that’s his strong suit. So I better be in shape, I better be in shape to do 15rounds.
Anson Wainwright – What about weak points?
Devon Alexander – He butts with his head and I may be able to capitalize on that. He swings wild, real wild, so I’ll see everything he throws. So he’ll be pretty much open to anything I throw.
Anson Wainwright – Can you tell us about your team, who is your manager, trainer & promoter? Also what gym do you train at? What is your walk around weight between fights?
Devon Alexander – My promoter is Don King and my trainer & manager is Kevin Cunningham. I train at Barry’s gym in Vegas and in St Louis at Marquette Center. It depends, I don’t get any higher than 155.
Anson Wainwright – Working with Don King is sure to be very entertaining, can you tell us one of the funny stories that has happened with you?
Devon Alexander – There are a lot but none spring to mind. But he’s always cracking jokes, you have to get to know him to see what he’s about. A lot of people got there own judgments on him.
Anson Wainwright – Can you tell us how life was for you growing up a boy in St Louis?
Devon Alexander – It was pretty rough. You had to stay focused be in the house on time. You’d hear gunshots and fighting when i was growing up.
Anson Wainwright – Can you tell us how you first became interested in Boxing and then took it up?
Devon Alexander – Well my coach opened a gym at Higher Park which was an Old Police Station and when I was going to school my coach was a security guard over there. He was starting a gym. My brother went and he brought me and I’ve been with Kevin Cunningham ever since.
Anson Wainwright – You had an impressive amateur career, can you tell us some of the tournaments & titles you won? Also what guys in the pro’s did you fight back then? What was your final record?
Devon Alexander – I won 4 National Silver gloves titles, I won the PAL two times, Ringside, I won the US Championships. I fought over sea’s. I won the Sweden Cup and the Hungary Cup. Numerous one’s, Under 19 tournaments. So it was a lot. I fought Rock Allen, but must of the guys i fought pretty much aint doing anything in the pro game. My brother fought Timothy Bradley and lost 4-6 I think. I was 300-12 something like that.
Anson Wainwright – The Light Welterweight division is talent packed with many impressive fighters what are your thoughts on Khan-Maidana, Judah-Matthysse & Ortiz-Peterson?
Devon Alexander – They were good fights. HBO really kicked the 140 division off. The best fight the best. Aint no getting around it. They really started it off. Now people got to put up or shut up.
Anson Wainwright – Were you impressive with Amir Khan?
Devon Alexander – Mmm no, he did what I thought he had to do. Nothing special, that I saw that he did. Anybody can box Maidana, anybody can move on him and out slick him. He did what he had to do to get the victory. It was a good fight, so I take nothing away from him.
Anson Wainwright – Your elder brother Vaughn was also a very talented boxer some people even said that he was the more talented of the two of you? Can you tell us about Vaughn and how he’s doing in Prison?
Devon Alexander – When he was growing up he was hanging out with the wrong crowd. He got into some trouble trying to rob some people and you saw the result of it, now he’s sitting in prison. He’s ok, I hate to see him in there though, the things he’s going through cos I know that’s not what he’s used to. But he’s got to do what he’s got to do. Now days he’s coping with it, doing what he has to do to survive while he’s in there.
Anson Wainwright – Do you see him often? What’s his situation with regards how long he’s in there for etc?
Devon Alexander – Before I went to camp I went to see him. He goes for parole in 2012, he’ll be ok. He’ll make it back and show the world that he is a champion too. It wont be to late for him, we’ll have to see. He’ll be 26/27 when he reaches parole.
Anson Wainwright – You were awarded the Key to St Louis, that is obviously a huge honor can you tell us about what it & what it meant to you?
Devon Alexander – It was after the Urango fight that they gave me the key to the City. It was the most amazing feeling in the world. From a kid brought up in the rough, rough parts of North St Louis. It’s just amazing. For the mayor to look at me and think i deserve the key to the City, for them to do it is an honour. Not anybody can get the key to the City but I did. It was a great feeling.
Anson Wainwright – Earlier in your career you were probably fighting in Cory Spinks shadow, now your very much the premier fighter from St Louis and there franchise fighter. What can you tell us about this?
Devon Alexander – With Cory, when I was coming up I just waited my time. I was on the undercards of Cory Spinks, moving along like a snail and waiting my turn and know I’m the big draw in St Louis. It feels good, I think I’m handling it well. I’m still staying focused. A lot of people know me in St Louis and around the world. I’m getting the opportunity’s, there’s a lot of guys who box that don’t ever get the opportunities I have had.
Anson Wainwright – What sort of duty’s go with this responsibility? Can you tell us some of the things you do? Cancun for the WBC Convention.
Devon Alexander – Before my last fight with Kotelnik we had a thing down at City Hall and I gave away $10,000 to the St Louis Boxing program. I just help in anyway I can. I definitely want to give back because I was one of the one’s that got helped and was fortunate to get help. I just want to show god I am appreciative and am going to do right by everything.
Anson Wainwright – A couple of months back you were in Cancun for the WBC Convention. Can you tell us about that?
Devon Alexander – It’s a big thing the WBC convention. That’s huge. I think that’s the best belt in the world. I think everybody wants to be WBC champ. It’s an honor for them to know me and recognize me. Some of the greatest fighters of all time were at the convention so for me to stand there with people that control and made the WBC is awesome.
Anson Wainwright – Growing up who were your favorite fighters and why? Who do you admire today?
Devon Alexander – I didn’t have a favorite fighter. I liked them all. I just watched the fights. Nowadays the fights I do watch are the people on top of the game. I take a bit from them and implement it in my game, try to make my game better.
Anson Wainwright – You have a pretty neat party piece with your bicep. Can you tell us about this?
Devon Alexander – Haha well I don’t know, that’s something I’ve been doing since I started fighting. I guess it comes from push ups but it’s an un ordinary looking muscle. They said that looks like an egg or rock or something. It’s been since like that since I was young.
Anson Wainwright – Finally do you have a message for your fans?
Devon Alexander – To my fans thanks for my support, following me, sticking by me and 29 January your going to see “The Great” victorious and you going to see I am number 1 in this division.
Thanks for your time Devon, keep up the good work.
Anson Wainwright
15rounds.com
HBO Boxing: Ring Life – Devon Alexander
Ring Life takes an intimate look inside the life of Devon Alexander. Alexander vs. Bradley happens Sat., Jan. 29th at 10pm ET/7pm PT on HBO
http://www.youtube.com/hbosports#p/u/1/CCL0CWerL0Q
Remaining tickets, priced from $25-$400, can be purchased at the Silverdome box office, by calling (248) 338-2500 or online at www.silverdometickets.com
Midweek Musings – Happy Birthday to Muhammad Ali who turned 69 yesterday & Bernard Hopkins who was 46 on Saturday & Roy Jones Jnr who was 42 on Sunday…Looks like Nathan Cleverly will get his title chance against Jurgen Braehmer with the working date mooted to be 19 March…With Lamont Peterson having priced himself out of a fight with Amir Khan the new favorite to get the assignment is Northern Ireland’s Paul McCloskey, he’s a very capable fighter who could give Khan trouble, though it would obviously be a huge step up from European level where he currently operates…Last week Hennessy Promotions won the rights to promote Matthew Macklin-Darren Barker, which is one of the most anticipated British fights at the moment. Originally it looked like Barker may have a warm up in February now it appears he will go straight to the fight possible around April time.
If there are any fighters you would like to hear from you can contact me on elraincoat@live.co.uk
