Devon Alexander hopes to put some fun back into his career

By Norm Frauenheim-

GLENDALE, Ariz. – Devon Alexander promises speed, quickness and some new found power.

Mostly, he promises to have fun.

It’s the fun, he says, that has gone missing in the latter stages of a career that includes world titles at 140 and 147 pounds.

“I’m going to be loose, quick and with just enough power, and I’ll be that guy who boxes because he loves it,’’ said Alexander (26-3, 14 KOs), who was at 146.9 pounds Tuesday for an ESPN-televised welterweight bout against Aron Martinez on a Premier Boxing Champions card (6 p.m. PT/9 p.m. ET) at Gila River Arena.

Martinez weighed 147.1 pounds. In a bout for the IBF’s featherweight title, champion Lee Selby was 125.8 pounds and Fernando Montiel 125.6.

Alexander said he has re-discovered that love for his craft during some difficult soul-searching in the 10 months since his last bout, a spirit-crushing loss to Amir Khan.

The Martinez bout, Alexander says, represents the first step in his fight to get back into the elite mix.

“I don’t want to be remembered as a guy who should have been better,’’ Alexander said. “I believe in my skills. When they’re right, nobody can beat me.’’

But a confident Martinez (19-4-1, 4 KOs) believes he can force Alexander into another sober re-evaluation of his career. Martinez, a Mexican living and training in Los Angeles, foresees an upset of Alexander. He says he will accomplish what was denied him against Robert Guerrero. Martinez lost a debatable split decision to Guerrero in June.

“Everybody I talk to tells me I beat Robert Guerrero,’’ Martinez said. “I knocked him down. I’ve got power that people underestimate.’’

But Alexander says Martinez doesn’t have enough to beat him.

“His Plan A won’t work,’’ Alexander said. “He’ll go to Plan B and then Plan C. They won’t work either.’’