Devon Alexander Outlasts Kotelnik, Eyes Bradley Clash
By Jake Donovan
With a super fight against Tim Bradley waiting in the wings, undefeated Devon Alexander survived the toughest test of his career, overcoming a cut and the determination of former titlist Andriy Kotelnik to take a unanimous decision in their 12-round bout Saturday evening at the Scottrade Center in St. Louis.
Both fighters came in below the junior welterweight limit. The defending unified junior welterweight titlist Alexander weighed 138¾ lb, while Kotelnik – a silver medalist in the 2000 Summer Olympics and a former junior welterweight titlist – was slightly heavier at 139½ lb.
Alexander consistently beat Kotelnik to the punch in the early rounds, doubling and tripling up on his jab and following up with laser-like left hands from the southpaw stance. Kotelnik was content with following around the quicker Alexander, but enjoyed momentary success with a flurry midway through the second round.
Kotelnik truly made his presence felt for the first time in the fight late in the third round with a flush counter right hand that caught the attention of Alexander, who otherwise won the round but was there to be hit. The lack of mobility did not sit well with lifelong trainer Kevin Cunningham, who demanded that his charge stop fighting “straight up and down,” and start putting his jab and quickness to better use.
The advice was well-followed in the fourth, as Alexander fought like the polished boxer all of the pre-fight reports have suggested. Though enjoying a big round, an accidental headbutt left the 23-year old with a considerable gash above his right eye.
As the fight progressed into the middle rounds, Kotelnik was able to demonstrate his superior counterpunching skills. With Alexander working almost exclusively behind the jab, Kotelnik positioned himself to slip the punchers, allowing him to counter – and at time lead – with straight right hands that found its mark enough times to discourage Alexander’s corner.
Alexander regained control in the seventh, throwing in combination and finding a way to maintain his rhythm. Kotelnik changed that in the eighth round, forcing Alexander to stand and trade far more than he expected, although the crowd of more than 9,000 faithful St. Lunatics loved every minute of it.
Naturally, Alexander caught an earful in between rounds from Cunningham, demanding to his fighter to not get caught up in Kotelnik’s fight. Alexander responded with jabbing and movement throughout much of the ninth round. Kotelnik knew what was coming and was able to play defense, but the stick-and-move approach prevented the Ukrainian from applying the type of pressure necessary to take control, as well as rounds.
That changed as the fight entered the championship rounds, where Kotelnik looked far more relaxed while Alexander fought like a guy more concerned with impressing his hometown fans rather than sticking with what works best. Kotelnik was able to turn a boxing match into a fight, landing enough to re-open the cut over Alexander’s eye.
After catching an earful from his head trainer, Alexander came out for the final round with the intention of boxing and moving. It worked for the first minute or so, before Kotelnik closed the gap and was again successful in forcing the hometown kid to stand and trade inside the pocket. The two fighters stood toe-to-toe and exchanged until the final bell, drawing a standing ovation from the crowd at the end of the fight.
The crowd was given further reason to cheer once the scorecards were read, with all three judges scoring the bout 116-112 in favor of Alexander, who improves to 21-0 (13KO).
Kotelnik loses his second straight as he falls to 31-4-1 (13KO).
It wasn’t his most impressive win of his career, but one where he answered questions as to whether or not he could dig deep if the situation called for it. To his credit, Alexander didn’t sugar coat things when it came to self-evaluation.
“It was an OK performance. I’m my own worst critic,” Alexander admitted afterward. “(Kotelnik) is a tough fighter, an ex-champion. He came ready. He knew he had to win, because he tasted defeat before. He fought hard because he knew I’d come in shape.”
The fight was Alexander’s first as a headliner in his hometown, and downplayed the angle that the tougher-than-expected night of work had anything to do with the pressure of putting on a show.
“Not at all,” dismissed Alexander. “I love St. Louis, and wanted to give them a great fight to show I appreciate their support.”
He also has the support of the media and cable giant HBO. Between the two entities comes high demand for a showdown with another undefeated junior welterweight titlist, a fight Alexander has been pursuing from the moment he became a player in the division.
“I want (Tim) Bradley next,” Alexander immediately responded when asked who he’d like to next face, even going so far as to hold up a ‘Bradley U Next’ T-shirt. “He keeps talking that he’s the best in the division. I want him next, and then whoever else keeps coming after that.”
CLOUD SURVIVES TOUGH TEST AGAINST JOHNSON IN CO-FEATURE
It wasn’t quite the Fight of the Year that everyone expected, nor was a new star born in the light heavyweight division. But when all was said and done, undefeated light heavyweight Tavoris Cloud did enough to turn away the challenge of former lineal champ Glen Johnson.
Cloud jumped out to a quick start, but seemed to struggle with prosperity for much of the evening. Every big round he enjoyed was followed up by a round where he’d allow himself to get outworked by the veteran 13 years his senior.
It happened in the middle of the fight, when Cloud had Johnson badly hurt in the fifth round, but failed to properly follow up in the sixth. As the fight wore on, Johnson figured out that by staying busy, he would cause Cloud to nearly cease punching altogether.
Johnson remained in good spirits throughout the fight, giving a good account of himself in the process. Whether he was taking the lead or on the receiving end of a barrage, Johnson endeared himself to the crowd, smiling and waving his fist in celebration after nearly every round.
His care-free attitude towards the fight was in stark contrast to Cloud, who remained all business, to the point of tensing up at times. Veteran trainer Al Bonanni sensed this, and encouraged his fighter to pick up the pace down the stretch and not allow the old veteran to find ways to steal the fight on the cards.
Cloud obliged and dug deep when it mattered most. The Tallahassee (FL) native let his hands go late in the fight to preserve the well-earned victory, even if the final scores were a little wider than expected.
All three judges were in agreement, scoring the bout 116-112 in favor of Cloud, who improves to 21-0 (18KO). The bout was his first in nearly a year, where he was last seen winning a vacant light heavyweight belt against Clinton Woods last August. Managerial and promotional issues have all but crippled his career, but Cloud believes that he is back on the right track after having signed with Don King earlier this year.
The hope is that Cloud will be matched up with Chad Dawson, another young and undefeated light heavyweight, and arguably the best fighter in the division. Before that fight happens, Dawson will have to get past Jean Pascal next weekend, a tall order considering the fight takes place in Pascal’s promotional backyard of Montreal, Canada
Cloud figures to be involved one way or another no matter who wins next weekend. The same cannot be said for Johnson, who – in falling to 50-14-2 (34KO) – may have seen his last fight at the top level
Both bouts aired live on HBO’s Boxing After Dark.
