Boxing: Alexander vs Bradley

[H2O Man]

January 29: (Detroit) Junior Welterweight Title Unification : WBC Champion Devon Alexander vs WBO Champion Timothy Bradley; HBO at 10 pm/est

The boxing community is eagerly awaiting tonight's Jr. Welterweight unification bout, between two undefeated champions. On paper, this is the best fight that could be made, excepting only a Mayweather vs Pacquiao “super fight.” This bout features two highly talented young champions, each entering their prime, in a fight so evenly matched that most experts agree either man could win.

Timothy Bradley, 27, is 26-0, with 11 knockout victories. He was relatively unknown until May of 2008, when WBO Champion Junior Witter selected him for a tune-up fight. Bradley had only fought three third-tier, and one second-tier, contenders at that point in his career. Further, although Bradley had an extremely muscular build, he was not recognized as having much of a punch. But Bradley pulled off an impressive upset victory, including decking the taller Witter with a big over-hand right cross.

Since then, Bradley has successfully defended his title five times. The first two defenses were over solid contenders Edner Cherry and Kendall Holt. Next, he was on his way to a devastating third-round knockout of Nate Campbell, until an accidental head butt caused the bout to be declared a “no contest.” In his next two defenses, Bradley decisioned Lamont Peterson (27-0), and then Luis Carlos Abregu (29-0).

Devon Alexander, 23, is 21-0, with 13 knockouts. With the exception of a January, 2008 decision over tough veteran DeMarcus Corley, Alexander was also getting experience among the third-tier contenders, when he was matched against Junior Witter. This August, 2009 fight was for the vacant WBC title. Again, the more experienced European was favored to beat the young American prospect. However, Alexander was giving Witter a serious beating, before Witter quit, claiming an injured hand. In fact, he quit because he was totally outclassed by Devon, and was going to get knocked out.

Alexander's first defense was against the dangerous puncher Juan Urango. Alexander showed he had developed a surprisingly high level of boxing skills, before he became the first person to KO Urango. For even those who love the art of body-punching, Alexander's ability to do damage to the shorter Urango was extremely impressive.

On paper, Bradley – at 5' 6” tall – is only an inch shorter than Alexander. Yet, when the two stand together, it is evident that Devon is a couple inches taller in real life than on paper. Timothy's reach is 69”, compared to Devon's 71”. And, an extremely important dynamic is that the right-handed Bradley will be facing a southpaw in Alexander.

Other than the two champions and those in their respective camps, no one is saying that either man has the clear advantage. Top trainer Manny Steward makes Alexander a slight favorite, because of his height and reach advantages on the outside. ESPN's boxing expert Teddy Atlas gives Bradley a slight edge: he believes Alexander will win the early rounds, but that Bradley's body attack will be the deciding factor late in the fight.

This is a fight that my son Darren and I have hoped for since 2009. Darren thinks highly of Bradley, but prefers Alexander; I have great respect for Alexander, but prefer Bradley. However, he predicts that Bradley will win tonight, while I think Alexander will. It really is that type of fight – something that doesn't come along that often in boxing these days.

Darren thinks that Bradley's footwork will allow him to get inside and crowd Alexander often enough to land more punches. He also points to how Bradley has surprising power in his right hand, when facing a taller opponent moving away from him. Valid points, which when added to the body attack that Teddy predicts could carry Bradley to victory.

I note that Bradley has a habit of squaring up, and then bending at the waist (rather than dipping at the knees, with his left foot in front, with both feet firmly planted). Alexander has a god jab. In fact, he is one of the few fighters today that understands why one should frequently double-up on the jab. Everything follows the jab, and what follows a double-jab wins close fights. And, while Bradley has a good body attack (and a southpaw is easier to hit with the left hook to the liver), Alexander can end a fight with body punches, too.

In theory, it is possible that a match featuring these two styles could be a defensive contest, exciting only to boxing purists. (Think of Leonard vs Benitez.) However, in these circumstances, it should be a far more exciting fight …. more like Leonard vs Hearns.

Enjoy the fight!

[templarbeat]

1. Re

I always appreciate your commentary about fights, you bring a
lot of insight and knowledge.  I'm still learning, but love
the sport.  I recorded the fight and will get to check it out
later, should be a good one.

[H2O Man]

2. Thanks.

It was an interesting fight. Not a great fight, but well worth watching.

After you watch it, let me know. Then I'll do my analysis of what happened, and why.

[templarbeat]

3. Re

I thought it was a decent fight overall, with a lot of back and forth and some exciting moments. Id give it to Bradley overall, but thought it was close like the scorecards indicated. I am pretty sure the second headbutt was accidental but to be honest, I'm not so sure about the first one. That is a shame also considering that's what opened Alexander's eye up and ultimately ended the fight prematurely. Also, I didn't know that similar events had happened with Bradley in previous fights, hope its just his style rather then deliberate. They're both very good fighters though, I came out of the fight respecting them both having only seen highlights previously. Id definitely be interested in your analysis, and was also wondering if you see any potential quality matchups in the heavyweight division in the future for either of the brothers.

[H2O Man]

4. There is really

no question that Bradley fights in a manner that greatly increases the likelihood of his head causing injury to his opponent by means of butting. In many ways, as others have noted, he has taken some of the same tactics as Evander Holyfield.

In regard to the question Jim L had regarding his intentions, we can consider Holyfield: if there was any question (let's take the Hasim Rahman fight) of if he intended to do damage by butting, a review of his two Tyson fights provides a clear answer. It wasn't just against taller opponents: Tyson was shorter, and fought out of a crouch. Tyson's claims that Evander intentionally butted him were accurate; however, his complaints were compromised by the fact that Iron Mike was himself a dirty fighter.

Bradley's important fights have all had examples of his butting the opponent. It goes beyond being shorter, or in this case, facing north against a southpaw. He uses his head as a weapon.And Alexander was aware of that going into the fight.

The butts were not the only thing that took Alexander out of his game, though. Bradley pressured him to move to his left for the majority of the time. You probably noted a few times (including during one clinch) when they contested the outside foot. Bradley wanted to be in the correct position to land his right hand, over and over.

That was just one example of Alexander's inability to adjust in the fight. It was, of course, the biggest match of his career. While he was in the ring before the pre-fight introductions, he looked a little nervous (my son said it's just his personality). Bradley looked like he was fully prepared to go to war. In between rounds, Alexander's corner was not able to guide him properlyon the adjustments he needed to make. Instead, they tried to get him to fight his "A plan." That's the difference between an average corner, and a good one. (I heard one of Bradley's guys say, "You look like you're getting tired. Don't get tired!", which was an unthinking comment.)

Alexander needed to do a couple things to adjust. First, he needed to double his jab more frequently, and bring it back high. He would drop it to near his waist too often, a terrible habit that he developed early in his career, and which his trainer has failed to correct. He could get away with it in the amateurs, and against lesser opponents. But not against a Tim Bradley, or other top level fighters.

Also, you saw Alexander did better in terms of landing punches, when he either planted his feet, or moved forward. Yet he spent more time moving away,and to the left. While it can be difficult to assess things while fighting, his corner had to see that Bradley was imposing his will while Alexander retreated.

After the fight, Bradley's trainer said that Alexander didn't land uppercuts because Tim didn't get in position to be open for them. I disagree with that: Bradley could have been hit with a left uppercut many times. But, for sake of discussion, the option of moving in the other direction -- or planting his feet -- would have allowed Alexander to land the right uppercut. It can be a dangerous punch to throw, because you leave yourself open. But two things: first, Alexander has really good hand speed; second, if he had doubled that jab, he could create the proper distance to throw the uppercut.

He needs a change in his corner. I like the guy he has, and respect what he's done for Devon. But he can't bring Alexander to the higher level he needs to reach to be the best in the division.

In regard to the heavyweights, the only option that might be a real fight now would be one of the Klitschko brothers against David Haye. At least the build-up would create interest. And I think that Haye has an outside chance of pulling off the upset, especially against Wladimir.

I had hoped that George "Monk" Foreman would have progressed well beyond where he presently is. Other than that, most of the promising young heavyweights are about 6' 2" and 220 pounds, which isn't big enough to compete with talented large men like the Klitschko brothers. A great heavyweight, including guys like Larry Holmes, would have probably beat either brother; but an average-to-good heavyweight isn't going to. I assume that both brothers will eventually retire, without having any big tests in the future.