Alexander inks contract with Golden Boy; move to be announced Saturday

LAS VEGAS -- RingTV.com has learned that former WBC/IBF junior welterweight titleholder Devon Alexander and his trainer Kevin Cunningham have signed a deal with Golden Boy Promotions CEO Richard Schaefer, a move that will be announced at an 11 a.m. press conference on Saturday at the MGM Grand.

Alexander and Cunningham are in attendance at the MGM Grand for Saturday night's HBO Pay Per View televised clash between unbeaten Floyd Mayweather Jr. (41-0, 25 KOs) and WBC welterweight beltholder Victor Ortiz (29-2-2, 22 KOs).

The 24-year-old southpaw Alexander (22-1, 13 KOs), of St. Louis, Mo., had been promoted by Don King, but their contract is expired. Alexander now plans to rise into the welterweight ranks.

Alexander believes that he could have increased opportunities with Golden Boy Promotions, which also handles Ortiz, Mayweather and WBA and IBF junior welterweight beltholder Amir Khan (26-1, 18 KOs) of England, who has a scheduled bout opposite Lamont Peterson (29-1-1, 15 KOs) on Dec. 10.

Khan also has said that he will soon move up to welterweight.

Another possible opponent for Alexander is former IBF junior welterweight titleholder Paulie Malignaggi (29-4, 6 KOs), who debuted at No. 2 in the WBC's welterweight rankings behind Mayweather, and currently is rated ninth.

Also promoted by Golden Boy Promotions, the 30-year-old Malignaggi, of Brooklyn, has won two straight welterweight bouts, a sixth-round knockout of Michael Lozada in December and 10-round unanimous decision over Jose Miguel Cotto in April.

Malignaggi will next face 30-year-old Orlando Lora (28-1-1, 19 KOs) Oct. 15 on the undercard of an HBO Pay Per View main event featuring RING and WBC light heavyweight titleholder Bernard Hopkins (52-5-2, 32 KOs) and Chad Dawson (30-1, 17 KOs).

A popular attraction in his native St. Louis, Alexander's bouts routinely pack local arenas.

In January, Alexander lost his WBC belt by 11th-round technical decision to WBO and WBC titlist Tim Bradley (27-0, 11 KOs). Alexander bounced back with last month's narrow 10-round decision win over hard-hitting Lucas Matthysse (28-2, 26 KOs).

Lem Satterfield can be reached at lem.satterfield@gmail.com