Former WBC/IBF junior welterweight titleholder Devon Alexander challenges knockout artist and current IBF welterweight beltholder Randall Bailey on Saturday night.
Bob Arum said Julio Cesar Chavez could fight Brian Vera next, and eventually, Andre Ward.
Experts: Can Alexander overcome KO King Bailey?
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BROOKLYN -- The trash-talking will end and the fists will begin flying when former IBF and WBC junior welterweight titleholder Devon Alexander challenges IBF welterweight beltholder Randall Bailey on Saturday night at Barclays Center. Bailey (43-7, 37 knockouts) is coming off a come-from-behind 11th-round knockout of Philadelphia's Mike Jones on the undercard of Tim Bradley vs. Manny Pacquiao in June, and has vowed to use his well-known KO power to deliver an "ass whooping" upon Alexander. Alexander (23-1, 13 KOs), meanwhile, is coming off consecutive wins over hard-hitting Argentine countrymen Lucas Matthysse and Marcos Maidana by split- and unanimous decision, respectively, and does not believe the aging Bailey to be any better. In addition, Alexander's trainer, Kevin Cunningham, has accused Bailey, 38, of faking an injury to his back which led to a postponement of his Sept. 8 defense against Alexander. The win over Jones was Bailey's fourth straight victory, having last suffered defeat by 11th-round stoppage against Juan Urango in a failed bid to earn the IBF's junior welterweight belt in August of 2009. In his next fight in March of 2010, Urango was knocked out in the eighth round by fellow lefthander Alexander, 25, who has scoffed at Bailey's assertion that he already had taken the heart out of Urango. Will the youth and guile of Alexander triumph over the age and experience of Bailey, who calls himself, "The KO King?" RingTV.com polled several insiders for their thoughts on the fight.
Devon Alexander UD 12 Randall Bailey: Since we're making "picks," I have to give myself the best chance I can of winning.
Norm Frauenheim, www.15rounds.com
Devon Alexander UD 12 Randall Bailey: Everybody knows about Randall Bailey’s one punch-power. It makes him dangerous. But it doesn’t make him versatile, and that’s the problem for boxing’s home-run hitter.
Devon Alexander W 12 Randall Bailey: Devon Alexander looked excellent in his welterweight debut against Marcos Maidana, both in terms of physique and in technical execution.
Robert Guerrero, five-belt, three-division titlewinner
Keith Idec, The Record/BoxingScene.com
Devon Alexander UD 12 Randall Bailey: The hard-hitting Randall Bailey will be dangerous right up until the final bell, but Devon Alexander isn't Mike Jones.
Rich Marotta, KFI Radio, Los Angeles
Devon Alexander UD 12 Randall Bailey: I was thrilled by Randall Bailey's knockout of Mike Jones. He showed, once again, that no matter, the punch is the last thing to leave a fighter.
Devon Alexander W 12 Randall Bailey: Yeah, I know Randall Bailey is the bigger man and has knockout power, but Devon Alexander is superior to Mike Jones, and will not fall prey to the Bailey bomb. Alexander by points.
Devon Alexander TKO 11 Randall Bailey: Devon Alexander wins by 11th round technical knockout versus Randall Bailey. Chris Robinson, The Examiner.com/BoxingScene.com
Devon Alexander W 12 Randall Bailey: I like Devon Alexander to outbox Randall Bailey over twelve rounds. Bailey's punch is incredible, and as evidenced by his victory over Mike Jones on June 9th, he'll always be in the fight. I just feel that Alexander will be on his game and command the action.
Devon Alexander W 12 Randall Bailey: Randall Bailey beating Mike Jones was a great story, but let's not forget -- apologies to Paul Harvey -- the rest of the story. Bailey hasn't beaten many of the better fighters he's faced in the last ten-plus years.  Michael Rosenthal, Editor of THE RING
Devon Alexander UD 12 Randall Bailey: Devon Alexander is a better boxer and athlete than Randall Bailey. I wonder about Alexander's heart, though.
Randall Bailey W 12 Devon Alexander: Randall Bailey will come through once again with a very hard fought and sometimes very difficult decision over Devon Alexander.
Devon Alexander UD 12 Randall Bailey: I don't expect Devon Alexander to take too many chances, but I think his greater workrate and the youth advantage will be too much for Randall Bailey.
Devon Alexander W 12 Randall Bailey: Randall Bailey has a knockout punch capable of taking anyone out, as Mike Jones shockingly discovered in June.
By 13-1, the experts have Devon Alexander avoiding the knockout blow for a victory that will dethrone the aging Randall Bailey as the IBF's welterweight titleholder.
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Photo by Emily Harney, Fightwireimages Photo by Chris Farina, Top Rank Photo by Rich Kane, Golden Boy Promotions Photo by Naoki Fukuda Photo by Tom Hogan, Hoganphotos/Golden Boy Promotions
Lem Satterfield can be reached at lemuel.satterfield@gmail.com |