Berto-Alexander on tap for HBO?

HBO is interested in matching newly-crowned IBF welterweight beltholder Andre Berto against southpaw former WBC/IBF junior welterweight titleholder Devon Alexander, who signed with Golden Boy Promotions on Friday night.

The 24-year-old Alexander (22-1, 13 KOs) is rising into the welterweight division, where he and the 28-year-old Berto (28-1, 22 KOs) may soon be paired for a 147-pound tournament either on HBO or Showtime, that is, if Golden Boy Promotions CEO Richard Schaefer has his way.

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

Berto is coming off of a fifth-round knockout that dethroned Jan Zaveck (31-2, 18 KOs) on Sept. 3.

Alexander and Berto have a common opponent in Juan Urango (22-3-1, 17 KOs), who lost a decision to Berto in May of 2009, and was knocked out in the eighth round by Alexander in March of last year.

Against Zaveck, Berto rebounded from a unanimous decision loss to Victor Ortiz (29-3-2, 22 KOs) that dethroned him as WBC beltholder in April. Ortiz, himself,  was dethroned after Saturday night's fourth-round knockout loss to Floyd Mayweather Jr. (42-0, 26 KOs).

A possible Berto-Ortiz rematch has been mentioned, but Alexander's camp wants Berto first.

"It was proposed to us whether or not we would consider challenging Berto for the title, and we're ready and willing," said Alexander's trainer, Kevin Cunningham. "So there is no need for Berto to try to fight Victor Ortiz next."

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