This is the classic boxer (Devon Alexander) versus puncher (Marcos Maidana) matchup. When these two fighters meet in a little over two weeks in Alexander’s backyard of St. Louis, Missouri, expect some fireworks. .jpg)
The extent of the fireworks will be largely determined by whether Devon Alexander (22-1, 13 KO) puts on his track shoes or decides to engage in his fair share of exchanges with the hard-punching Marcos Maidana (31-2, 28 KO).
Those backing Alexander will point to his destruction (TKO8) of the similarly-rugged Juan Urango about two years ago, as a blueprint on what he will do to a face-first brawler like Maidana.
Maidana’s backers will be buoyed by the fact that their man has already stopped Victor Ortiz and took the talented boxer-puncher Amir Khan "life and death (in a loss)" two years ago.
The truth, as always, lies somewhere in between.
I have not been overly impressed with Maidana’s recent victories (over the ancient legend Erik Morales and the relatively unknown Petr Petrov). The Morales win, in particular, was troubling. Simply put, he almost lost.
Alexander, on the other hand, has looked even worse in his last two fights, including a decisive decision loss at the hands of light welterweight king Timothy Bradley and a somewhat controversial win over Lucas Matthysse (a fight which I thought he lost).
That’s the background.
Here’s my prediction: Devon Alexander will rise to the occasion and win a close decision against the powerful, yet still unrefined, Maidana.
It will not be a hometown decision, but fighting in the friendly confines of St. Louis, Missouri surely won’t hurt Alexander.
