Unbeaten Alexander retains crowns
AMERICAN Devon Alexander retained his WBC and IBF junior welterweight titles with a unanimous 12-round decision over Andriy Kotelnik of the Ukraine in St Louis on Saturday.
The 23-year-old Alexander (21-0) won 116-112 on all three cards. He scored enough points early to withstand a late charge from 31-year-old Kotelnik (31-4-1), a former WBA super lightweight champion.
Alexander suffered a deep cut over his right eye in the 10th round but was able to keep away from Kotelnik long enough to record the decision. He hopes to face fellow title-holder Timothy Bradley (26-0) in a battle of unbeaten 63.5-kilogram fighters in January.
"I thought I did enough to win," Alexander said. "It was an OK performance. He was tough as nails, give him credit."
Alexander, a southpaw, used a stick-and-jab method to rack up points early in the fight. He was the more active fighter and held a 1,113-763 advantage in punches thrown during the 12-round affair.
"I trained for 12 rounds and got the victory," Alexander said. "That is what I came here to do."
Kotelnik, 31, opened a cut above Alexander's right eye in the fifth round. The cut opened further in the 10th, forcing Alexander to hang on down the stretch while cramping up in the final round.
"It was my first cut, but I fought through it like a world champion," Alexander said.
The 23-year-old Alexander (21-0) won 116-112 on all three cards. He scored enough points early to withstand a late charge from 31-year-old Kotelnik (31-4-1), a former WBA super lightweight champion.
Alexander suffered a deep cut over his right eye in the 10th round but was able to keep away from Kotelnik long enough to record the decision. He hopes to face fellow title-holder Timothy Bradley (26-0) in a battle of unbeaten 63.5-kilogram fighters in January.
"I thought I did enough to win," Alexander said. "It was an OK performance. He was tough as nails, give him credit."
Alexander, a southpaw, used a stick-and-jab method to rack up points early in the fight. He was the more active fighter and held a 1,113-763 advantage in punches thrown during the 12-round affair.
"I trained for 12 rounds and got the victory," Alexander said. "That is what I came here to do."
Kotelnik, 31, opened a cut above Alexander's right eye in the fifth round. The cut opened further in the 10th, forcing Alexander to hang on down the stretch while cramping up in the final round.
"It was my first cut, but I fought through it like a world champion," Alexander said.
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