Welcome fight fans for our live round by round coverage of the first big boxing match of 2011 as the two best fighters in the sport’s most exciting division finally meet. In Timothy Bradley and Devon Alexander we have two unbeaten champions seeking to prove that they are the true ruler of the 140Ibs division. As the saying goes somebody’s 0 has got to go.
While the expectation is that the winner of tonight’s WBO/WBC unification clash in Michigan’s Pontiac Silverdome will have to cemennt their position at the top of the division against Britain’s WBA Champion Amir Khan in a summer clash that may not be the case. A convincing performance in what is the first all-American unification fight between two undefeated champions in twenty-four years may allow the victor to move beyond the 140Ibs division and onto a big money welterweight clash with either Floyd Mayweather or Manny Pacquiao. The stakes could not be higher for tonight’s fight.
The fighters are making their way to the ring, fight time is almost upon us.
Round One
Bradley flicking the jab out, gets a couple of body shots in. Bradley is pushing the action with Alexander happy to simply try to sneak punches in off the back foot. Alexander isn’t making enough of his reach advantage, allowing Bradley to come in and target the body. Alexander is throwing a decent number of punches but they’re hitting the arms of Bradley. Bradley explodes on Alexander against the ropes towards the end, unloading with an absolute flurry of punches. Bradley doing a really good job of imposing himself on Alexander and he takes the round 10-9.
Round Two
Alexander is looking very uncomfortable giving Bradley the time and space to put together bullying combinations to the body. Alexander is responding by trying to force the big punch, at times swinging wildly. Alexander tightens up in the second half of the round but he’s still allowing Bradley to dictate where the fight is taking place and get the better punches. Alexander does catch Bradley with a nice left hand as the WBO Champion was seeking to connect with a big right hand. Not enough to give him the round but it shows he’s still in it 20 -18.
Round Three
Bradley just looks the stronger fighter and is bulldozing his way past the long reach advantage of Alexander. There are several great exchanges at the start of the third with Bradley coming in and letting his hands fly. The final of these exchanges is a pier-six slugfest off the ropes with Alexander finally managing to respond in kind. Bradley connects with some nice overhand rights that seem to hurt Alexander. Alexander is looking very quick to hold as Bradley seeks to drag him into a brawl on the inside. Bradley connects with a big hook just as the referee calls a break. Alexander loudly complains to the referee and has an awkward cut just above his eye that is (incorrectly) called as the result of the hook. The round ends and Bradley is clearly in control. 30-27.
Round Four
Alexander is again proving far too defensive and apprehensive, backpedalling in the face of a whirlwind in Bradley. There’s a wonderful exchange as Bradley shows tremendous upper body movement to avoid punch after punch from Alexander. Bradley’s concentration does seem to dip towards the end of the round as he walks onto punches while trying to set up the big punch. Indeed despite a strong start and being the aggressor throughout Bradley needed three big right hands to secure the round. The cut above Alexander’s right eye is open again as well. 40-36
Round Five
Bradley needs to take his time and not try to force the fight. Bradley walks through Alexander’s punches to deliver a couple of his own. A couple of awkward exchanges on the inside sees Bradley get the better again although Bradley seems to be slowing down. Bradley misses with a big uppercut but connects with a nice overhand right. Bradley is missing more punches as the round goes on and isn’t doing as good a job setting up angles. Alexander is starting to hit some nice counters and is working the jab but some good combinations from Bradley towards the end is probably enough to deny the round. 50-45
Round Six
This is getting a very raggered affair with both fighters missing plenty as they try to force the action. Neither is doing a particularly good job in working angles or setting up their punches, with the round alternating between long range jab exchanges and action inside the clinch. Really difficult round to score given the lack of any telling quality but Bradley probably landed the better punches, including a thunderous right hand that almost buckled Alexander. 60-54
Round Seven
Bradley is pushing the action, gets a couple of good right hands in cleanly. Alexander responds with some nice left hands and gets good punches in on the body. And while Bradley is the one moving forward he’s movement is less dynamic or varied than in the early exchanges, making him more predictable and easier for Alexander to hit on the counter. With Bradley not connecting with any truly concussive blows Alexander’s movement and ringsmanship is probably enough for him to take the round off the back foot. 69-64
Round Eight
Bradley moves inside to work the body of Alexander but resorts to hitting and holding, showing his frustration at his inability to pin Alexander down. Alexander working his jab much better and catches Bradley off balanced. Bradley responds with a decent left hook but Alexander looks far more comfortable. They clash heads and as a result Bradley is cut. Bradley seems to have run out of ideas but does manage to put together a good combination on the ropes at the very end. Difficult round to score but overall control probably gives it to Alexander 78-74
Round Nine
Bradley has lost a lot of momentum over the past few rounds as he tries to head hunt with single shots. He lands another big right hand but agains he’s not in position to follow up with a quality combination. Alexander responds with some popping jabs but Bradley counters with some big right hands. Bradley misses with a wild right hand, spending too much time winding up the big punch. Bradley does land a couple of chopping right hands towards the end of the round. 88-83
Round Ten
Bradley connects with a left-right combination at the start of the tenth and chases Alexander the ring. They clash heads again and the doctor takes a good long look at the eye of Alexander that is now a mess. Alexander is clearly keen to have the fight go to the scorecards, putting on something of a show for the match officials. Well that’s a disappointing way for such an anticipated fight to end. I’d score the tenth a 10-10 just because I disagree with trying to score incomplete rounds. That gives me a 98-93 score. The judges call it 97-93, 96-95, 98-93 all for Timothy Bradley.
Timothy Bradley defeated Devon Alexander via unanimous points decisions (fight stopped early due to accidental headbutt)
So Alexander gambled on getting the early points decision and the gamble backfired. Alexander can have no complaints about that decision, Bradley was the aggressor throughout. Given Bradley’s history there’s going to be predictable complaints about the use of the head but I don’t see anything other than the awkwardness typical to Orthodox-Southpaw clashes. And Alexander with his reach advantage should have done a better job of keeping Bradley out of ‘butting’ range. Khan on Sky Sports is not impressed with the fight and criticizes Alexander for encouraging the doctor stoppage.
This concludes our live coverage of the night’s boxing. Make sure to stay tuned to Inside Fights for all the latest news and views from the world of boxing.
