Alexander, Maidana talk about Feb 25 clash

By Clint Rosser
Photos: Bob Barton

St Louis is once again in store for another boxing treat come February 25, 2012 when Golden Boy Promotions and HBO bring home town favorite Devon Alexander “The Great” (22-1, 13 KOs) and hard hitting Marcos Maidana (31-2, 28 KOs) to St. Louis’ Scottrade Center. This card will be live on HBO starting at 10PM EST with the confirmed televised undercard being Adrian “The Problem” Broner (22-0, 18 KOs) vs. Eloy “Prince” Perez (23-0-2, 7 KOs).

It has been said that the only constant in life is change. Devon Alexander is living that axiom. A new promoter, Oscar de la Hoya’s Golden Boy Promotions (GBP), a new weight class, welterweight and renewed energy are all steps that Alexander has taken in the last 6 months.

Involved with this change is Marcos Maidana, another Golden Boy fighter. The hard-punching Argentinean and current WBA light welterweight champion, also is making the move to welterweight also after spending his entire career at 140 pounds.

The puncher versus the boxer. Call it what you want, but when you mix the two together you get excitement, suspense and for one of these fighters, hopefully, an opportunity to compete for a 147lb world title.

For Alexander the change started immediately after defeating Lucas Matthysse in June of 2011. Alexander’s trainer, Kevin Cunningham announced that cutting weight to get down to 140 pounds was also cutting muscle and sapping strength from the young former welterweight world champion. Cunningham said Alexander would begin his quest to once again hold a belt, but this time at the welterweight limit of 147 pounds.

Alexander is excited about the move to the 147 pound weight class. “My last two fights I’ve had trouble making weight, so I’m excited about moving up a weight class. I’ll be faster and stronger as you folks will see,” Alexander said during a press conference Friday. “Maidana’s a great fighter. I’m going to give him his due and he’s going to be coming in on Feb. 25 to tear my head off.”

In addition, Cunningham was asked what changes Devon would be going through with this transition to the new weight class. He stated “that Devon has implemented a new strength program and nutritionist.”

The other news coming off of the Matthysse contest was the expiration of Alexander’s contract with promoter Don King. King, who aranged fights for Alexander on his way to the WBC and IBF light welterweight world titles, was replaced by GBP and Alexander, Cunningham and Golden Boy immediately began the process to line up an opponent for the new partners to pursue. “We have all the makings of a great fight in this main event. You have to have great fighters to make a great fight and we have two of the best in the game today. When fighters move up in weight class, most of them dip their feet in the pool, but these guys are diving right in by facing each other.”, remarked Golden Boy COO, David Itskowich.

For Maidana, the fight will represent his search for new worlds to conquer. Beyond Alexander lie the big money fighters, Floyd Maywether, Manny Pacquiao, and Juan Manuel Marquez. But, in order to prove himself as worthy, he has to get by the slick, smooth Alexander.

Maidana really did not have much to say but the words he spoke were of respect and determination. “I dedicate my life to boxing. Devon is a great fighter and we are taking this fight very seriously”.

Maidana’s team was not hesitant to describe how their fighter was approaching this contest. “We are happy to be here. It’s been a long road with the cancellation of the Guerrero fight, so Marcos is very anxious to back in the ring. As usual, we will bring a war to St. Louis and, as everyone knows, Marcos always delivers!”, said Sebastian Contursi, Maidana’s advisor.

Also highlighting the card, Adrien “The Problem” Broner who will put his WBO junior lightweight title on the line against the No. 1 contender Eloy “Prince” Perez. This fight has been brewing for some time and it will pit undefeated fighters that truly act like they don’t like each other.

Broner, the more talkative of the two fighters was not shy and said “Perez is feather-fisted in a featherweight division and that’s not a good combination when I’m punching like a middleweight” and he continued by letting Perez know that , “he better come prepared because if he don’t I’m going to get in his ass like Preparation H”. Broner concluded with, “February 25 there’s going to be a ‘Problem’ and I will be victorious.”

Perez, who was somewhat subdued in his remarks, retorted, “I want to thank Adrien for giving me a shot at ‘The Problem.’ I’m excited to fight for the world title. I have one message for Adrien, I’m not a bean burrito kind of guy, I’m a lasagna kind of guy.”

Tickets are priced at $25.00, $50.00, $75.00, $125.00 and $250.00 and are on sale now.

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January 16th, 2012

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