Undefeated Former World Boxing Council Youth Welterweight Champion
Born in St. Louis, Missouri,
Height: 5’ 8 ½” – Weight: Super Lightweight (140)
Record: 13-0, 8 KOs
DEVON ALEXANDER “THE GREAT”
There is no stretching of the truth when it is said of Devon Alexander that he was a child prodigy in boxing or grew up in the sport. At age 7, Devon’s older brothers Lamar, 12, and Vaughan, 8, ventured across the street from a basketball court they were playing on in St. Louis to go inside Kevin Cunningham’s Hyde Park boxing gym. All three would go on to box professionally.
“My gym was in the basement of an old police station in Hyde Park, one of the highest crime districts in the city at that time,” Cunningham said. Serving as a police officer in St. Louis’s fifth district at the time, Cunningham would know such a things.
“It turned out to be a good thing for the Alexander brothers, Cory Spinks and all the kids in the program because it kept them off of the streets. As a boxer, I always knew Devon was special.”
Soon after the Alexander brothers had begun learning the basics of the art of pugilism, St. Louis and boxing royalty walked in the gym one day in the form of Spinks. Cory had left the sport of boxing after his beloved brother died, but Cunningham had seen him around town and kept nudging him to stop by his gym.
Kevin Cunningham, trainer and Devon Alexander
The following year, the 2-0 teenager took part in boxing history. He defeated Donovan Castaneda by unanimous decision in front of 22,370 spectators, the second-largest crowd in history to witness a boxing event in an indoor arena at Savvis Center in St. Louis. Alexander’s mentor, Cory Spinks, headlined the card opposing Zab Judah.
Alexander had been quiet—not to mention awestruck—during the media frenzy leading up to the history-making card. After his victory, he opened up a little bit.
“I did not really feel any pressure fighting in front of all these people in my hometown,” the southpaw said. “I am a tad disappointed with my performance.
“No excuses, but truth is, I had to pace myself a little and I was trying to get some air. This was my first six-round fight and I got a little tired in the fifth and sixth rounds. But I learned a lot in there. He was a strong guy and seemed way bigger than I was. But everything is cool. I know you can’t knock out everybody. Down the line, going six rounds will be a good thing for me.”
Still a senior in high school but with enough credits to graduate, Alexander was able to make arrangements at Vashon to send in his homework from Las Vegas where trained with Spinks for a month prior to the event.
“I wanted to get the ceremony,” Alexander said. “I wanted to graduate with my friends. Education is very important to me. Boxing can’t last forever. If I have an education, I can do other things.”
After running his record to 8-0, Alexander was again fighting at home with Spinks on Don King’s Gateway to Glory card at Savvis Center on July 8, 2006, featuring Cory’s successful move up to 154 pounds to dethrone then-International Boxing Federation junior middleweight champion Roman “Made in Hell” Karmazin.
Keisha and Cory Spinks
Alexander, too, moved up in competition by taking on an 8-3 fighter in Tyler Ziolkowski, who had been in the ring with some notable opponents. The pair had earned the right to vie for the World Boxing Council youth welterweight title, designed for those 23 years old and younger.
“Cory is the king of St. Louis boxing,” Cunningham, who trains and manages both Spinks and Alexander, said. “And basically Devon is the heir-apparent to Cory’s throne. He’s starting to mature into a real pro. It’s a big difference between being and amateur and a pro.”
Amateur scoring values the number of punches landed, not the damage they do. Many pitter-patter amateurs have their gloves full when they hit the pros.
“That’s why I haven’t had as many knockouts,” Alexander said (with three at the time). “I used to be all flick, flick, flick. But now I’m turning my punches over, keeping my fist balled up all the and punching harder.”
“You don’t have to baby-sit him in training,” Cunningham said. “If anything, you have to slow him down. He loves training and he loves boxing.”
Alexander also benefited from three full months spent in preparation, with Spinks, at Don King’s legendary King Training Camp in rural Ohio just outside Cleveland.
Keisha and Devon Alexander
He shocked Ziolkowski by scoring a technical knockout at just 2:40 of the first stanza.
“He knocked Ziolkowski out with a right hook,” Cunningham said of his southpaw. “That’s a good sign that the work we did in camp, focusing on slowing down and developing his power, is working. He’s sitting down on his punches more and landing power shots.
“That guy [Ziolkowski] fought Julio Cesar Chavez Jr. He’s a tough little guy.”
Alexander was pleased as well.
“My winning the WBC Youth Welterweight championship is the just the beginning. It feels good.
“My trainer and I focused on slowing down and turning over my punches so I’ll have more power. I’m still transitioning from amateur to pro but the power is coming.”
Alexander scored a fourth-round technical knockout over Maximinio Cuevas in Hard Rock Live at the Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino on Jan. 6, 2007, before making his first television appearance on SHOWTIME’S popular Sho Box series opposing Scott Ball (8-2) in Belterra Casino and Resort in Indiana on March 2, 2007.
In his toughest test of his young career, Alexander dominated Ball. In round four, Alexander knocked out Ball’s mouthpiece with a barrage of punches. In the sixth, he broke Ball’s jaw.
In round seven, Alexander scored two knockdowns and Ball was counted out.
Alexander scored another knockout over Marcus Luck in Bridgeport, Conn., on July 7, 2007.
Alexander The Great lived up to his moniker in his last appearance by overwhelming previously undefeated (7-0) Cory Peterson with a first-round technical knockout in Hoffman Estates, Ill., on Oct. 13.
Devon has moved back to 140 pounds for his next fight on Jan. 19.
When not in the ring, Alexander, a friendly and out-going person, is also known for his sweet tooth.
“That’s his vice,” Cunningham said. “If you put a cupcake in front of him, oh man!”
No comments:
Post a Comment