Undefeated World Boxing Council Continental Americas Super Lightweight Champion
And Former World Boxing Council Youth Welterweight Champion
Born in St. Louis, Missouri, on Feb. 10, 1987
Height: 5’ 8 ½” – Weight: Super Lightweight (140)
Record: 14-0, 8 KOs
There is no stretching of the truth when Devon Alexander was said to be a boxing child prodigy or that he 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.
Spinks returned to the sport under Cunningham’s tutelage and became an instant role model to the other boxers at the gym, especially Devon.
“Cory and Devon connected from day one,” Cunningham said. “They hit it off. Devon followed Cory around like a puppy dog at first and Cory looked after him. They were like brothers from the start.
“Devon was always excited about learning. He loves to train. The more you push him the harder he works. You don’t have to baby-sit him. I had several kids with a lot more natural talent than Devon. The difference between them and him was Devon had a tremendous work ethic. He eats, drinks, sleeps boxing. That’s the difference. If anything, you have to slow him down.’’
Devon went on to become one of the most celebrated amateur boxers in the country. He won every title available in St. Louis before amassing a staggering list of national championships.
Alexander was the four-time Silver Gloves national champion from age 10 to 14; three-time Police Athletic League national champion; 2001 Junior Golden Gloves national champion and Junior Olympic national champion before moving on to win the World Junior Olympics where he was also named Best Boxer; and 2003 U.S. National Champion for those 19 and under.
He won the U.S. National Championship in 2004 in the 141-pound junior welterweight division and was invited to join the U.S. National Team where he was victorious in duel meets against Sweden, England, Puerto Rico and others. He sailed through the Olympic trials before facing Rock Allen in the finals. In a controversial match where Cunningham said Alexander was “robbed,” the computer scoring had ended in a 15-15 draw. A punch-count tally was used to break the tie, and Allen was declared champion.
After over 300 wins against only 10 losses in the amateur ranks, Alexander, barely 17 and still just a junior at Vashon High School in St. Louis, turned pro on May 20, 2004.
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.
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.”
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.
(Photo By: Jill Diamond, WBC Chair)
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.
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, and he overwhelmed previously undefeated Cory Peterson (7-0) with a first-round technical knockout in Hoffman Estates, Ill., on Oct. 13, 2007.
Alexander took a huge step in his burgeoning career when he agreed to face DeMarcus “Chop Chop” Corley for the vacant WBC Continental Americas super lightweight championship.
It was a risky move. Corley was a former World Boxing Organization 140-pound champion and had “Pretty Boy” Floyd Mayweather one punch away from being knocked down and maybe out. He had also faced Zab “Super” Judah, Miguel Cotto, Junior Witter and Jose Alfaro.
If Alexander’s task were not challenging enough, this was a championship match scheduled for 12 rounds when Alexander had never gone past 7 rounds.
“We wanted Chop Chop,” Cunningham said. “We wanted a guy with a name. I’ve told Devon that early in this fight he needs to be on his Ps and Qs because Corley will be dangerous. But by round 6 or 7 Chop Chop is gonna be looking for a doorway to get out of there.’’
Cunningham turned out to be spot on as Alexander dominated Corley from the outset. Alexander sensed early his opponent was not up for his challenge, and he began unloading his arsenal on Corley in an attempt to knock him out.
In the end, Alexander scored a lopsided unanimous decision by scores of 116-111 and 118-109, twice. Alexander, who always feels he can do better, gave constructive thoughts after the fight.
“It felt great to go 12 rounds with a former world champion,” Alexander said. “It was hard because it was my first 12-rounder. I was pressing hard for a knockout in the early rounds but my coach told me to settle down and just do what I do.
“I am ready to do more and I know I will do even better in the future. I want everyone in St. Louis to know that I am coming back with a win and a belt.”
Respected ESPN.com writer Dan Rafael gushed over Alexander in his post-fight commentary:
“Look out, boxing world—here comes Alexander, a skilled fighter with a very bright future. The 20-year-old was impressive and methodical as he scored the best win of his young career by easily handling Corley, a skilled and experienced former titleholder. Alexander did a good job of beating Corley to the punch and racking up points. Although he lost a point in the 12th round for a low blow, it meant nothing, because he had the bout in hand. Alexander is going to be much better after this fight. He learned a lot from Corley and proved to himself he can go 12 rounds, after never having been deeper than seven. If there is one thing Alexander can improve on, it is throwing more combinations. He has the hand speed; he just needs to use it a little more.”
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!”
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