Alexander: 'Mayweather too big, fast and smart for Pacquiao'
Danny Flexen finds out what Devon thinks of Mayweather-Pacquiao
THE BEST: Alexander wants to be like MayweatherTHE BEST: Alexander wants to be like Mayweather
DOUBLE light-welterweight world champion Devon Alexander has ripped into five-weight ruler Floyd Mayweather for “picking and choosing” opponents but still believes “Money” will have too much for Manny Pacquiao in a potential superfight which gets his juices flowing.
“Floyd Mayweather is picking and choosing opponents right now, he’s not fighting anyone,” blasted the unbeaten WBC and IBF 10st king. “I’d love to fight him but realistically right now I’m focused on the guys at 140 [lbs].
“But I don’t know if the Pacquiao fight is even going to happen. It will only take place if egos can be put aside. Right now, Mayweather’s not budging and without him there’s no fight.
“I’d be excited by it though, wouldn’t you? Man, that fight would break records. I think Mayweather will be too big like he was against [Juan Manuel] Marquez and he will not be there for Manny Pacquiao. For me, Pacquiao still swings a bit wild, and Mayweather is too fast and too smart. You have to stand in front of Pacquiao to get hit by him.”
Alexander, still only 23, has plenty to concentrate on in his own career. The next step to elevating himself to the level of the Pacquiao and Mayweather comes with a defence against former WBA 10st ruler Andreas Kotelnik, on August 7 in Devon’s hometown of St Louis. Alexander believes he can run right through the light-welter division, but humbly admits he still has plenty to improve upon.
“Kotelnik’s solid and one of the best names at 140 but I don’t see a big threat to me in the division,” he declared. “With me being a southpaw, with that sneaky power [I have], that quickness, [WBO champ] Tim Bradley and [WBA king] Amir Khan have never not fought a southpaw as slick as me.
“A lot of bloggers are talking like I’m the next big star, but I can’t think about that. I have to keep the climbing ladder, raising the bar. I’m still learning, but I’m doing what I love, so I keep training hard. It doesn’t stop here, I’m not on the pound-for-pound list yet, I’m not Hall of Fame material yet.
“I think I need to improve on turning my punches over more and just relaxing more in the ring, letting my punches flow. I need to learn different techniques, different angles, but I study my fights and work on things I see in them in the gym. I’d give myself a C- right now.”
Alexander is not short of ambition, even suggesting he could move up to welter like big rival Bradley, who debuts at the weight against Luis Carlos Abregu later this month.
“I’m feeling strong right now, I have no problems making 140,” Alexander stressed. “But I’d even go up to 147 because there are big fights up there too. I’d never even heard of this Abregu guy to be honest but I now hear he can **** a bit. I guess he’s [Bradley] just testing the waters.
“I hope to be undisputed champion by the beginning of next year then on the pound-for-pound list by the summer or fall, eventually making my name known around the world. I want to be like Mayweather, to go from scratch to one of the best fighters in the world, like Pacquiao too.”
Danny Flexen finds out what Devon thinks of Mayweather-Pacquiao
THE BEST: Alexander wants to be like MayweatherTHE BEST: Alexander wants to be like Mayweather
DOUBLE light-welterweight world champion Devon Alexander has ripped into five-weight ruler Floyd Mayweather for “picking and choosing” opponents but still believes “Money” will have too much for Manny Pacquiao in a potential superfight which gets his juices flowing.
“Floyd Mayweather is picking and choosing opponents right now, he’s not fighting anyone,” blasted the unbeaten WBC and IBF 10st king. “I’d love to fight him but realistically right now I’m focused on the guys at 140 [lbs].
“But I don’t know if the Pacquiao fight is even going to happen. It will only take place if egos can be put aside. Right now, Mayweather’s not budging and without him there’s no fight.
“I’d be excited by it though, wouldn’t you? Man, that fight would break records. I think Mayweather will be too big like he was against [Juan Manuel] Marquez and he will not be there for Manny Pacquiao. For me, Pacquiao still swings a bit wild, and Mayweather is too fast and too smart. You have to stand in front of Pacquiao to get hit by him.”
Alexander, still only 23, has plenty to concentrate on in his own career. The next step to elevating himself to the level of the Pacquiao and Mayweather comes with a defence against former WBA 10st ruler Andreas Kotelnik, on August 7 in Devon’s hometown of St Louis. Alexander believes he can run right through the light-welter division, but humbly admits he still has plenty to improve upon.
“Kotelnik’s solid and one of the best names at 140 but I don’t see a big threat to me in the division,” he declared. “With me being a southpaw, with that sneaky power [I have], that quickness, [WBO champ] Tim Bradley and [WBA king] Amir Khan have never not fought a southpaw as slick as me.
“A lot of bloggers are talking like I’m the next big star, but I can’t think about that. I have to keep the climbing ladder, raising the bar. I’m still learning, but I’m doing what I love, so I keep training hard. It doesn’t stop here, I’m not on the pound-for-pound list yet, I’m not Hall of Fame material yet.
“I think I need to improve on turning my punches over more and just relaxing more in the ring, letting my punches flow. I need to learn different techniques, different angles, but I study my fights and work on things I see in them in the gym. I’d give myself a C- right now.”
Alexander is not short of ambition, even suggesting he could move up to welter like big rival Bradley, who debuts at the weight against Luis Carlos Abregu later this month.
“I’m feeling strong right now, I have no problems making 140,” Alexander stressed. “But I’d even go up to 147 because there are big fights up there too. I’d never even heard of this Abregu guy to be honest but I now hear he can **** a bit. I guess he’s [Bradley] just testing the waters.
“I hope to be undisputed champion by the beginning of next year then on the pound-for-pound list by the summer or fall, eventually making my name known around the world. I want to be like Mayweather, to go from scratch to one of the best fighters in the world, like Pacquiao too.”
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