By Jim Dower: WBC light welterweight champion Devon Alexander (20-0, 13 KO’s) won an impressive 8th round stoppage over International Boxing Federation light welterweight champion Juan Urango (22-3-1, 17 KO’s) on Saturday night in a unification bout at the Mohegan Sun Casino, in Uncasville, Connecticut. Alexander, 23, mostly jabbed, and threw straight lefts and right hooks for much of the fight. However, in the 8th round, Alexander landed a perfect left uppercut to the head of Urango, who was trying to throw a right hand of his own.

The punch from Alexander sent Urango down on the canvas where he blinked his eyes over and over again while rubbing his bow bleeding nose. Urango got up and was met with right hook to the head followed by another left uppercut that sent Urango down for the 2nd time. Urango quickly got back to his feet, but referee Benjy Esteves Jr. decided that Urango had seen enough action for the night and stopped the fight. Moments after the fight ended, former IBF light welterweight champion Zab Judah cut in during an interview between Alexander and HBO analyst Max Kellerman, Judah said “It’s back to the Lou to pick up some more belts.”

Alexander responded with “Zab is past tense. I’m present tense.” However, according to Dan Rafael of ESPN, Alexander’s trainer Kevin Cunningham had this to say about Judah: “Zab can get it if he wants.” If the 32-year-old Judah is indeed serious about wanting to fight Alexander, this might be the best fight that can be made for Alexander’s next bout in the summer.

Ideally, it would be nicer if one of the other two light welterweight title holders – WBO champion Timothy Bradley and WBA belt holder Amir Khan – were to agree to a unification bout with Alexander. I don’t see that happening for the time being, especially in the case of Khan. I don’t think Khan’s handlers will want to risk him getting knocked out by Alexander, so I doubt they will be in a big hurry to put Khan in with Alexander.

Both Khan and Alexander are 23, so Khan’s age won’t be a good excuse for not fighting Alexander. I think Khan would lose to Alexander if they were to fight. Khan would have to speed advantage but Alexander hits too hard with his lab, and his left uppercut would very likely plant Khan on the canvas before long. I think Bradley would take a fight with Alexander if it was offered to him, but he might have to wait awhile if Alexander’s management decides to put him in with Judah.

Alexander controlled most of Saturday night’s fight with Urango, using constant movement and a stiff jab to keep Urango from landing. Urango landed few shots in the first two rounds, missing often with wide shots as he plodded forward. However, in the 3rd round, Urango started finding Alexander with hooks to the body and head. Alexander was still out-landing Urango, but his punches didn’t have the power on them that Urango’s shots did.

I gave Urango both the 3rd and 4th rounds because he was landing the cleaner shots. Rounds five through seven were close rounds. I thought Alexander did enough to win them, but they ended up close because Alexander was moving too much and not getting a lot of power on his shots.

I could see how the judges might score some of those rounds to Urango, because he was pushing the fight and landing the harder shots. Alexander didn’t help himself by moving so much. He needed to stop and trade more if he wanted to ensure that he won the rounds.

Overall, I thought it was a good performance from Alexander. I was frankly surprised that he was able to stop a fighter like Urango, because he’s been in with some good fighters with more power than Alexander. However, I think Urango never saw the left uppercut that initially put him down in the 8th round. Once he was hurt, he was pretty much doomed. Alexander quickly finished him off with another uppercut and the fight was then stopped.

I think Alexander will beat Judah if they end up fighting. However, I can see Judah giving Alexander a lot of problems with his superior hand speed for about six rounds or so. After that, Judah will fade as he often does in the 2nd half of the fight and end up being stopped or cuts or retired in his corner.
As good as Alexander looked on Saturday night, I think Timothy Bradley would dominate him and beat him by a lopsided decision. I think Bradley is faster, more explosive, smarter, a better inside fighter and the bigger puncher of the two. But I think Alexander beats Khan without too many problems. Unfortunately, I don’t ever see Khan’s people putting him in with Alexander. I don’t ever see that fight happening for as long as Alexander fights.