Did Alexander blow it by not continuing to fight in the 10th against Bradley?

By Boxing News - 01/31/2011 - Comments

Image: Did Alexander blow it by not continuing to fight in the 10th against Bradley?By Allen Hmiel: Devon Alexander at 21-0 had the chance of a lifetime to cement his place in boxing lore as an undefeated boxing warrior last Saturday evening in the cavernous almost empty Pontiac Silverdome. With HBO broadcasting the fight to all corners of the world and facing another undefeated 140 pound champion in Timothy Bradley 26-0, the stage was set for Alexander to make his mark as one of the world’s greatest fighters. But Devon was faced against a little warrior in the determined Tim Bradley, short in stature with a gleaming dome battering ram for a head and fast hands and a seemingly nonstop aggressiveness and a superior will to win. The fight had tremendous expectations and two fighters with unblemished boxing records and title belts. What a letdown the actual fight turned out to be after all the hype and buildup leading up to the bout.

Bradley just took the overwhelmed Alexander to school and punched and butted his way to a 10 round stoppage(judges unanimous decision) when Devon unexpectedly quit after taking another anvil head butt from Bradley on the other side of his head away from his previous cut opened earlier above his right eye. Stating he couldn’t see and his eye burned Alexander “the not so great” dramatically QUIT. Quit in a title bout with championship belts on the line and a chance to become a legend butted away in a complete surrender at a moment where career defining heroics make or break a fighters reputation. Devon had the opportunity delivered to him on a platter with the worldwide audience watching to see which fighter stepped up and accepted the opportunity to combine the WBC and WBO titles at 140 pounds. And Devon let it slip away in a moment of monumental weakness and character defining confrontation.

Sure Bradley was the better boxer and seemed to have the championship desire to stay the champion. But why would Alexander after finding out his pillow punches and pitter pat touches were not hurting the small powerful iron headed Bradley go out on his shield or at least give a more valiant effort to substantiate his status as a champion. Why just give up in the tenth and mail it in for all the boxing world to witness. Champions have high expectations to live up to and Devon Alexander sure disappointed a small Silver Dome audience and the HBO fans watching at home.

When a fighter quits he gets marked almost branded forever as someone who when faced with great adversity qives up. Sad to see Alexander lose that way but the tough thing now for Devon to overcome is the stigma of being called a quitter and that character tattoo that cannot ever be erased from his now tarnished reputation.



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