Devon Alexander suffers fractured left hand

By Boxing News - 05/20/2013 - Comments

alexander5654By Scott Gilfoid: IBF welterweight champion Devon Alexander’s 7th round stoppage win over his pitifully over-matched British opponent Lee Purdy last Saturday night was a costly one for the 26-year-old Alexander because he broke his left hand in the fight, and the injury will likely keep Alexander out of action until December.

Alexander suffered a fracture fifth metacarpal in his left hand. Alexander broke the bone will teeing off on the punching bag-like Purdy in the 1st round at the Boardwalk Hall in Atlantic City, New Jersey. Alexander showed great heart to fight through the injury and continue to pelt Purdy with left hands until the fourth at which time he moved to throwing exclusively right hands.

The injury didn’t matter. Alexander probably could have beaten Purdy fighting on his knees with one hand tied behind his back last Saturday because it was such a sad, sad mismatch, and the fight showed how badly the International Boxing Federation screwed up by giving Purdy a #4 ranking with their organization.

Anyone with two eyes could see immediately last Saturday night that Purdy had no business fighting for a world title and no business being ranked #4 or even in the top 15. His speed, power and skills were just so domestic level.

Alexander wants to fight Floyd Mayweather Jr., but he’ll probably have to settle for facing former IBF/WBA light welterweight champion Amir Khan. Alexander has an open mind about fighting Khan, and he’s willing to take the fight to snatch his scalp from him and send him into a position where he’ll have to seriously consider retirement.

Alexander said to ESPN about the idea of fighting Khan: “I think it’s a really intriguing fight. We have no problem fighting Amir Khan next. Everyone wants the shot against Floyd Mayweather, but if we have to deal with Amir Khan first, no problem…if Amir Khan thinks he’s going to use Devon Alexander to get to Floyd Mayweather, well, he’s never gonna see Floyd.”

Alexander will destroy Khan as long as his bad hand holds out. If he suffers another broken hand, then it’ll be difficult to win the fight. He’s going to need two healthy hands to win that fight.



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