By Jim Dower: Former WBC champion Junior Witter will be facing number #1 contender Devon Alexander for the vacant World Boxing Council light welterweight title on July 11th. The two sides have come to an agreement to fight for the vacant title that was recently stripped from champion Timothy Bradley on April 28th.

Witter, 35, previously held the WBC light welterweight title from 2006 until losing the title last year in a 12-round split decision loss to Bradley in May. Witter was hoping that Bradley would give him a rematch.

However, Bradley was stripped of the title before Witter could get a chance to avenge his narrow 12-round defeat to him. Witter only defended the title successfully twice beating Arturo Marua and Vivian Harris in 2007 before losing it to Bradley. Since the defeat, Witter has fought once, beating Victor Hugo Castro by a 3rd round TKO.

Alexander, a former U.S. amateur star, has fought mostly easy opponents up until now, with his best win coming over journeyman DeMarcus Corley in a lackluster 12-round decision last year in January 2008. Alexander followed that victory with three wins over little known opponents beating Sun-Haeng Lee, Christopher Fernandez and Jesus Rodriguez.

It seems that Alexander got the title shot against Witter for things that Alexander did while as amateur because as a pro Alexander hasn’t fought anyone good enough for him to be given a shot at the vacant WBC light welterweight as far as I’m concerned.

Alexander has looked good in beating the 2nd and 3rd tier competition that he’s been put in with since turning pro, but given his absence of quality fighters on his record it would seem that he needs more seasoning before fighting for the title.

Alexander has little power to speak and has gotten his 11 knockouts courtesy of the poor opposition that he’s been put in with. Alexander likes to fight in close where he works the body with combinations and uses his head movement to avoid getting hit by shots.

Alexander often keeps his hands low and makes up for it by moving his torso and head to avoid his opponent’s punches. Many of Alexander’s fights are snoozers because of his lack of power and his tendency to focus on boxing his opponent for the full 12 rounds rather than trying to load up on his shots.

Witter is going to be the much bigger puncher in this fight, which is kind of strange because Witter isn’t much of a puncher himself. Both fighters are left handed and like to counter punch. Witter won’t have to come looking for Alexander all night because Devon will likely be in close as possible to Witter so that he can try to outwork him on the inside.

That may not be easy for Alexander because Witter likes to fight on the outside for the most part rather than trying to fight in close where he’s more vulnerable to getting hit. If Witter stays disciplined and keeps the fight on the outside there’s not a lot that Alexander can do to get his shots in.