By Eric Thomas: IBF/WBC light welterweight champion Devon Alexander (21-0, 13 KO’s) will take his wins anyway he can them. Earlier tonight, Alexander won what many boxing fans see as a gift decision by the judges against former WBA light welterweight champion Andriy Kotelnik (31-4-1, 13 KO’s) at the Scottrade Center, in Saint Louis, Missouri. The final judges scores were 116-112, 116-112 and 116-112. After the fight, Alexander, 23, said that he wants to fight WBO light welterweight champion Timothy Bradley next. That fight, if it can be successfully negotiated between two different promotional teams, will likely take place in January.

However, it could have very well have been Kotelnik should be the one facing Bradley next, as he fought quite effectively and looked to have won the fight by a lopsided decision on my scorecard. I saw Kotelnik winning the fight by at least nine rounds to only three for Alexander. But it was never going to be a fight where Kotelnik was going to have a good chance of winning a decision, because the fight took place in Alexander’s home town of Saint Louis. It would have likely taken something really special for Kotelnik to get the win in that case. Alexander is younger, more popular, was fighting at home and is a rising star – or at least he was.

This controversial decision kind of puts that up in the air right now. It’s hard to see Alexander beating Bradley next, if that’s what Alexander really wants to do. Based on what I saw of Alexander tonight, I think he needs to stay away from Bradley and focus on fighting the Juan Urango’s of the light welterweight division. In other words, Alexander needs to fight guys that he can beat, and I don’t see Bradley, Amir Khan or Marcos Maidana as being fighter that Alexander can beat while fighting away from Saint Louis in a neutral venue. I think Alexander would have lost tonight had this fight been in a neutral location. Kotelnik was just too good and too accurate with his jabs. Alexander couldn’t do anything with Kotelnik while on the outside, and on the inside, Kotelnik easily handled him.

After the fight, Kotelnik, looking very upset, said “I want the belt [referring to Alexander’s titles]. I deserve it.”