By Dan Ambrose: In two short weeks former IBf/WBC light welterweight champion Devon Alexander (21-1, 13 KO’s) will be trying to bounce back from a defeat to WBO light welterweight champion Timothy Bradley when he faces Argentinean slugger Lucas Matthysse (28-1, 26 Ko’s) in a fight at the Family Arena, Saint Charles, Missouri.

Alexander, 24, lost his last fight against Bradley by a 10th round technical decision and can’t afford a loss to Matthysse if he wants to stay among the top contenders in the division. Matthysse suffered his own loss recently getting beaten by Zab Judah by a narrow 12 round decision. Mattysse made the mistake of starting too late by giving Judah too many of the early rounds. This was enough for Judah to win a decision, even though most people who saw the fight felt that Matthysse had won the fight.

Alexander had problems with Bradley’s pressure and short power punches. When the fight was halted in the 10th, it looked more like a case of Alexander not wanting to continue rather than him being truly hurt. Matthysse has obviously seen the Alexander vs. Bradley fight and will be bringing much more power and aggression than Bradley did. Alexander is going to have to raise his game of he wants to win because this isn’t a fight that he can win by fighting on the inside like he’s done against lesser punchers. Matthysse hits harder than Alexander and won’t quit and give Alexander the upper hand. Alexanders is going to have to come up with a different strategy to beat Matthysse than what he’s been using because he’s going to be getting hit with some monstrous shots and will likely end up getting beaten.

Matthysse looked sensational in destroying DeMarcus Corley in an 8th round TKO win last January. Matthysse dominated a fighter that a lot of guys have problems with.