(Photo credit: Tom Casino/Showtime) By Dan Ambrose: Former IBF/WBC light welterweight champion Devon Alexander (23-1, 13 KO’s) will be facing the biggest puncher in the division in IBF welterweight champion Randall Bailey (43-7, 37 KO’s) tonight at the Barclays Center, in Brooklyn, New York, USA. This is a big test for Alexander, who is fighting for the second time in the welterweight division after having beaten Marcos Maidana in an ugly to watch fight last February.

Alexander won that fight by a 10 round unanimous decision but much of the success for that victory for Alexander came from his constant clinching that he was able to get away with. Referees normally draw a line for the amount of clinching at around 10 clinches per round, but Alexander was able to get away with even more than that in beating Maidana. Referee Steve Smoger never stepped in to give Alexander warnings for grabbing constantly, and this resulted in the fight deteriorating into an ugly punch and grab affair that was horrible to watch.

Alexander would throw a shot an d then collapse forward to grab Maidana before he had a chance to throw a shot. Smoger would then separate them, and Alexander would start the process again with a punch followed by a grab. Alexander generally does an awful lot of clinching in most of his fight, but against Maidana he took it to another level, as if this was the plan in how to beat him. Once the clinching became a part of the fight, Maidana basically had no chance due to referee Smoger not stopping Alexander from clogging up the action.

Bailey doesn’t throw a lot of punches normally, and he’s likely to find himself tied up all night long and prevented from throwing any shots. I’m hoping that Alexander doesn’t ruin the fight by clinching at every opportunity but he’ll likely continue with this practice in order not to get hit by Bailey.

Alexander will likely win tonight by a lopsided 12 round unanimous decision with him clinching over 10 times per round. I just hope the referee does his job and keeps Alexander under control so that boxing fans can see an actual fight instead of a wrestling match.