By Peter Wells: It was March this year that St Louis Devon Alexander proved a statement in the Light Welterweight division, he fought at close range with a pressure puncher like Juan Urango and came out victorious with an 8th round stoppage. It was a risky tactic, but it paid off and caught the eyes of so many boxing fans.

In his first defence of his new IBF title and the WBC belt, which he won last year by retiring Junior Witter, he faces former WBA champion, Andreas Kotelnik. His challenger is by far not a fighter who’s finished in the sport, he was defeated by Amir Khan last year in a one-sided contest, but only because Amir ran constantly and piped the former champion with jabs and one-two’s.

Kotelnik is a tough fighter and will be hard to stop, he keeps his hands high and doesn’t do much to wear himself out, and we could see tonight whether or not Alexander’s stamina holds up.

Alexander can make a huge statement by stopping Andreas tonight giving Bradley and Khan something to think about. A defeat would rule out a fight next January with Bradley and his popularity would plummet, all that hard work would be for nothing.

Devon is expecting to be straight on the challenger and force him back early. I’d agree with that entirely. Expect another entertaining Alexander fight as he stays in close all fight, most of the time battering Kotelnik into a corner. Kotelnik won’t fall – although if Alexander can catch him right like he did Urango he can put the challenger down – and can make the final bell depending on whether or not the referee wants to see him keep taking the punishment that will be dished out. In that case it should end in a late stoppage for Alexander.