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Trainer Cunningham Says Khan’s Improved, But Not THAT MUCH
The contracts haven’t been T’d up, i’s all dotted, but Devon Alexander has been in the gym for about three weeks, and is operating under the assumption that he will be gloving up with Brit Amir Khan on Dec. 13, in Las Vegas.
I spoke to the trainer of the St. Louis-based ex welter champ, who dropped his strap to Porter last year, and rebounded with a win (UD10) over tough out Jesus Soto Karass in his last outing, on June 21.
“He started moving, getting into boxing shape,” Cunningham said of the 26-2 (14 Kos) hitter. Cunningham conceded that today’s Khan (age 27; 29-3 record, with 19 Kos) is in a better place, having improved his overall game, his focus and his form, under Virgil Hunter.
“But it’s not THAT big a difference,” said the ex cop turned tutor. “He’s an improved fighter, and they are both in the top echelon of welterweights. It’s an extremely close fight, but I think my guy is the better fighter. It is a great matchup, two of the technically best welters.”
Khan has won three straight, having beaten Luis Collazo on May 3, after downing Julio Diaz and Carlos Molina. He lost back to back fights to Lamont Peterson (2011; SD) and Danny Garcia (2012; TKO4) before that, and many wondered if his chin had simply gotten to a point where he couldn’t continue.
Alexander has been fighting for a hundred years, so Cunningham has to like that he’ll have that extra juice boost of motivation, the Mayweather Lottery Ticket, catalyzing him.
“This is the type of fight who will get a kid who’d been fighting all his life excited. He’s been looking forward to this fight, waiting on it. He’s excited, he’s jacked. These are two guys who have a high punch rate. As for a prediction, I can’t tell you how, but Devon will be victorious.”
And yeah, that possibility of a Mayweather fight is there, but Floyd hasn’t been fighting guys in the Devon mold for a long time, so Cunningham isn’t getting hopes too high. “Yeah, everybody in boxing is waiting for that call!”
Readers, talk to me. I see a 50-50 fight here, with Khan’s jab maybe being the difference-maker. What say you?
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