Alexander: Khan Lost Three Times, There is a Blueprint
Posted by: Boxing Clever on 12/10/2014
Devon Alexander believes there is already a blueprint on how to beat Amir Khan and plans to ‘confuse’ the British fighter with his tactics.
The American will battle Khan in a crucial welterweight clash this Saturday night, live on Sky Sports, with plenty at stake for either fighter in Las Vegas.
Both Khan and Alexander are hoping to earn a lucrative bout against Floyd Mayweather, the biggest name in boxing, but defeat would spell the end of these ambitious plans.
Each man has endured setbacks in the past, with Alexander suffering two defeats, the most recent to Shawn Porter on points last December, while Khan has three losses on his record.
The Bolton boxer has been stopped in two of his defeats and Alexander is keen to test his opponent’s punch resistance, but has spotted other weaknesses in the 28-year-old.
“Anybody who has lost three times, there is a blueprint,” he told Sky Sports. “You see that he has a weak chin but you cannot go into a fight, thinking: ‘ok he’s got a weak chin and I’m going to knock him out.’ You’ve got to have a game plan to get to the chin or if you don’t get to the chin, then you have to have a game plan to beat him for 12 rounds.
“I’ve got an A game, B game and C game. It’s going to be a good fight, because both of us are motivated and both of us want that big prize.”
Khan marked his debut in the division with an impressive points win over Luis Collazo, a southpaw like Alexander.
But Alexander, a two-weight world champion, insists he is an entirely different proposition and vowed to produce a masterclass at the MGM Grand.
“I’ve got natural ability. He had to work hard for his ability, but I’ve got natural ability that’s going to show on Saturday night,” said Alexander. “My skills will prevail.”
“I don’t think he’s fought a southpaw like me, as fast as me, he hasn’t fought nobody like me. I think it’s going to confuse him and it’s going to surprise a lot of people.”
Asked for a pre-fight prediction, Alexander feels a knockout win will be inevitable if he sticks to the tactics supplied by long-term trainer Kevin Cunningham.
“I’ve just got to follow the game plan,” he said. “As long as I follow the game plan, I can see a knockout, but if a knockout doesn’t come, I’ll be prepared to go 15 rounds if I have to.”
