Thursday, January 27, 2011

Bradley-Alexander Preview

It's amazing how similar these two are. Both are young rising stars with practically no fan base (yet they stick this fight in the Silver Dome, go figure). Both have beaten a few good 140 pounders, including Junior Witter, but their potential is greater than their achievements at this point. Both have weirdly shaped foreheads.

Alexander has a little more power, which he exhibited against the tough Juan Urango. Bradley is a pressure fighter who hasn't achieved a stoppage since 2007. But he's currently the craftier boxer. He beat slickster Lamont Peterson on points and came back to win a decision against Kendall Holt despite being floored twice.

Who know who will win, but I think Bradley's will will be the difference. Alexander struggled in his last fight, which took place in his hometown of St. Louis against the capable Andriy Kotelnik. I thought Kotelnik deserved the decision. One wonders if the pressure of the big fight might rattle Alexander just enough to separate the two evenly matched competitors.

Alexander will also have to deal with Bradley's head, which Timothy tends to lead with. The combination of Bradley's relentlessness, his head, and the big stage could be too much to overcome for Alexander. But, as he showed against Urango, one big uppercut could change things. Alexander's southpaw stance could also serve him as Bradley has not faced a lefty who even remotely approaches Alexander's ability.

In the end, if the fight isn't frustratingly cut short because of a Bradley headbutt, Tim will win by close unanimous decision.

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