Devon Alexander vs Juan Urango - Pre fight discussion + RBR

Thought I would get in nice and early, also I have an ulterior motive. (oh yes and sorry for yet another Alexander vs Urango thread)

I wrote a piece for a boxing website but the editor has been busy moving house so he has not got it up on time so, especially and exclusivly for ESB Brit forum you guys get to read it. So give me some feedback on the format as it is a weekly article.

Also I want some feedback on the fight, and how you guys see it.

Then the RBR

This is a new series exclusive to ********. The purpose of this is not only to preview up coming fights and analyse current fighters but also maybe give some fans a new understanding to the sport and will know what to look for when watching the fight, similar to Al Bernstein’s ‘Keys to Victory.’

This week is a very exciting clash between IBF Light Welterweight champion Juan Urango and WBC Light Welterweight champion Devon Alexander.

The Light Welterweight division at the moment is stacked to the rafters with the likes of Timothy Bradley, Amir Khan and Paulie Malignaggi numbered among its ranks. These two battle for extra recognition in the crowded street of boxing.

Let’s take a quick look at the basis of both combatants to gain a further understanding into them.

Devon Alexander is a tidy, well schooled boxer puncher. A sharp and fast hitter not by any means a big hitter but a good puncher. He applies steady pressure behind a very educated right hand jab and looks to patiently break down his opponent; he throws combinations well to head and body with his best shots being the right hook and straight left.
He cuts off the ring very well and recovers well when he misses. However, defensively he is slightly lacking, as he often loses concentration and stops moving his head or feet and can be tagged. His trainer Kevin Cunningham recognises his need to always be moving either his feet or head and surely will be working on this with him for this fight.

Juan Urango is a classic come forward fighter: what he lacks in skill he makes up for in strength and aggression! His strength is his main attribute, I can’t think of any Light Welterweight that is stronger than him past or present, and he even forced Ricky Hatton to box him. This strength is also in his punches, although not explosive he hits very strongly especially to the body. He also has an Iron chin. Although his punches can be pretty wide at times he can shoot some short punches out that do damage of which he demonstrated against Vilches. He has a high work rate and exerts a lot of pressure over 12 rounds, and is learning to cut the ring off quite well. When applying pressure he works the body and head equally well, which is always nice to see.
His main weakness however is his defence. As Teddy Atlas has pointed out on Friday Night Fights on ESPN, Urango holds his hands wide and is susceptible to punches straight down the pipe. Also his wide punches allow him to be countered by short straight shots as he comes forward, exactly how Randall Bailey dropped him in their bout. Another weakness I notice is that Juan is not a fluid combination puncher and instead loads up on every shot which makes for a slow combination, this also makes his finishing look quite crude but in fact his pure aggression is effective in finishing off an opponent.

The Strategies

Devon Alexander

Alexander cannot stand and trade with Urango, Urango needs a stationary opponent to get his shots off. Alexander needs to side step to keep Urango off balance to quell Juan’s work rate.
He can also exploit the wide punches of Urango by countering straight down the pipe with his straight left – right hook combination. However, he needs to move after this every time to avoid Urango’s retribution.
He cannot be caught in a fight with Urango, Urango hits too hard and can absorb Alexander’s best shots. The same cannot be said about Alexander. If Urango does find his way inside Alexander has to resist the urge to trade and tie up Urango – who often allows himself to be held.
Boxing journalist Kevin Blatt has told me that he feels Urango has lost his hunger and Alexander can exploit this by following the aforementioned strategy. He can hit Urango repeatedly and keep Urango off balance and not allow Urango the opportunity to hit him. This will demoralise Urango and if he really has lost his hunger he would look to just see the fight out rather than win.

Juan Urango
Urango has to use his strength and make it tell on Alexander. Make this a brawl! Alexander is a proud champion and pride is a deadly sin! Urango has to exploit that and use Alexander’s pride against him by drawing him into a war of attrition. Urango knows he can take Alexander’s shots, so he has to place doubt in the mind of Alexander and take him to war.
My friend and hardcore boxing fan The Flea (our very own Fleaman) believes Urango can use his wide punches as an advantage. He has to step in with the wide punches and get inside to allow himself to land his devastating short punches on Alexander. This is a must if Urango tries to turn it into a war.
And on top of all this Urango needs to keep the pace high, Juan knows he can do a hard 12 rounds; Alexander does not. Use this doubt to keep the pace high and make Devon unsure of himself.


I cant wait for this fight. :happy:happy:happy

 

Vcash spent reasonably well IMO, is it good odds? I think a stoppage could be on the cards. Unless os course Juan Urango is reading my strategy.

 

Nope, just keep it reasonable. Thats about as much as I could write on a basic strategy outlining the keystones, without going in to pedantic details.

 

Yeh, the best LWW puncher ever, landed his bets punch right on his chin. Absoloute brutal, cant beleive Urango got up.

Alexander does not have to keep Urango away he just has to step to the side.

Bailey does not have a great jab it was a pawing jab used to set up the right, abit like Khaosai galaxy. But it will be a class fight. Alexander is more conventional than Bailey also IMO.

By stoppage i think Alexander could force a 'no mas' kinda stoppage or a corner retirement