According to reports, a deal has been reached in principal for top welterweight contender Devon Alexander to challenge newly-crowned welterweight champion Randall Bailey for his IBF title. The bout will be televised by Showtime and is scheduled to take place on September 8th, the same night that HBO is televising the super middleweight showdown between undefeated champion Andre Ward and light heavyweight champion Chad Dawson. Although a venue has yet to be determined, it makes sense for Bailey to defend his title in Alexander's hometown of St. Louis, where Golden Boy Promotions can maximize ticket sales for the event.
This will be the first of two nights in September when Showtime and HBO are expected to go head-to-head with competing cards. The following week, on September 15th, WBC jr. middleweight champion Saul "Canelo" Alvarez is expected to defend his title against an opponent yet to be determined on the same night, as well as the same city, Las Vegas, that WBC middleweight champion Julio Cesar Chavez Jr. defends his title against middleweight king Sergio Martinez. Alvarez was supposed to be facing former welterweight champion Victor Ortiz, but Josesito Lopez's upset victory over Ortiz put a halt to those plans. Nevertheless, Golden Boy Promotions is still moving forward with their plans for Alvarez to fight on September 15th.
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