Moments ago, former jr. welterweight champion Devon Alexander made an impressive welterweight debut, nearly shutting out the rough and rugged Marcos Maidana to win a unanimous decision at the Scottrade Center in St. Louis, Missouri. Alexander controlled the action from the beginning, landing combinations that slowed down and hurt Maidana on occasion. In the 6th round, Alexander landed a flush left hand down the middle that dropped Maidana, but the referee missed the punch and ruled it a push. In the 8th round, Alexander hurt Maidana again to the body and had him on the retreat. In the end, all three judges easily scored the bout in favor of Alexander.
ROUND 1
Maidana jab to the body. Maidana misses with a right. Jab lands for Alexander. Maidana blocks body shot. Both men feeling each other out. Left hook backs up Maidana. Body shot lands for Maidana. They tie up, Smoger lets them fight out. Alexander blocks body shot. Maidana really focysing on the body. Alexander misses with a combination. Right hand lands for Maidana. Alexander fires back and lets a counter straight left. They tie up as the first round comes to a close.
Alexander 10 Maidana 9
ROUND 2
Maidana comes out firing and Alexander lands a left hook on the inside. Referee Steve Smoger calls break and has to separate the two fighters. Stiff jab by Alexander. Combination lands for Alexander. Counter right hook lands by Alexander. Maidana charges in and lands a left to the body. Alexander lands an uppercut. Counter right lands by Alexander. Maidana throws right hook and Alexander blocks it. Alexander blocks right hook and lands 1-2 combination on the inside.
Alexander 20 Maidana 18
ROUND 3
Maidana charges in they trade punches. Maidana gets away with a headbutt on the inside. Maidana lands a hard right hand and has Alexander backed in the corner. Straight right lands for Maidana and Maidana pushes Alexander's head down and throws a punch and Maidana stuns Alexander momentarily. Left hand counter lands for Alexander. Straight left for Alexander. Alexander cutover the right eye and lands a combination on Maidana. Right hook by Alexander. Right hand by Maidana and Alexander fires back landing a left hand stopping Maidana in his tracks as the bell sounds. Excellent round!
Alexander 29 Maidana 28
ROUND 4
Another headbutt by Maidana. Alexander seems bothered by the cut over right eye. Slow start to the round. A lot of holding. Uppercut blocked by Maidana. Big right hand partially blocked by Maidana. Body shot lands by Alexander followed by a straight left. Counter left hook for Alexander. Uppercut just misses for Alexander. Alexander lands a right hand and Maidana fires back landing a straight right. They trade in the corner as the bell sounds.
Alexander 39 Maidana 37
ROUND 5
Body shot lands for Maidana followed by left hook on the inside. Maidana backing Alexander up. Another body shot by Maidana. Alexander lands an uppercut and a right hook. Good right hook to the temple by Alexander. Body shot by Alexander. Alexander has blood going into his eye as Maidana lands a right hand to the cut. Right hand blocked by Alexander. Alexander lands a huge shot to Maidana and follows it up with another one. Biggest punch of the fight thus far and may have stolen him the round.
Alexander 49 Maidana 46
ROUND 6
Right hand misses for Maidana and Alexander lands 3 straight rabbit punches on Maidana. Referee Steve Smoger warns both fighters. Good body shot by Alexander. They trade shots on the inside. Right hand by Maidana lands on the cut. Jab by Alexander. Alexander misses with the left and lands a huge body shot backing up Maidana. Right hand by Maidana and Alexander counters with a right hook and stuns Maidana. Alexander sends Maidana down with a straight left, but the referee didn't rule it a knockdown. Alexander landing big shots as Maidana survives the round.
Alexander 59 Maidana 55
ROUND 7
Right hand to open the round by Alexander. Maidana misses wildly. Big right hook by Alexander backs up Maidana. Maidana misses wildly again. Straight left lands hard by Alexander. Alexander now bullying Maidana. Maidana lands jab. Big combination lands by Alexander. Double right hook by Alexander. Straight left connects followed by an uppercut for Alexander. Combination lands by Alexander as the bell sounds and Maidana hits him to the body after the bell in frustration.
Alexander 69 Maidana 64
ROUND 8
Uppercut misses by Maidana. Straight left by Alexander. Alexander blocks body shot. Uppercut lands for Maidana. Left hook on the inside to the head of Alexander. Madaian stunned. Big combination lands by Alexander. Madiana backing up int he corner. Smoger breaks them apart. Big left by Alexander and another one. Maidana looks out on his feet but keeps firing. Body shot by Alexander. Jab by Maidana as he has his legs back. Maidana misses with an uppercut. Combination lands to the head of Maidana as the round comes to a close.
Alexander 79 Maidana 73
ROUND 9
Maidana works to the body. Alexander short combination on the inside followed by a Maidana right hand to the head. Big left hand for Alexander. Counter right by Alexander to the head. Maidana swings and misses. Maidana lands to the body. Alexander lands jab followed by a straight left. Maidana body shot blocked by Alexander. Uppercut blocked by Maidana. Left hand by Alexander and another one backs Maidana into the ropes. Right hook just misses for Alexander. Bell sounds. Alexander in complete control heading into the final round.
Alexander 89 Maidana 82
ROUND 10
They touch gloves and Maidana comes out swinging. He needs a knockout. Straight right backs up Alexander. Maidana blocks right hook. Maidana landing body shots on the inside. Jab by Alexander. Alexander lands a jab followed by two combinations to the head of Maidana. Maidana misses with an uppercut. Maidana blocks Alexander combination. Straight left lands to Maidana's face. 30 seconds to go. Straight left by Alexander. Combination lands by Alexander. The bell sounds and Alexander raises his left hand.
Alexander 99 Maidana 91
Official judges scorecards: 100-90, 100-90, 99-91
THE WINNER BY UNANIMOUS DECISION...DEVON ALEXANDER
COMPUBOX
Alexander total punches: 168/453
Maidana total punches: 93/419
Alexander power punches: 149/396
Maidana power punches: 85/328
[ Follow David Kassel on Twitter @BoxingObserver ]