The 35-year-old Englishman will surely have nowhere to go if he comes up short against Alexander. However a win would breathe new life into his career and put him in line for potential big money encounters against either Hatton or new British darling at 140, Amir Khan. Witters attitude before this fight reminds me of how he was before the Bradley fight when Witter kept calling out Hatton only to get his butt kicked by Bradley. Witter clearly hasn't learnt and is now calling out Amir Khan before his fight with Alexander.
Saturday's showdown at the Agua Caliente Casino is a fascinating clash between old hand and rising star. Witter of course won the WBC belt when he out-pointed DeMarcus Corley in London back in 2006.
He made two defences of his crown before running into Timothy Bradley in Nottingham last year. Witter claims he had personal distractions going into that one and it showed as failed to get going against Bradley, who also features on this bill in California in a WBO light-welterweight clash against grizzled veteran Nate Campbell.
'The Hitter' lost a split but deserved decision against the all-action Bradley (dropped by an overhand right in round six) and he's been on the periphery ever since.
Until now.
Standing between him and his old belt this weekend is 22-year-old Alexander, a stylish southpaw who has won all 18 pro starts since turning over in 2004.
He's a Don King fighter on a Don King card so it's not surprising that he's been chalked up as a favourite with the odds men for this one. I believe you can get -170.
However if you look a little more closely at his record he's not really beaten anyone of note. Indeed his best win by far is a points success against common foe Corley in 2008 at Madison Square Garden.
He won that one pretty handily despite being deducted a point for a low blow in the final round but considering Corley has lost six out of nine bouts post-Witter you perhaps can't read too much into that win.
The boxing writers are predicting that this will be something of as war of attrition. The switch-hitting Witter can be frustrating to watch and one wonders who his style will mesh against a fresh southpaw? Not well is my opinion...
Alexander has won his last three inside the distance but the company he was keeping in those bouts was mediocre to say the least. He's more stylist than slugger and will be looking to outwork Witter a la Bradley.
Witter must know that he needs a KO win here. Getting a decision in the US on a King card against a King fighter won't just be hard, it will be nigh on impossible.
He'll have to gamble and Witter does have the power to take Alexander out, but will he?. Witter at his best (4 years ago) was a master at making them miss and making them pay. Right now, I think Witter is a fighter on the wane and I expect him to play right into Alexanders hands here. I fancy Alexander to outbox Witter in the latter rounds and win by decision. I hate betting on outcomes so I will just be playing on the Alexander win here.
In the other big title fight on the bill the aforementioned Bradley is a favourite to see off former IBF and WBO lightweight kingpin Campbell.
Bradley is 24-0 and he's won twice since beating Witter. Last time out he decisioned the dangerous Kendall Holt but his lack of a serious dig at this level will see him found out at some stage and I have a hunch it may be Saturday.
Campbell may be 37 but he's a battle hardened warrior who upset the touted Juan Diaz last year to become the main man at lightweight.
It seems he has naturally outgrown the division and he'll enjoy height and reach advantages in this one) though it's nothing of any great significance).
I make this a pick 'em fight which is almost certain to go the distance. Bradley does the fundamentals well and gets by on superb fitness and a high punch output. However Campbell will be able to hang with him in these departments. I don't have a real big feeling for this fight so I will be playing low stakes on the underdog where I believe the value is.
Mack's Plays for the weekend:
3 star play: 21k on Devon Alexander to win 12k
1 star play: 1k On Nate Campbell to win 1750k.
Nice catch.
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