Boxing Preview: PBC on ESPN ‘Alexander vs. Martinez’

Welterweights

Devon Alexander (26-3, 14 KOs) vs. Aron Martinez (19-3-1, 4 KOs)

Once upon a time, Devon Alexander was a budding superstar. A 2004 Olympic hopeful who compiled an impressive 300-10 amateur mark, Alexander rolled to victories in 25 of his first 26 professional outings, capturing titles in two divisions along the way.

Alexander the Great has struggled recently, however, dropping two of his last three bouts, including a disheartening decision defeat to Amir Khan in December in which he was nearly shut out on the scorecards. The St. Louis native will attempt to get back on track when he faces tough journeyman Aron Martinez in a Premier Boxing Champions event on ESPN Wednesday night at the Gila River Arena in Glendale, Ariz.

The card begins at 9 p.m. ET/6 p.m. PT and also includes a co-main event pitting Lee Selby (21-1, eight KOs) against Fernando Montiel (54-4-2, 39 KOs) in a 12-round, 126-pound title clash.

The Matchup: Alexander is a seasoned veteran with wins against the likes of Marcos Maidana, Andriy Kotelink, Lucas Matthysse and Jesus Soto Karass, although it is worth noting that the triumphs over Kotelink and Matthysse were highly-disputed split verdicts. He has also fallen to tough opposition such as Khan, Shawn Porter and Timothy Bradley Jr.

Martinez is much less known, but he acquitted himself nicely in losing a split-decision to the heavily-favored Robert Guerrero this past June. While the Los Angeles resident was viewed as little more than a showcase bout for Guerrero, he pressured his foe into a brawl early and even dropped “The Ghost” in the fourth round. Unable to capitalize on that opening, Martinez faded down the stretch and paid for it on the scorecards. Still, Martinez’s ability to force the issue could make him an interesting foe for Alexander, who relies on controlling the distance and tempo.

Alexander was consistently beaten to the punch by Khan, but he should be the superior overall boxer in this matchup. He doesn’t throw in combination consistently, instead preferring to bait his opponent into over-committing before countering. The southpaw Alexander often holds his hands low and relies on head and upper body movement to avoid punches before retaliating with a left hand.

Alexander also possesses a quick right jab, which he throws from an angle that allows him to pull back rapidly in order to create more countering opportunities. The St. Louis, Mo., native favors a lead right uppercut, particularly in southpaw vs. orthodox matchups, which he will have against Martinez. He is equally effective setting up that punch with his jab or using the uppercut to set up a straight left hand.

Like Alexander, Martinez has fallen on hard times with losses in three of his last four outings, but as previously mentioned, the effort against Guerrero was encouraging. If he can force the tempo and make Alexander brawl with him in close quarters, things could get interesting. Of course, Martinez must be able to maintain that pressure and not slow down as the bout progresses. Martinez should look to land his left hook, as Alexander leans in such a way that makes him vulnerable when he attempts to set up his lead uppercut. Because Alexander holds his hands low, Martinez has the potential to disrupt his rhythm by moving forward, pushing the pace and fighting on the inside.

The Pick: Alexander’s tendency to rely on the counter doesn’t make for the most exciting action all the time, but Martinez doesn’t appear to be the type of fighter who will hesitate to engage. That said, he isn’t technical enough to win a decision against Alexander, and his lack of overall knockout power -- just four career KOs -- means he will likely have to go the distance in victory. Expect Alexander to figure out his foe after a few rounds to earn a clear-cut decision triumph.