"I mean, I knew he wouldn't take the fight. He's a talker. Paula knows what I'm capable of; he wasn't going to rush and take the fight with me...he got under my skin a tad, but it's no animosity. He was just promoting himself. He a trash-talker. That's what he does. You just can't let nobody talk and talk and talk, so I had to fire back...My ultimate goal is all the bug guns at 147, but we gotta be smart and let people know we a force to be reckoned with at 147," stated former jr. welterweight champion Devon Alexander as he talked about his future plans, including a move up to 147, a new promotional company, and much more. Check it out!
DK: Devon, how are you feeling physically after the fight with Lucas Matthysse back on June 25th?
DA: I'm basically recuperating, definitely resting up, but I can't stay out of the gym for too long. I get anxious. My coach [Kevin Cunningham] wanted me to take a long vacation and I've done that, but I'm anxious to get back in the ring.
DK: A lot of criticism has come your way after that fight. Have you been able to watch the video, and if so, what did you think?
DA: I haven't watched the fight yet. I like to wait until I can sit down by myself and focus on what I did wrong and analyze it by myself. Usually I don't watch the fight right away though. I still don't feel any pressure. Bradley didn't actually beat me. He didn't outbox me or outwork me. I just didn't do what I was supposed to do. He slid by and even he was surprised by the victory. The best is still yet to come.
DK: You and your trainer, Kevin Cunningham, have said you are moving up to welterweight. Is that set in stone or is there a possibility of staying at 140 if the situation was right?
DA: Not sure. I gotta go with Kevin on that one. It's gotta be the right situation. I've been fighting at that weight since I was 15 and I've gotten bigger and I've grown a few inches taller. I'm growing into my man stage. This last time was definitely the roughest getting to 140.
DK: You and Kevin have been in a war of words the last few weeks with Paulie Malignaggi and you have said recently you want to face him in your welterweight debut. A report recently came out of Camp Malignaggi that Golden Boy is close to reaching a deal for his next fight, and it's not you. What are your thoughts on that?
DA: I mean, I knew he wouldn't take the fight. He's a talker. Paula knows what I'm capable of; he wasn't going to rush and take the fight with me.
DK: You're a pretty humble guy who doesn't have a lot of enemies, but Paulie seemed to get under your skin a bit.
DA: Yeah, yeah, he got under my skin a tad, but it's no animosity. He was just promoting himself. He a trash-talker. That's what he does. You just can't let nobody talk and talk and talk, so I had to fire back.
DK: You are a free agent now. Who is looking like they will win the services of The Great?
DA: Free as a bird. Free as a bird (laughing). Dave, you know I definitely can't speak on that just yet, but you gonna get the first scoop when we ready to announce it.
DK: Is there a timetable in place for you to make a decision?
DA: There is a timetable, but we gotta wait out a certain point before we can talk about it publicly. You will be the first to know, Dave.
DK: When can we expect to see you back in the ring?
DA: My coach is saying November or December, but I don't know yet. My coach is a master negotiator and a master about coming up with a master plan.
DK: Who do you want to fight next?
DA: All the big guns. My ultimate goal is all the bug guns at 147, but we gotta be smart and let people know we a force to be reckoned with at 147.
DK: Any final words Devon?
DA: Just wanna let all my fans know to stay tuned. The best is yet to come from The Great and we gonna be taking over at 147.
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