“I want to thank God most of all for all of this,” Devon Alexander said Sunday night to a City Hall mobbed with celebrities, politicos, fight fans and just folks.
“I’m just a kid from the slums. But God is allowing me to be able to show young people coming up in the streets that through hard work and discipline you can become a success.”
Alexander “The Great” arrived on schedule to a hero’s welcome at Lambert-St. Louis International Airport on Sunday morning. Just like his training camp, Alexander’s arrival was right on schedule.
More than 300 fans greeted the IBF/WBC junior welterweight champion of the world as he returned home for one of the most anticipated fights involving a St. Louis native since Spinks/Tyson nearly two decades ago. It will also mark the first time that Alexander has been home to fight since he knocked of Juan Urango with a uppercut that still makes my lip swell up every time I watch it over and over again.
After the big homecoming celebration at Lambert, Team Alexander demonstrated why Devon is being mentioned as one of the young premier fighters going today.
Alexander was toasted at a star-studded gala hosted by Lewis Reed, president of the Board of Aldermen, and native actor/comedian Cedric The Entertainer. The East Side was well represented with my home girl Jackie Joyner-Kersee. In addition, Mayor Alvin Parks Jr. was also in attendance.
Also in the house were U.S. Sen. Claire McKaskill, St. Louis County Executive Charlie A. Dooley, rocker Chuck Berry, rapper Chingy, Evelyn Rice-Peebles, former Mayor Freeman Bosley Jr., his father Alderman Freeman Bosley Sr. and many others.
Alexander and his trainer Kevin Cunningham posed for pictures and signed autographs like the title card’s promoter Don King does on all occasions, with grace and humbleness until the last person wanted one.
Now, it’s time to unleash the champ in front of a national television audience as HBO’s Boxing After Dark makes its Lou thang debut.
Alexander and Andriy Kotelnik will highlight what is arguably the best fight card of the year when Don King Productions puts three world titles on the line Saturday night at the Scottrade Center.
The buzz about the fight is taking a national tone as several big-name celebrities have been rumored to attend, including Floyd “Pretty Boy” Mayweather and Timothy Bradley, who seem to have a lot to talk about two weeks ago on HBO regarding Team Alexander.
I’m sure Team Alexander is looking forward to both of them watching up-close what a good old fashion butt-whipping looks like in the 314.
Kotelnik’s trainer, Stacey McKinley, predicts that his fighter will be taking Alexander’s belts and throwing him back to St. Louis fans in the river like he’s a catfish.
Boy, I can’t wait to see Don King in the ring with his flags waving, and his own version of the Lion King, Devon Alexander, going against Kotelnik.
There won’t be much dancing before the fight maybe except by Mr. King. These guys are coming to fight, along with the rest of the boxers on the card.
Tickets are still available at all Ticketmaster outlets and the Scottrade Center. Let’s come out and support Team Alexander’s homecoming and continue to show the world what a boxing tradition we have here in the Lou!
Tickets for “Gateway to Greatness: The Homecoming” start at $17.50 and are available at the Scottrade Center box office and Ticketmaster locations, by phone at 1-800-745-3000 or online at ticketmaster.com.
