The Scottrade Center atrium was filled with fans and media members last Thursday as Don King made a triumphant return to announce his “Gateway to Greatness: The Homecoming” card on August 7.
Rising pound-for-pound star and WBC/IBF 140-lb. champion Devon Alexander will put his hardware on the line against Andriy Kotelnik, a former junior welter titlist who will be fighting in the United States for the first time.
In a remarkably compelling co-feature, undefeated IBF light heavy boss Tavoris Cloud will face battle-tested Glen Johnson, a former beltholder whose ninth round knockout of Roy Jones Jr. earned him the strap that Cloud now wears.
Decked out in immaculate suits straight from GQ magazine, the champion Alexander and his trainer Kevin Cunningham deflected an initial salvo of trash talking by Stacey McKinley, Kotelnik’s chief second.
When it was Devon’s turn to retort, he took over the dais with the cool demeanor of a pro and said, “It’s a blessing to be back in St. Louis. My trainer and I will come up with a game plan and as long as I have Kevin in my corner, I won’t lose. Now I’m going to train 100 percent and I’ll see you when I get back.”
Speaking through an interpreter, the challenger Kotelnik was respectful but firm, saying, “It’s a pleasure to be here. This is going to be the toughest fight of my career, but I didn’t come here to be an opponent. I came here to become world champion.”
Clutching a handful of flags from around the globe, the gregarious King repeatedly emphasized that the historic event, which will be televised by HBO, will bring together the entire community as it celebrates Alexander’s success and the resurgence of Downtown. He said, “St. Louis is on the move, and there’s no stopping her now. You’re not just celebrating a prizefight, you’re celebrating St. Louis.”
The counterparts in the co-feature promised that fans can also expect fireworks in the 175-lb. championship showdown.
Glen Johnson addressed the crowd and thanked the fans and media for attending. He said, “With Tavoris and I, you have two guys who will come into the kitchen to cook and St. Louis will enjoy the meal.”
The hard-hitting Cloud (20-0, 18 ko’s) from Tallahassee agreed and summed up his comments by declaring, “Nobody will be running.”
At the conclusion of the presser there was little doubt that the first Saturday night in August should be a highlight of the summer as Don King, Devon Alexander and the rest of a world class roster put on a show for the entire world to enjoy.
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 (314) 495-0820 or online at ticketmaster.com.
Pro Boxing at the Viking June 18
“Dangerous” Dannie Williams, Jamal “The Mailman” Parram and Lamar “The Prince of Pain” Harris will all be in action tomorrow night at Rumble Time Promotions’ “The Show Must Go On” event. Tickets will be available at the door and can be reserved by calling (314) 662-2000.
Night of the Elite at the Pageant
Boxing and mixed martial arts will return to the Pageant on July 24 as Deandre “Bull” Latimore returns to face “Slick” Willie Lee. Amateur stars Stephon Young, Joshua Temple, Derrick Murray, Preston Freeman, Otis Brown, Julius Butler, Louis Holloway and Jarvis Williams will also showcase their skills. Tickets for the “Night of the Elite” start at just $10 and are available by calling (314) 662-2000.
