Alexander prepared for biggest test: Junior welterweight (21-0) faces Bradley (26-0)

The undefeated junior welterweight from St. Louis has trained in Las Vegas at Barry’s Boxing for his past three fights, and, with the biggest test of his career looming when he faces Timothy Bradley at the Pontiac Silverdome outside Detroit on Jan. 29, he’s sticking with his routine.

“It’s perfect,” Alexander (21-0, 13 knockouts) said after Thursday’s two-hour workout. “I’ve got Mount Charleston and Red Rock to run and build up my legs. I’ve got the gym virtually to myself. There’s no distractions whatsoever. It’s run, get the work in, then rest.”

Alexander said he hasn’t changed his style for Bradley (26-0, 11 KOs).

“I don’t feel I need to do anything different for this fight,” he said. “Just sharpen everything up and be the best fighter I can be on Jan. 29.”

Kevin Cunningham, Alexander’s trainer, said he likes what he sees from his fighter.

“We’ve worked on being consistent and disciplined with everything we do,” Cunningham said. “We feel we’ve got a good game plan, and he’s done a great job here in getting comfortable with it. Every day, I tell him, ‘Be the man,’ and he’s taken that to heart.”

Alexander, who turns 24 on Feb. 10, and the 27-year-old Bradley have a healthy respect for each other. Alexander, a 2-1 underdog in Las Vegas sports books, knows he’s going to have to take his game to another level to beat Bradley.

“I’ve been working toward this moment since I was 7,” he said. “To be the best 140-pound fighter in the world has me so motivated. That’s why I’ve worked so hard (in Las Vegas). He’s going to bring it, and if you’re not ready to go 12 hard rounds, you’re going to be in trouble.”

Alexander leaves for Detroit on Monday. As his preparation enters its final stage, he couldn’t be happier with the way his camp went as he looks to maintain his momentum from last year, when he passed two important tests in beating Juan Urango and Andriy Kotelnik.

“I had a great year in 2010,” said Alexander, who stopped Urango in the eighth round March 6 in Uncasville, Conn., and took a 12-round unanimous decision from Kotelnik on Aug. 7 in St. Louis. “I showed I had the power against Urango, and against Kotelnik, I showed guts and heart because I wasn’t at my best that night and still found a way to win.”

■ COTTO RETURNS — Tropicana Avenue will be a busy street come March 12 now that the MGM Grand Garden will host the WBA super welterweight title fight between Miguel Cotto and Ricardo Mayorga.

That same night, the Thomas & Mack Center will be hosting the Mountain West Conference basketball tournament championship game, and the Orleans Arena will be the site of the Western Athletic Conference tournament title game.

The 30-year-old Cotto (35-2, 28 KOs) hasn’t fought since he stopped Yuri Foreman on June 5 at Yankee Stadium. The 37-year-old Mayorga (29-7-1, 23 KOs) made a successful return to boxing after a two-year hiatus, defeating Michael Walker in Miami on Dec. 17.

The fight will be officially announced Thursday in New York.

■ BACK TO TEXAS — When Texas Station opened in 1995, the casino used boxing to help attract customers, and it was the venue where Floyd Mayweather Jr. made his professional debut in 1996.

But boxing hasn’t appeared at the property since June 8, 2003. That long hiatus will end Jan. 22, when Las Vegas super featherweight Diego Magdaleno (17-0, five KOs) will fight Marcos Jimenez (18-2, 12 KOs) in a 10-round bout for the NABF championship.

Also on the card will be Magdaleno’s younger brother Jesse, who will meet Cain Garcia in a four-round featherweight bout. Las Vegan Anthony Lenk will face Tyler Pogline in a six-round super lightweight bout, and super lightweight Jose Benevides (9-0) will fight a six-round bout against an opponent to be determined.

Contact reporter Steve Carp at scarp@reviewjournal.com or 702-387-2913.