(By Frank Walsh) Twenty four hours before Amir Khan traded leather with Devon Alexander under the lights of the MGM Grand, Floyd Mayweather had verbally committed to a showdown with Manny Pacquiao on May 2nd. With both Khan and Alexander looking for a solid body of work in victory to stake their claim in the ‘Mayweather sweepstakes,’ it would take a special performance to make a reasonable argument for either man to meet Floyd on May 2nd. Whilst this bout had not managed to garner the imagination of the public on a large scale, on paper it should provide a competitive mesh of speed and two formidable skill sets.

Both men answered the opening bell with the intent to hold the center of the ring exchanging jabs. Khan landed two swift left hooks up top following a right straight to the body in the first minute. Devon opened proceedings also with an encouraging work rate, landing a couple of quick fire jabs, touching Khan’s body with the left hand. Before the two minute mark the difference in speed was becoming apparent with Khan landing a right straight flush and a lead left hook. Alexander enjoyed some success in the last moments of the opening round, however it appeared he had his work cut out to pin Khan down.

The second round started out at a pedestrian pace. Both men pawing with the jab, not committing to any meaningful work. Khan began blitzing Alexander further into the round, working the body on the end of combinations. Devon spent much of the round reaching with his shots as Khan worked off the back foot evading any threatening shots.

Khan opened the third with two lead left hooks and a commitment to controlling the distance, working behind a high guard with quick fire flurries. Thus far Alexander had offered nothing of note. A similar trend rolled out in the fourth round, with Khan landing some looping left hooks around the glove of Alexander. With both men opening up in a couple of exchanges, Khan had the last say closing out in each one. Devon’s jab was still falling short of the target. A solid left hook from Alexander landed flush in the closing seconds, however Khan replied in kind with a solid right to the chin of Devon.

Khan pot shoted Alexander in the first minute of the fifth, with Alexander working his way into the round landing some accurate jabs on the front foot. Both fighters landed in some entertaining trade offs in a close round. Virgil Hunter reiterated instructions to Khan not to get involved in wild exchanges in the corner before the sixth round began.

Amir controlled the sixth round. Firing out four punch combinations and rapid two punch shots with a clean punch landing on the end of each. The left hook continued to bring Khan much success. In the seventh Khan remained on the backfoot, utilising slick foot work to draw Alexander in at points and making Devon pay with his trademark blistering hand speed. Everything Alexander offered was cancelled by Khan’s lightening replies.

Alexander showed a resurgence in the eight, landing solid left straights with a right hook up top on the end. Khan seemingly stepped off the gas a touch in this round. Rounds nine through ten Khan put his foot on the gas again, cracking Devon with combinations whilst keeping him neutralized offensively.

In the final two rounds Alexander remained out of his comfort zone, almost in the role of a slugger chasing Khan around the ring as Amir peppered Devon with some eye catching shots. Khan upheld his discipline and commitment to a game plan of employing slick footwork incorporated with swift combinations in blitzing attacks to cruise to a wide margined victory. The judges agreed as they handed in scorecards of 119 – 109, 118 – 110, 120 – 108 in favour of Amir Khan.

Following a convincing and blistering victory over Devon Alexander, Amir Khan has launched himself into a position of relevance and a legitimate case to face Floyd Mayweather on May 2nd. Regardless of this fact, that fight all hinges on the possibility of Floyd Mayweather facing Manny Pacquaio on the aforementioned date. Khan must now lay in wait for the Mayweather vs Pacquiao talks to fall through, as it has numerous times in the past. If history repeats itself again, Khan would most likely be the 46th man to attempt to end Mayweather’s undefeated streak and carve his place in history.