Timothy Bradley at Kronk Gym, Detroit, Michigan

Timothy "Desert Storm" Bradley interviews at Kronk Gym during his fight week media day.

Devon Alexander At Kronk Gym

Fight Week, Rock City: Devon Alexander Training Camp Notes

Like most boxers, I have great respect for the champions who have come before me.  Since I was 7, I have known that boxing is what I wanted to for my career.  I have been soaking up the history of the sport since then.
 
I spent the best part of the last 10 years going to a gym in St. Louis every day with Cory Spinks. His father Leon and his uncle Michael were both world heavyweight champions.  I watched Cory from the amateurs all the way up to undisputed world welterweight champion.
 
I’ve always known about Detroit fighters and the Kronk Gym, too. Tommy Hearns, Mark Breland, John David Jackson—there have been so many.  “The Brown Bomber” Joe Louis will be remembered not only for his boxing, but his military service and the groundbreaking nature of what he was able to accomplish.
 
It’s an honor to be fighting in Detroit.  In addition to the boxing history, there is so much more that has happened here.  All those old school Motown singers and groups that we all still listen to are part of American life.  I drive an American-made, new school Dodge Challenger, and I love it!  Nicest car I’ve ever had.  Thank you for that, Detroit!  And I’ve got to mention that great running back Barry Sanders. I loved watching him play for the Lions in the building I’ll be fighting in on Saturday.
 
I will not be able to see and do too many things in the week I will spend in Detroit leading up to my fight with Tim Bradley.  If you know anything about me and you like boxing, come out and cheer for me as I’ll hear and feel you at the Silverdome.  I’ll be fighting to keep my title, win Timmy’s and to entertain boxing fans in the Motor City.  
 
Timmy and I both know this fight has been coming for a long time.  We’ve been thinking about each other for years.  He’s and undefeated world champion and so am I. We both have our entire professional career riding on this one.  The winner moves on to another big fight.  That’s going to be me.  I have a feeling it’s going to be a great boxing show and something to remember.  Come out and support me and watch as history is made right here in your city.  Fans will be able to say, ‘I remember when Devon Alexander beat Tim Bradley at the Silverdome.

Ready To Peak: Devon Alexander Training Camp Notes

We are in the heart of our training camp.  I’m here in Las Vegas sleeping in Mike Tyson’s old bed in Don King’s house at night, pounding the pavement for six miles every morning and in the gym every afternoon for training and sparring. 

You can’t beat a fight town like Vegas to find good sparring partners.  It is critical for my preparation.  I have guys here who are not just giving me good rounds, they are giving me good looks—the kind of looks I expect to see from Tim Bradley come Jan. 29 at the Silverdome.

A daunting challenge is when we drive up to Mt. Charleston three times a week to run on the mountain road I call The Monster.  It’s one thing to run it in the summer.  It’s quite another to face it in the dead of winter. 

I had a TV crew from HBO up there with me on The Monster last week, and we got snowed off the mountain!  We are up so high I’m jogging by people who are skiing at the Mt. Charleston Ski Resort.  Heck, it snowed two inches in Vegas the other day!  So much for fun in the sun….

My trainer, Kevin Cunningham, has been with me since I was 7.  I wouldn’t be where I am today without him.  He is an excellent trainer.  His goal is to make sure I peak on the night of the fight.  We are moving towards that goal every day.  I feel like that is exactly where we will be come fight night.

I can tell you one thing for sure:  Timmy Bradley is going to have to deal with what I am preparing for.  This isn’t a hobby for me, it’s my job.  Bradley is not going to come to Detroit at the end of this month and take what I have worked my whole life to gain. 

He will have to deal with what I am going to bring.  I know he’s trying to boast himself up, trying to convince himself of all the things he’s going to do.  Well, I remember something Felix Trinidad said when Fernando Vargas was doing a lot of bragging before they fought.  He said there is an old Puerto Rican saying that goes like this: ‘It is one thing to call out the devil, and it is quite another to see him coming.’  You’ll see what happens to Timmy Bradley when he sees me coming.