Looking back: Notes from the Alexander- Bradley 'super fight' weigh- ins

Don King obviously loves the limelight and he regaled the crowd not only with his huge presence but also his gift of gab. King with his trademark unlit tobacco wedged between his fingers can talk and talk and talk for eternity. Every now and then, he would launch into inconsequential monologues over whatever things come up on his mind but the people really don't mind or perhaps nobody was really listening as long as they had their pictures taken with the 'King'. 

 

Don King was very friendly and personable and gamely did his share to hype the fight not only with his booming voice but also with his winsome smile. No wonder people will tell you that King can sell anything and people will buy them without question.  Don King certainly wowed and won the Silverdome crowd to his side. 

 

Devon Alexander is fan- friendly, approachable and has a ready smile for everyone. Timothy Bradley is aloof and prefers the confines of the backstage room rather than meeting and interacting with boxing fans.  

 

During the meeting of the officials, promoters and boxer's representative, Devon Alexander's camp asked the referee Frank Garza to be on the lookout for Timothy Bradley's headbutts. Alexander's camp was very adamant that the referee should be vigilant about the issue since Bradley's "last 6 fights all ended up in fighters being cut".   

 

Timothy Bradley's promoter Gary Shaw's concerns were the security of the place. He wanted additional security inside the venue as well as near the boxers' corners. Shaw also made it clear to limit the number of people to enter the ring at any point before and after the fight. Perhaps, Bradley's people have an inkling that the fight will end up the way it ended, huh?

 

Current IBF junior middleweight champion Cornelius "K9" Bundrage barked his way to the crowd to announce his presence. The very amiable champion gamely posed for pictures and signed autographs for the fans. He also reiterated repeatedly to whoever cared to listen his wish of fighting current pound- for - pound king Manny Pacquiao, if given the chance. K9 obviously wants a big payday and although he is a current belt holder in the same weight division, the chances of landing that one with the Filipino superstar are quite impossible at the moment. 

 

But with Floyd Mayweather, Jr. in legal troubles and has not shown any inkling or willingness to trade punches with the Pacman, Don King, K9's current promoter can perhaps weave his magic again and make a deal with Bob Arum, and K9's wish might be granted sooner than later. Yes, this is boxing, the sports world's "red light district" where anything can happen and everything is possible--with the right price and connections.

 

Contrary to his ring persona, former WBO junior welterweight champion Kendall Holt is a quiet person. He quietly sat in a corner chair amid all the buzz and cacophony of the event but would readily oblige a fan with a picture or two, if asked. 

 

 A prominent member of the mainstream media was the object of disdain and the subject of ridicule by some of his colleagues (?) and the people who attended the weigh- ins. Moments before the weigh- ins the lady host announced to clear a particular area in front of the stage so that some photographers in the makeshift podium could take pictures without being obstructed. 

 

But the moment the weigh- ins started, this particular media character with his massive frame moved and stood into the center of 'no man's land' and despite the protests of the photographers behind him, maintained his ground as if he did not hear all the yelling and hollering directed at him to move out of the picture. 

 

Some media members, particularly the photojournalists, can only shake their heads at this man's arrogance and murmured, "Perhaps, being a prominent media personality gave him the license to throw his weight around."

 

 

 

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