Promoter Don King has been tenaciously promoting his Saturday fight card in St. Charles—that will make Missouri history with three world championships—but he made time to make sure this fight card will be seen in his beloved Mexico by striking a deal with Mexico’s Cadena Tres (“La Television Mas Abierta que Nunca”), which is seen in Mexico on channel 28 or 128 on Skye Television.
The card will feature former WBC super lightweight champion Devon Alexander “The Great” (21-1, 13 KOs) in a significant test near his hometown of St. Louis against dangerous Argentine knockout artist and No. 3-ranked contender Lucas Matthysse (28-1, 26 KOs) from The Family Arena in St. Charles.
King will support the Alexander-Matthysse main event with the WBC Silver heavyweight championship pitting WBC No. 7-ranked Bermane “B-Ware” Stiverne (20-1-1, 19 KOs), from Haiti, against WBC No. 4-ranked Ray “The Rainman” Austin (28-5-4, 18 KOs), from America, and St. Charles-born undefeated cruiserweight and WBC-USNBC champion Ryan “The Irish Outlaw” Coyne (16-0, 6 KOs) will face undefeated “King” David McNemar (13-0, 10 KOs), from America.
Additional Americans on the telecast include undefeated IBF light heavyweight champion Tavoris “Thunder” Cloud (21-0, 18 KOs), from Tallahassee, Fla., will defend his title against IBF No. 1-ranked mandatory challenger Yusaf “Mack Attack” Mack (29-3-2, 26 KOs), from Philadelphia; and IBF junior middleweight champion Cornelius “K9” Bundrage (30-4, 18 KOs), from Detroit, will defend his title against IBF No. 1-ranked mandatory challenger Sechew Powell, from Brooklyn, N.Y.
“Viva Mexico, Viva Mexico, Viva Mexico,” King said after completing the deal. “I love Mexico and I love the Mexican people. I couldn’t be more excited to know that all my Mexican brothers and sisters will be able to tune in to see my terrific world championship fight card on Saturday.”
Cadena Tres has been in operation for four years and previously telecast Don King events including “History in Cancun” where Samuel “The Nigerian Nightmare” Peter won the WBC heavyweight championship over Oleg Maskaev (2008) and “We Are Together” from Chengdu, China. (2008)
Alexander, 24, skyrocketed to become the World Boxing Council super lightweight champion at age 22. The talented southpaw became a unified world champion last year after defeating then-International Boxing Federation 140-pound champion Juan “Iron Twins” Urango.
Alexander’s career undefeated streak was snapped on Jan. 29 by World Boxing Organization junior welterweight champion Timothy “Desert Storm” Bradley at the Silverdome in Pontiac, Mich. After suffering numerous head butts throughout the contest, referee Frank Garza halted the match in round 10 after consulting with the ringside physician. The judges favored Bradley 96-95, 97-93 and 98-93.
Rather than opting to face a lesser opponent, Alexander has chosen a dangerous puncher in Matthysse, 28, from Trelew, Agrentina. Matthysse has a career knockout percentage over 92 percent with 26 of 28 victories coming by knockout.
In his most notable bout, Matthysse came within a whisker of knocking out five-time world champion Zab “Super” Judah in the 10th round on Nov. 6 at Prudential Center in Newark, N.J. Matthysse tagged Judah with a brutal right hand in the 10th round that sent Judah to the mat. Later in the round, Matthysse landed a sweeping left hook that staggered Judah again. Judah managed to escape the round and finish the fight—winning by the slimmest margin possible. One judge favored Matthysse 114-113, but the remaining two scorers favored Judah by a point, 114-113.
Matthysee and Alexander have a common opponent in former world champion DeMarcus “Chop Chop” Corley. Matthyssee knocked Corley down nine times en route to an eighth-round win by technical knockout on June 21 in Argentina. Alexander won a unanimous decision over Corley in 2008 at New York’s Madison Square Garden.
The winner of this match will become the top contender at the 140-pound weight limit.
Mr. King, I just want to say “Thanks!” I just saw a piece on AFN portraying the great things you’ve done. I called my boys to look and then I showed them a photo I took with you at Patch Barracks in Stuttgart, Germany. They were stunned. Sometimes little things can mean great impact! I’m the Man sitting next to the Man! Again, thanks, Sir!