Floyd Mayweather vs. Devon Alexander Is a Smart Business Decision, Here's Why

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Floyd Mayweather has once again surprised the boxing experts by announcing the "front-runner" for his next fight. IBF welterweight champion Devon Alexander will most likely be Mayweather's next ring foe on May 4.

Already, criticism is pouring in from writers such as a my colleague at Bleacher Report, Kevin McRae, who seems almost disgusted with the choice.

What they don't see is the business genius of such a maneuver.

While the likes of WBC interim champion Robert Guerrero or WBC junior middleweight champion Saul Alvarez were expected, choosing Alexander allows both to end up possibly on Mayweather's undercard.

Here's a look into how this sneaky maneuver could formulate a great business plan.

Golden Boy Can Test Saul Alvarez Without Fear

Saul Alvarez
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Floyd Mayweather vs. Saul Alvarez has always had blockbuster potential due to both fighters having immense star power, but the fight could sell even more if fans could be sold on Alvarez's chances of winning.

If Alvarez can beat Austin Trout, the man who beat Miguel Cotto, on May 4, then a proposed Sept. 14 matchup could be bigger than its ever been. Unfortunately, Trout is a very dangerous foe.

Thanks to Mayweather choosing Alexander as his latest opponent, Mayweather and Golden Boy Promotions still have a tough Mexican foe in Robert Guerrero on standby in the event Alvarez loses.

Mayweather's Old Age and Alexander's Youth Can Be a Selling Point

Devon Alexander
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Devon Alexander is a 25-year-old world champion. He won his world title from 38-year-old Randall Bailey last October.

Floyd Mayweather is 36 years old. His last fight was May 5 at the junior middleweight level. He's since spent two months in jail and will come in the ring as a welterweight for the first time since September 2011.

The fight sells itself alone off age, and Father Time without the use of credentials and name recognition.

Alexander Is an American Boxer and Not Just Another Come Forward Mexican

Oscar De La Hoya, pictured left, begat the trend of Floyd Mayweather fighting Mexican fighters to capitalize on the immense PPV audience.
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Floyd Mayweather is a smart businessman, and as such, notices when something is going right. His fight vs. Mexico's Oscar De La Hoya on Cinco De Mayo of 2007 yielded an unprecedented fortune.

Mayweather has since sold the Mexican audience on the next tough Hispanic fighter. Of his five opponents since, two were Mexican and one was Puerto Rican and had beaten a popular Mexican fighter.

Now Mayweather is facing an American fighter. The last time Mayweather faced another Black American, Shane Mosley in 2010, he was nearly decapitated in Round 2.

The crowd erupted for what could've been the destruction of Mayweather, but Mayweather weathered the storm and defeated an easily winded 38-year-old Mosley.

Though he doesn't have Mosley's power, Alexander is 13 years younger than Mosley was during that fight, and that will be all some fight fans have to hear.

Mayweather Can Gauge His Abilities

Mayweather has been in jail two months and is a year removed from the ring.
David Becker/Getty Images

Can he still land with the same amount of accuracy as before? Can he still avoid shots? Is he fast enough to counter? All these questions can be answered by a fast defensive fighter in Devon Alexander.

Alexander will counter Floyd Mayweather if he's too slow, and Alexander will cower and cover up if Mayweather becomes too fast or overwhelms him as he did in the past against Timothy Bradley.

Alexander's lack of one-punch knockout power and lack of an aggressive assault will leave Mayweather the room for error necessary to shake off whatever dust and cobwebs may be left from jail and inactivity.

 

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