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Blog: Amir Khan blows out Devon Alexander in unanimous-decision win

Keith Thurman sweeps Leonard Burdu on all three judges’ scorecards

Khan vs. Alexander

Steve Marcus

Amir Khan of Britain, left, connects on Devon Alexander of St. Louis, Mo., during a welterweight fight at the MGM Grand Garden Arena on Saturday, Dec. 13, 2014.

Updated Saturday, Dec. 13, 2014 | 9:37 p.m.

Khan vs. Alexander at MGM Grand

Amir Khan of Britain, left, punches at Devon Alexander of St. Louis, Mo., during a welterweight fight at the MGM Grand Garden Arena on Saturday, Dec. 13, 2014. Launch slideshow »

The fight billed as a “Royal Battle” turned into a royal beating.

Amir Khan whipped Devon Alexander in one of the most anticipated welterweight bouts of the year Saturday at the MGM Grand Garden Arena. Alexander arguably didn’t win a single round in a bout that went to Khan by unanimous decision (120-108, 119-110, 118-111).

“I’m getting better with age,” the 28-year-old Khan declared. “I just feel like I’m now starting to hit my peak. I worked very hard and put on one of my best performances.”

Khan out-landed Alexander by nearly three times, with the final punch tally a lopsided 263 to 91.

He established his jab early and used the constant pressure to bash Alexander with a left hook. Alexander couldn’t figure out how to deal with the speed of Khan, who weaved in and out at will.

“I just couldn’t catch him,” Alexander said. “I was having a hard time catching him even when he was punching wild.”

Khan called out Floyd Mayweather Jr. after the fight, campaigning that he earned a bout against the sport’s pound-for-pound king. Surprisingly, he was the only one.

Keith Thurman, another potential Mayweather opponent, also got an easy win on the card with a unanimous decision (120-107, 120-107, 120-107) over Leonard Bundu. But instead of aiming for Mayweather, Thurman set his sights on Marcos Maidana, who was sitting ringside.

Thurman is known as a power puncher but, aside from a first-round knockdown, Khan appeared to land with even more force Saturday. The United Kingdom star said it was the best performance of his career, a feeling affirmed by his trainer Virgil Hunter.

“I thought his performance was great,” Hunter said. “He had a 9.9 out of 10. He would venture off the game plan and come right back.”

Check below for a live blog of the action and come back to lasvegasun.com later for more coverage.

Floyd Mayweather Jr., may have landed a body shot to the stakes of tonight’s Amir Khan vs. Devon Alexander showdown at the MGM Grand Garden Arena.

Mayweather announced last night that he wanted to fight Manny Pacquiao on May 2 in this same building. It’s the fight the whole boxing world still wants to see — except the fighters in tonight’s main event and the promoters putting on the “Royal Battle” card.

Golden Boy Promotions President Oscar De La Hoya had spoken highly of the prospects of the winner between Khan and Alexander becoming Mayweather’s next opponent. After last night’s news, his optimism might be misguided.

Luckily for De La Hoya, there’s a still buzz for the last major boxing event of the year. With Timothy Bradley and Diego Chaves meeting down the street at the Cosmopolitan, it’s a big night for the sport — and the welterweight division in particular.

Khan and Alexander are unanimously among the top 10 of the 147-pound weight class. Their collision will impact the sport whether they get Mayweather next or not.

All week, Khan has repeated the trite phrase that he’s “the future” of boxing. It might be time to officially drop the distinction if he loses his third fight in his past six.

Khan has bounced back from losses in 2011 and 2012 to Lamont Peterson and Danny Garcia, respectively, to win three in a row, but none of those fighters was as game as Alexander.

The St. Louis native was once called “the future” as much as Khan. The hype wore off a little with losses to Bradley and Shawn Porter, but Alexander has soundly beaten almost everyone else — including Mayweather foil Marcos Maidana.

The best welterweight fighting tonight might not even be in the main event, though. Undefeated Keith Thurman, the WBA welterweight champion, fights Leonard Bundu in direct support of Khan vs. Alexander.

He’s not the only champion returning after more than six months off. Former WBC bantamweight titlist Abner Mares continues his climb back to the top against Jose Ramirez.

Stay tuned to lasvegassun.com for a ringside round-by-round blog of Khan vs. Alexander and other updates.

Case Keefer can be reached at 948-2790 or [email protected]. Follow Case on Twitter at twitter.com/casekeefer.

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