By Dean Parr

On June 19th, Hackney slickster Mark Alexander, 10-4 (1 KO), registered a 59-55 points victory over the game Sid Razak, 4-48 (1 early). This victory pleased the 34 year-old.  “Out of ten, I'd give myself six,” analysed Mark.

“It was a good opportunity to work on things, and my corner were saying I was doing the right thing by just boxing.  I was out of range, getting the rounds and working; that's what we wanted.  Because he's a veteran fighter and he knows what he's doing it there, we just kept him away and at length.  It just went to plan and everything was great.”

Alexander then described the pattern and passage of the bout.  He noted, “I came out with jabs and won the fight with the jab.  That was the main thing because I wanted to get the jab off to get the point scoring going and pick him off at long range.”

“I was really looking for a whole boxing match; it wasn't about the knockout or anything,” he flowed.  “I was told he'd be really difficult to get the knockout with, so I thought I'm not going to look for that knockout if it's not going to come, but if it's there, it's there.

“I'm going to box because I'm a boxer first, so I went for that, and the jabs and movement were there.  Some people haven't seen that side of boxing with me because they saw the last fight and thought it'd be just a knockout straight, but I'm a boxer first.”

Indeed, Alexander is certain this was good preparation for his WBF International Title tilt against Ryan Barrett on September 11th .  “I went back to my old style, picked him off and it was a good performance,” stated the underrated Londoner.

“It will get me ready for the main fight to come, but of course when you have Ryan Barrett watching you, you don't want to show everything that you've got, and just want to work on certain things.  That's what I was doing on the inside to see how that worked; I was fighting specifically to practice a few things.  Now I'm happy for September and I can't wait.

“I'd watched Razak fight and I was told I wouldn't find him easy to hit because he covers up well.  Once I was told how he was before the fight, I thought there'd be no point me going in there with a plan to take him out.  I just worked on the boxing because I do need the rounds and they were important for me to get.  Even if I'd have knocked him out in one or two rounds, it wouldn't have been useful because you need to get used to your corner talking to you between rounds and seeing things you need to work on.  The work was 100% what I needed.”

Now, Mark looks ahead to the aforementioned title tilt; something he's beaming about.  “I'm really excited for it.  It's a WBF International Title fight; I'm really up for that,” he revealed.  “This is what I've been waiting for; to get the break and to get the chance, and it's come now so I've got to take it.”

His opponent on the Goodwin Promotions show is a seasoned veteran, but Alexander reckons he has all the tools to defeat Ryan Barrett, 20-8-2 (4 KOs).  Mark said,  “He's a southpaw but I can box southpaws, he's tall like myself and he just keeps you at long range.

“He's also a bit awkward and can keep you on the backfoot.  Some people can't get through his jab, because he tries to push you back and keep you at bay.  He'll probably try to do that with me even though I'm tall myself.

“It'll be a boxing match because he's a boxer and I'm one too, so it'll be good to see who has the better skills and who can display them on the day.  It'll be a good fight for that and I'm looking forward to testing myself.”

"I'll outbox Barrett,” he predicted.  “I believe with my skills I can do that.  He'll try to do that, and he was saying in the press that he's got more experience than me and against quality fighters like [Amir] Khan and [Henry] Castle.

“He probably thinks that's enough to beat me, but I've got a lot of amateur experience behind me as well, plus my skill level, so I've got the same pedigree as him, if not more.  It's about who can display the better skills, and who's the more skilled fighter out of Barrett and myself.  I have better skills but I must deliver on the night; if I don't then I could be beaten, so I have to really put it all on show.”

When asked how he thought the fight could pan out, Mark claimed, “I've got to now make the statement and win that fight”, before admitting, “the only problem is our styles; it could make for a boring fight.  I'm tall and he's tall, but we'll try not to make it like that, but a win's a win and that's what I need to do.  Winning this opens doors that I've been waiting so long for.  It's really big for me.

“I could stop him. I'm not underestimating him but I have the power to do it.  I am hitting really hard, but it depends on how he approaches the fight and comes out.  I'll be sharp, strong and hitting hard on the night, so if he gets caught, it could be over quick.”

Supposing this fight goes well, Alexander's future is mapped out and his next move is clear.  “I can taste it,” he stated.  “I've got a few deals in America already; I wish I was there tomorrow, and there's a trainer over there who's waiting for me to come over.  I'll be living out there, sparring and getting fights.  It's on the plate for me to do it but I really want to take this title.  I'm being serious about this fight and getting it out of the way.  Then, it'll be a lot easier to just move on from there.”

Mark does appreciate the importance of this fight though, and knows he must emerge victorious.  “I'm happy for this fight,” he enthused.

“It's here, the title's on the line and you can get that and move on.  It's great and what I've been waiting so long for.  I've got to take it; if I really want to get something now, it's there and I've got to deliver.  You're going to get 100% from me, and I know Barrett's up for it because there's a chance for him as well.  He knows he can take a belt and he said if he loses to me he'll retire.

“I need to win this as well.  A loss would put me in a bad place.  I could have just gone over to the States now, and climbed the ladder the way.  If I lose, I can come back, but I will not lose.”

For more information on Mark's ‘make or break’ fight, visit http://www.goodwinpromotions.co.uk.