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Timothy Bradley defeats Devon Alexander by unanimous decision

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Timothy Bradley (27-0, 11 knockouts) defeated Devon Alexander (21-1, 13 knockouts) by unanimous decision on Saturday night at the Silverdome in Pontiac, Mich., after the junior-welterweight title-unification fight was stopped in the 10th round following an accidental head butt.

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Bradley, the WBO champion who hails from Palm Springs, had a wide margin of victory on two of the three judges’ scorecards when referee Frank Garza called a halt to the bout after WBC champion Alexander complained about an inability to see from his left eye.

The official scoring: Duane Ford had it 97-93; Omar Mintun judged it 98-93; Tim Miller called it 96-95.

There was much at stake in the bout, given the interest by Golden Boy Promotions to place the winner in another unification bout against England’s Amir Khan, possibly at Staples Center, in the summer.

For Bradley, the bout represents his first million-dollar check -- he’s earning $1.1 million -- and the opportunity to leave himself strongly positioned with another HBO fight before he becomes a free agent and the object of a lucrative bidding war.

Here’s the round-by-round recap (with unofficial scoring):

Before a crowd of 6,247 at the Silverdome outside Detroit, WBO champion Bradley and WBC champion Alexander take to settling the rich argument of who stands as the most talented fighter in the loaded 140-pound division.

Round 1: Referee Frank Garza and judges Duane Ford, Omar Mintun and Tom Miller are the arbiters.
The southpaw Alexander tries to jab. Bradley goes to the body. They exchange power punches. Alexander’s speed looks strong, but Bradley forces him to ropes and lands. Round to Bradley, 10-9.

Round 2: Bradley holds and lands a right. Alexander’s jab not landing. Bradley dodges it, goes to body. Nice rights to the head and body by Bradley. Bradley whiffs and stumbles. Alexander lands softly. Nice right to body by Bradley. Round to Bradley, 10-9. Bradley leads fight, 20-18.

Round 3: Bradley lands a left. Big lefts by Bradley as he charges forward. Bradley punches noticeably harder. Bradley to the body. Alexander gets in a right. Bradley clinches. Alexander poked in right eye. Action stops. Resumes. Fighters come together, best shot to Bradley with an overhand right. Round to Bradley, 10-9. Bradley leads fight, 30-27. Round 4: Two hard lefts by Bradley. Alexander trying to box, Bradley pressing forward. Alexander faces the challenge of trying to hurt Bradley, looks like difficult situation. Alexander more free with right this round. He sneaks in a left to the face. Nice right by Bradley backs up Alexander, as does a second against Bradley’s corner. Round to Bradley, 10-9. Bradley leads fight, 40-36.

Round 5: Good left by Bradley on break of exchange. Bradley pounding body in clinch. Alexander grunting but struggling to inflict damage. Bradley ducks, hits the body. Alexander counters. Nice left by Bradley. Alexander answer with a hook. Round to Alexander, 10-9. Bradley leads fight, 49-46.

Round 6: Clean right to face by Bradley. Alexander warned of using elbow. Clean left by Alexander. Nice exchange of lefts. Alexander’s right eye swelling a bit. Big right by Bradley charging in. Good combo by Bradley at close range. Alexander still trying to come forward. Round to Bradley, 10-9. Bradley leads fight, 59-55.

Round 7: Alexander lands a jab. Bradley forces him to ropes. Bradley works to the body, scores. Bradley jabs at Alexander’s wounded right eye. Alexander returns a jab. Right by Bradley. Alexander punches with Bradley covering, good right to body by Bradley. Exchange at bell ends in a hug. Round to Bradley, 10-9. Bradley leads fight, 69-64.

Round 8: Bradley lands a jab. Alexander looking to stay busy, but not phasing Bradley. Left by Alexander lands. Right hook by Bradley while holding. Alexander lands another jab. Bradley bothered by some head butts. The fighters exchange rights. Alexander’s pace quickens, but Bradley lands big right before bell. Round to Bradley, 10-9. Bradley leads fight, 79-73.

Round 9: Good exchange punctuated by Bradley’s clean right. A little swelling under Bradley’s left eye, the result of Alexander jabs. Nice right to body by Bradley, and another to face. Both land in a clean exchange. Nothing near bell. Round to Bradley, 10-9. Bradley leads fight, 89-82.

Round 10: Jab, jab by Bradley. Good jab by Alexander. Bradley is still the aggressor, charging Alexander. Heads collide. Alexander gets the worse of it. Bends to his knees in neutral corner as action stops, goes to his corner for inspection. Bradley wants fight to resume. Crowd boos stoppage. Fight is officially stopped. Alexander says he can’t see. Scores coming. Boos cascade in stadium. Round to Bradley, 10-9. Bradley leads fight, 99-91.

The judges rule Bradley the winner by unanimous decision: Duane Ford scores it 97-93; Omar Mintun judges it 98-93; Tim Miller has it 96-95.

Referee Frank Garza stopped the fight in the 10th round after Alexander was unable to continue as a result of an accidental head butt at 1:59 mark.

--Lance Pugmire

Carlos Osorio / Associated Press

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