Vaughn Alexander didn’t want to delve all that much into the specific hows and whys he ended up doing 11 years in prison, after starting out 5-0 as a pro boxer who was looking at, likely, a solid career with promises of payoffs in the not too distant future. Then, the missteps, and the debt to society that needed to be paid. 11 years, a lengthy stint. Armed robbery and assault, that explains the length of sentence. Oh, and the prosector said that a sheriff, in St Louis where he and younger-by-a-year brother Devon were bred, was in the crossfire of Vaughn when the turning point incident occurred. That really explains the lengthy sentence.
Career obits were written, but this was premature. Alexander got out, and he’s young enough to still be considered a prospect. He’s 31, and is fighting tonight, Thursday night, in the main event at Mohegan Sun in CT, against Elvin Ayala, on a card promoted by Main Events.
One wonders, how did the prison stint affect him? Surely he wasn’t able to get that needed instruction and sparring and such which would enable him to exit the premises and pick up right back where he left off?
“To keep my hands up, I beat up a lot of people in there,” Alexander told the day before the Mohegan rumble. “I went to prison for multiple things, 11 years I did my time, I learned all the lessons you need to learn. The most important thing is I’m back. I’m somebody on notice. Now, was it hard to adjust? I wouldn’t necessarily say it was hard. I took care of my body in prison, the whole 11 years I was hoping and praying I’d be back in this position. It wasn’t necessarily hard to get back acclimated to the ring, but fighting is different than working out and staying in shape. I had to get back and grind. Now I’m getting back to my form. The sky is the limit for me. There was no sparring in prison, they took that out before I got to prison. So, to keep my hands sharp I beat up a lot of people in there.”
Potosi Correctional Center in Mineral, Missouri, word spread quick the kid had hands, knew what to do with them. But there is nothing but time in there, guys get bored, they seek a challenge, so Alexander got challenged. And his talent stood out. But out here? He’s facing other men with talent and training.
Elvin Ayala is 36, but a game vet, tells me he’s never felt better, is so mentally dialed in, he expects totally to hand Alexander an L. “Is Ayala a step up on paper? Uh, I mean on paper, it’s looking that way, but man this another dude to smash,” Alexander stated. “I respect anyone that gets in there, but I’m gonna go in there and take care of business, get him out early, not play with him, show them this not a step up for me.”
He’s scouted the 29-9-1 CT resident Ayala, he said. “I’ve see three or four of his fights, I looked him up. I ain’t seeing nothing special with the guy. It ain’t no shock in his abilities that concern me. It is definitely not going the distance.”
If you have seen Devon but not Vaughn fight, here are the differences in the Alexanders. “Devon is way different, he’s a boxer, he got power, don’t get me wrong, but he throws good combinations, good short punches, me I’m more a take it to the middle of the ring type guy. I’m trying to get those guys out of there, not trying to be there all night!”
Alexander struck me as being coiled, tight but just right, ready to show all that they were missing out on beatings he’d dispense on them while he was on state sponsored hiatus.
“Do I want to make up ground quick? No, because I don’t have that type of mind frame. I’m working hard, whoever they put in there I will take care of business. It’s not as much ‘gone, so long,’ it’s what I’m doing now. I prepared while I was locked up. I didn’t suffer no beatings all I did was work out. I’m somebody they got to worry about!”
OK, who is “they?”
“I’m ready for a world title right now, it’s up to Main Events. In a title shot I will take of business then as well. I watch all these guys, that’s what I do, especially the top ten. Danny, GGG…I’m not blowing smoke, nobody in there is ready for me, number one to number ten! I bring to the table what they don’t know. All these guys are straight up and down, no special effects in the middleweight division. I will fight whoever, number one to ten, step to the plate. I know how to win. In this division, I’m a whole lot to deal with, I’m ready to take over the division, no sugar coat, I’m not here to make money, be a name, I’m trying to be the name, so I’m working hard and training to get to a plateau. Everybody need to be on notice.”
Finally, prediction please, Vaughn Alexander: “It definitely not going the distance, that’s my word.”
