DENIS LEBEDEV vs ALEXANDER ALEXEEV

One of the most intriguing European fights of the year takes place in Germany on Saturday when southpaw cruiserweights Denis Lebedev and Alexander Alexeev meet in a championship eliminator.
 
Alexeev is the house fighter on the Universum show while Lebedev is in the same camp as heavyweight contender Alexander Povetkin.
 
The Russian Lebedev is unbeaten and has a confident, powerful look. He wrecked Enzo Maccarinelli in three rounds in Britain and busted up the durable Ali Ismailov for a six-round stoppage win. The 30-year-old who wears a Russian paratrooper blue beret into the ring is a seriously tough fighter.
 
Alexeev seemed destined for glory when he turned professional after an outstanding amateur career but the 29-year-old from Uzbekistan (now living in Hamburg) suffered an unexpected and severe defeat when he ran out of stamina and was overpowered in nine rounds by Argentinean strongman Victor Ramirez in January 2009.
 
That fight raised major concerns. Alexeev was dominant early but began to fade from the sixth. He was exhausted and out on his feet in the ninth.
 
Alexeev’s mental and physical strength must now be considered suspect. He looked tentative when outpointing Max Alexander in his first bout after the Ramirez shocker but has halted his last two opponents.
 
Sometimes a fighter can come back better than before after a loss because lessons will have been learned. Alexeev, I think, assumed that, after nine consecutive stoppage wins, he could get Ramirez out of the fight if he kept firing. When the tank-like Ramirez kept coming, Alexeev was in trouble.
 
On Saturday, Alexeev faces a skilled and dangerous opponent but this could develop into a set-piece boxing match, moves and counter moves. The taller, rangier Alexeev, with his amateur pedigree, can win this type of fight.
 
We have two boxers here of comparable ability, each of whom can punch hard. Lebedev looks much the sturdier man but he has never faced anyone quite as competent as Alexeev.
 
If Alexeev can box a disciplined fight, if he has overcome any mental demons lurking in his mind after the Ramirez fight, I think he has the talent to eke out an upset win. With considerable hesitancy, I’m edging towards Alexeev surprising the critics who have written him off.