Mandatory Eight Count: Devon Alexander, Roy Jones Jr. and More

Boxing champion survived where friends went astray (AP)
Nancy Armour of the Associated Press has an excellent portrait of 140-pound titlist Devon Alexander. Alexander began boxing when he was seven. Of his 30 young friends who boxed with him in that St. Louis gym, eight are now dead and 10 are in or have been in prison (including Alexander's brother).

Robert Stieglitz Defends on 1/9; Herbie Hide Withdraws (Boxing Scene)
Per Ake Persson reports that Robert Stieglitz, who won the WBO super middleweight title earlier this year, will defend for the first time on January 9. Herbie Hide was going to fight for the European cruiserweight title on the same card, but has pulled out and is looking for a fight with new WBC titlist Zsolt Erdei.

Thanksgiving offers no rest for busy boxing folks (ESPN)
Dan Rafael reports that Glen Johnson and Karo Murat will be fighting a light heavyweight title eliminator, and also says that a deal is pretty close to get Edison Miranda that shot at Stieglitz. Leon Margules and Dan Goossen co-promote Miranda. Let me see if I can keep up the flow...

It's business as usual for Warriors Boxing's new owner (Miami Herald)
YES! Leon Margules, who had operated Seminole Warriors Boxing for the Seminole tribe in Florida, has become full owner. The tribe decided to concentrate on its casino business. All fighters -- including Glen Johnson, Celestino Caballero and Juan Urango -- have been retained.

Roy Jones out to spill Green's blood (Sydney Morning Herald)
Roy Jones Jr. is starting to talk a big game, and it doesn't appear as though he's going to use the sparring issues that have come up as a reason to pull out of the December 2 fight with Danny Green. When asked if he's worried about Green's power, Jones said, "He does have a good overhand right, but no."

Filipino Boxing Champ Denies Affair With Starlet (AHN)
I care about Manny Pacquiao's "did he or didn't he?" alleged affair with "movie starlet" Krista Ranillo about as much as I care about what club Paris Hilton, but he's officially denying it.

Stepping into the Ring with Yuri Foreman, Boxing World Champ (Heeb Magazine)
Yuri Foreman talks with Heeb Magazine. The new WBO junior middleweight titlist's public exposure has really raised in the last couple of months. It really couldn't happen to a nicer guy, either.

The Super Six on Paper and in the Ring (The Boxing Bulletin)
Jeff Pryor takes a look at the Super Six World Boxing Classic as it stands after the first stage.