Alexander vs Bailey results: Devon Alexander takes IBF title with dull decision win

Devon Alexander and Randall Bailey drew boos from the Barclays Center crowd in Brooklyn for all 12 rounds tonight, but Alexander left the debut boxing show at the new arena with the IBF title on scores of 117-109, 116-110, and 115-111. BLH scored it 117-109.

Alexander (24-1, 13 KO) wasn't nearly as impressive tonight as he was in February against Marcos Maidana, when he looked powerful, quick, and dialed-in. Tonight, he was a bit more tentative, but the blame isn't really on him. Alexander threw 534 punches and landed 120, which isn't great workrate but certainly could be worse.

Example of worse: Bailey threw a grand total of 198 punches in this fight, only 79 of which were power punches, and landed just 45 total (28 power punches landed). Bailey (43-8, 37 KO) is a 38-year-old one-trick pony and fights like it, and tonight, he didn't find a home for his One Big Bomb the way he did against Mike Jones in June. Bailey is a nice, likeable fighter, but he is not exciting, and this fight was a dreadful bore.

Alexander now is set up to face Kell Brook, who earlier today won an IBF eliminator over Hector Saldivia. Brook's promoter Eddie Hearn already tweeted about that:

Devon Alexander do you want the good news or bad news? Good news is you are now IBF champ..bad news is you have to fight @SpecialKBrook next

Our live coverage of the Barclays Center boxing debut continues here, with three more big fights to come. Hopefully, the excitement levels pick up quickly. Hassan N'dam defends the WBO middleweight title next against Peter Quillin.