England’s Lee Purdy will replace unbeaten compatriot Kell Brook in a May 18 world welterweight title bout against American southpaw Devon Alexander, promoters announced on Tuesday.
Purdy, 20-3 with one drawn and 13 knockouts, will challenge for the International Boxing Federation crown held by Alexander, 24-1 with 13 knockouts, at Atlantic City’s Boardwalk Hall.
Brook, 29-0 with 19 knockouts, was forced to withdraw from the fight because of a foot injury. The bout had been delayed twice before, first by a Brook ankle injury in December and then by a February biceps injury to Alexander.
Alexander, a former world light welterweight champion, took the title with a unanimous decision last October over Randall Bailey at New York.
Purdy will be fighting in his first world title bout, and comes in off a ninth-round stoppage of Mexico’s Cosme Rivera on March 9 at London’s Wembley Arena, his fourth win in a row inside the distance over the past year.
Also on the Alexander-Purdy card will be American Lamont Peterson, the IBF light welterweight champion who is 31-1-1 with 16 knockouts, facing Argentina’s Lucas Matthysse, 33-2 with 31 knockouts.
