In his professional boxing debut on Saturday night in Louisville, Henderson’s Alex “The Real Deal” Maldonado knocked out his opponent in the first round, according to the fight’s promoter.
“Alex looked phenomenal in his debut fight,” Louisville-based promoter Nicholas Bareis reported via email. “He has a big future in the sport. He has a great team and his trainer/dad Danny Maldonado is excellent.”
Daniel Maldonado, himself a former professional boxer, said Alex knocked out Janis Cook of Kalamazoo, Michigan, just 40 seconds into the first round. The elder Maldonado said he likewise knocked out his first pro opponent in the first round in 2000.
“Alex did an amazing job,” Daniel Maldonado said in a text message. “… (H)ad a great turnout with the crowd; they loved him.”
The elder Maldonado called himself a “Very Proud Pappa.”
Alex Maldonado, who at 5-foot-5 was three inches shorter than his opponent, was correct in his pre-fight assessment that the height difference wouldn’t be a deterrent. Nor did the fact that Cook is left-handed.
“Alex is a pressure fighter and throws punches in bunches,” Bareis said. “His style, speed and power are rare at the bantamweight division. He is a must-see fighter and has the potential to become one of the top fighters in the world in his division.”
The 10-fight card was organized by Bareis’ company, Superstars of Boxing, in an event at The Bourbon Hall event venue in downtown Louisville.
More pro fights have been lined up for Alex Maldonado, including Oct. 25 in Jackson, Tennessee; a possible date in December; Jan. 16, 2026 in Cleveland; and a date to be determined in February 2026 in Evansville.
Eventually, his father said he would like to arrange for him to fight in Henderson, if the right venue can be found.
Read a preview article about the fight and Alex Maldonado here.
