Tag Archives: Randall Bailey

Undefeated super featherweight prospect Daniel Bailey shipping up to Boston for first time

Daniel Bailey posed.jpeg
BOSTON (September 16, 2021) – Undefeated super featherweight Daniel “G.D.F.E.” Bailey (7-0, 4 KOs) is a young, military man who will be in Boston for the first time. Rather than sightseeing, though, he’s all business as he prepares for his September 25th fight on “Fight Night On The Charles III” at Mosley’s On The Charles in the Boston suburb of Dedham, Massachusetts.

Vertex Promotions, which will promoted “Fight Night On The Charles II” on Friday night, Sept. 24, also presents  “Fight Night On The Charles at Moseley’s III,” as well as the USA Boxing-sanctioned amateur card, 2021 New England Championships, Saturday afternoon, all at “Mosley’s On The Charles.” 

Bailey (7-0, 4 KOs), who fights out of Miami by way of Tampa (FL), will make his New England debut against an opponent to be finalized in a 4-round bout. A 4-time U.S. Army and 2012 Ringside National champion, Bailey is the cousin of multiple world champion Randall Bailey.

Most would think this Army veteran would try to visit Bunker Hill, Lexington and Concord where the Revolutionary War started, or any of the other many historic attractions for tourists in Boston. Forget that he’s not even attending Friday night’s show, never mind visit the nearby city.

“After the weigh-in (Friday afternoon),” the 25-year-old Bailey said, “I’ll be resting in my room until Saturday. I don’t take anyone lightly. But I am excited to be fighting there for the first time and I’m ready to perform for the crowd. This trip is all business, I’m not on vacation.”

This will mark the active fighter’s sixth fight in 2021, possibly the most for any American fighter during the pandemic. In his last fight this past July in Miami, Bailey won a 4-round unanimous decision against Mike Fowler.

“I’m a man on a mission,” Bailey explained. “I want to end the year with a 10-0, 7 knockouts  record. I’ve put pressure on myself because I want to look great while winning. I’m a lot surer of myself as a professional than I was as an amateur. I’m still the same kid I was the first time I walked into the gym at an 11-year-old. I always put in overtime work that I’m not asked to do.”

Saturday night’s card will be headlined by undefeated welterweight prospect Adrian “Tonka” Sosa (11-0, 9 KOs) of Lawrence (MA), in an 8-round bout against Danny “Venado” Flores (15-24-1, 8 KOs).

In the 6-round co-featured event, undefeated welterweight prospect James “The Slim Reaper” Perella (8-0, 5 KOs), fighting out of Mansfield, Massachusetts, takes on Mexican veteran Isias Martin Cardona Gonzales (26-22, 18 KOs). Perella is a 4-time USA New England Championships and 4-time New England Golden Gloves Champion.

Another promising prospect, Weymouth, MA junior welterweight Eric “Gladiator” Goff (3-0, 2 KOs), and Dorchester (MA) featherweight Troy Anderson, Jr. (1-0, 1 KO), a 2016 Rocky Marciano Tournament champion, will be in action in 4-round bouts versus TBAs.

Lynn (MA) light heavyweight James Perkins (5-0-1, 4 KOs) takes on Trevor Ollison (0-2-1), while pro-debuting Marcus Davidson is matched against fellow Kansan Austin Reed Ward (0-8) in a pair 4-rounders.

Undefeated ABF American West and NBA Continental champion, 23-year-old Albany (NY) welterweight RayJay “The Destroyer” Bermudez (13-0, 10 KOs) will headline Friday evening’s show in the 8-round lightweight match versus Uganda-native Philip “The Hunter” Adyaka (7-15, 4 KOs), who is fighting out of Saint Paul, Minnesota.

Cards are subject to change.

Tickets for both shows are on sale for $95.00 (row 1), $85.00 (2nd row), $65.00 (3rd row), $55.00 (general admission) and $45.00 (standing room). Contact any of the competing fighters to purchase tickets, limited availability at the door.

Doors will open at 7 pm. ET with the first bout scheduled to start at 7:30 p.m. ET on both evenings.

Saturday afternoon’s (2-5 p.m. ET.)  amateur show will require a separate admission ($20.00 per person) on sale at the door.

Undefeated RayJay Bermudez headlines “Fight Night on the Charles at Moseley’s II” September 25 in Dedham, MA

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RayJay Bermudez

BOSTON (August 25, 2021) – Vertex Promotions has announced its second event, “Fight Night on the Charles at Moseley’s II,” on Saturday night, September 25, at Moseley’s On The Charles in Dedham, Massachusetts.

A few of the same fighters from Vertex Promotions’ first show, July 31st at the same venue, will be in action again.

“We were very happy with the first show on July 31st,” Vertex promoter Dave Clark said.  “Everyone there really had a great time.  This show will be great as well.  There’s a lot of local talent and we want to try to keep them as active as we can give fans around here a great night out.”
Undefeated ABF American West and NBA Continental champion, 23-year-old Albany (NY) welterweight RayJay “The Destroyer” Bermudez (13-0, 10 KOs) will headline the show once again in the 8-round main event,

Undefeated welterweight prospect James “The Slim Reaper” Perella (8-0, 5 KOs), fighting out of Mansfield, Massachusetts, is a 4-time USA New England Championships and 4-time New England Golden Gloves Champion.  The popular fighter returns in the 6-round co-featured event.

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James “The Slim Reaper” Perella

(picture by Emily Harney / Fightography

Undefeated super featherweight Daniel “G.D.F.E.” Bailey (7-0, 4 KOs), fighting out of Tampa (FL), and unbeaten Lawrence (MA) junior welterweight Adrian “Tonka” Sosa (11-0, 9 KOs) are slated to be in 6-round bouts.  Bailey is a 4-time U.S. Army and 2012 Ringside National champion, as well as the cousin of multiple world champion Randall Bailey.

New Daniel Bailey.jpg
Daniel Bailey

Dorchester (MA) featherweight Troy Anderson, Jr. (1-0, 1 KO), a 2016 Rocky Marciano Tournament champion, and Lynn (MA) light heavyweight James Perkins (5-0-1, 4 KOs) are scheduled to be in 4-rounders.

Other returning fighters from Vertex Promotions’ inaugural event include Boston welterweight James Murrin (1-0), Malden (MA) junior lightweight Alex Rivera (1-0, 1 KO) in 4-round matches.

Opponents will soon be announced.  Fighters subject to change.

Tickets will go on sale soon for $95.00 (row 1), $85.00 (2nd row), $65.00 (3rd row), $55.00 (general admission) and $45.00 (standing room).
Doors will open at 7 pm. ET with the first bout scheduled to start at 7:30 p.m. ET.

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U.S. Army veteran Daniel Bailey, Jr. fighting this Thursday at West Point

BOSTON (April 20, 2021) – Recently discharged U.S. Army specialist 4th class Daniel Bailey Jr. will be fighting in front of soldiers this Thursday night at the United States Military Academy in West Point, New York. 

The 24-year-old Bailey (3-0, 2 KOs), fighting out of Tampa (FL), will face Luis Alvarado (1-2) in a 4-round featherweight bout on a Ring City USA card, the first live boxing in New York since before the pandemic.  

All the action will be streamed live (9 pm. ET / 6 p.m. PT) on the Twitch.tv app, starting at 9 p.m. ET / 6 p.m. PT, as well as via the Armed Forces Network Europe and Pacific (AFNTV). 

“I’ve never been to West Point,” Bailey said.  “I’m excited to fight there in front of other soldiers.  I’m honored.  We’re all brothers and sisters in arms and I want to put on a great show for them.  I’m bringing the heat!” 

“This is a great opportunity for Daniel,” Bailey’s manager Ryan Roach (Fighter Locker) commented.  “Ring City USA has really taken over during the pandemic, putting on some really great shows. Ring City reached out to me looking to get some U.S. Army veterans on the card and Daniel answered the call, as always. I’m excited for this and Daniel is ready for the big stage.”   

Born in Miami, Bailey’s cousin is Randall “The Knock-Out King” Bailey (46-9, 39 KOs), the 2-division World champion who was considered one of the hardest pound-4-pound punchers of his era (1996-2016).  

Bailey was honorably discharged from the military this past March 19 after serving a 6-year stint.  He was a 4-time U.S. Army champion rated as high as No. 1 in the country as an amateur boxer.  He was stationed at Fort Carson in Colorado Springs (CO), where Daniel was enrolled in the special soldier-athlete program there, World Class Athlete Program (WCAP). 

Bailey made his pro debut November 7, 2020, when he stopped Noe Marquez Talamantes in the second-round of their fight in Mexico.  His last action was an opening-round knockout of Jahterris Lewis last month in Alabama. 

During his solid amateur boxing career, Bailey benefitted from sparring world champions Terence Crawford and Jamel Herring, among the more notables. 

“I’ve become a much more complete fighter since I turned pro,” Bailey explained.  “I have more control, like fully hydrating after a weigh in.  I’m like a kid in a candy store now.  I’ve made changes and sparring top guys has really helped my conditioning. 

“This is the right place, right time for me,” Bailey concluded.  I’m already on weight and ready to fight.  It was a good time for me to get out of the army to pursue my dream.” 

INFORMATION:  

WEBSITE:  fighterlocker.compunch4parkinsons.com 

FACEBOOK:  /fighterlocker 

TWITTER:  @RoachRyan, DanielBaileyJr 

INSTAGRAM: @RyanRoach82  

ABOUT FIGHTER LOCKER: Established in 2019, Fighter Locker is a comprehensive sports agency that manages professional boxers.  Fighter Locker also helps to brand boxers by finding their voice with a 100-percent customized service.  Fighter Locker does not really believe in working models.  It believes in partnership optimization models in motion.   

Fighter Locker uses four creative steps because it believes in “the foundation is everything”: 1. wisely conceived, 2. creatively restrained, 3. Proudly judged, 4. sharply targeted. 

Promoting more challenging than fighting for Miguel Cotto

       
La Batalla
TITO ACOSTA vs. CARLOS BUITRAGO
WBO World Light Flyweight Championship

SATURDAY, JUNE 16, 2018
Coliseo de Puerto Rico * Hato Rey, Puerto Rico

LIVE ON PPV – 9
pm ET / 6 pm PT

 
La Batalla, June 16
Live on PPV from Puerto Rico

SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico (May 31, 2018) – Future Hall of Fame boxer Miguel Cotto believes that, for him, promoting is even more challenging than fighting.

 

 

 

The living legend retired last December with an incredible 41-6 (33 KOs) pro record, in which he became the only Puerto Rican to capture world titles in four different weights classes, light welterweight through middleweight.

 

 

 

Cotto was 20-6 (16 KOs) in world title fights, 16-6 (12 KOs) versus present or past world champions during his illustrious 17-year pro career, including victories against Cesar BazanCarlos Maussa,Lovemore N’douRandall Bailey,DeMarcus CorleyRicardo Torres,Paulie MalignaggiCarlos Quintana,Zab JudahShane MosleyJoshua ClotteyYuri ForemanRicardo MayorgaAntonio MargaritoSergio Martinez and Daniel Geale.

 

 

 

“We have been in the promoting business for more than 13 years, combining both roles (fighter and promoter),” Cotto said. “Now, we are able to give more attention to our fighters in terms of training.

 

 

 

“Promoting is more complex because there are challenges regarding every facet of an event. As a fighter, you concentrate solely on the fight, not all the details involved in promoting a successful event.”

 

 

 

Cotto Promotions is presenting La Batalla: Acosta vs. Buitrago, along with H2 Entertainment, in association with DIRECTV Puerto Rico, June 16th on pay-per-view, live from the Coliseo de Puerto Rico Center in Hato Rey, Puerto Rico.

 

 

 

Integrated Sports Media will distribute the La Batalla: Acosta vs. Buitrago card in the United States on cable, satellite and digital pay-per-view via iN Demand, Vubiquity, DIRECTV, DISH and live-streamed worldwide (excluding Puerto Rico) on the FITE.TV app and website (www.fite.tv), starting at 9 p.m. ET / 6 p.m. PT, for a suggested retail price of only $34.95.

 

 

 

World Boxing Organization Light Flyweight World Champion Tito Acosta 17-1, 17 KOs) will make his first title defense against four-time world title challenger Carlos “Chocorroncito” Buitrago (30-3-1, 17 KOs), of Nicaragua, in the 12-round main event.

 

 

 

“This pay-per-view card is a very important opportunity for is to showcase a great event,” Cotto added, “as well as a perfect scenario for Acosta to show the world who he is as world champion.

 

 

 

“It is a pleasure for me to give back to boxing what boxing gave me. Seeing our brand grow and fighter development let us know that we are doing things the right way. Our goal is to continue developing the best talent in Puerto Rico and building their brands and legacies.”

 

 

 

The 27-year-old Acosta is on a mission to become a Puerto Rican boxing icon like Cotto, Tito TrinidadWilfredo GomezHector CamachoWilfredo Benitez and so many other greats from this fertile island.

 

 

 

Acosta’s success brings back fond memories for Cotto to when he was in a similar situation as a young world champion. “He does bring back memories for me and he proves that hard work pays off,” Cotto concluded. “Tito is living the dream every boxer has when they choose to box as a living. Now is the most challenging chapter for him to expand his reign and build his legacy.”

 

 

 

Additional June 16th PPV fights will soon be announced. All fights and fighters are subject to change.

 

 

INFORMATION:

 

www.promocionesmiguelcottowww.integratedsportsnet.comwww.directvpr.comwww.fite.tv

 

Twitter: @CottoPromotions, @Directvpr, @IntegratedPPV, @FiteTV

Final bell tolls for popular Boxing manager Si Stern

KEY WEST, Fla (September 6, 2015) -Boxing manager Si Stern, president of SHS Boxing Management, passed away at the age of 81 this past Monday due to complications from a heart attack.
Stern managed three-time, two-division Randall “The Knock Out King” Bailey, veteran heavyweight Sherman “Tank” Williams, Marcus “Arillius” Upshaw and former Cuban Olympian Robert Alfonso.
A very successful businessman, Williams explained that Stern also had a law degree and studied at one point to be a rabbi.  Si recently returned from Romania, where he supported Williams at his fight, on Sunday, Aug. 30 and he suffered a heart attack the following day at home in Key West.  He was air lifted to a hospital in Miami, where he remained for a week before he succumbed.
Bailey and Stern’s partner, Dave Johnson, along with Stern’s son, Gary, and daughter, Cynthia, were bedside in the hospital with Si for several days until the end.  “I spoke to Si on Sunday night (August 30) and got a call the next day saying he had been admitted to the hospital,” Bailey explained.  “He suffered a massive heart attack. Things were up and down all week until last weekend.
Randall Bailey (L) with Si Stern (holding belt) and his son, Gary Stern, shown here after Bailey knocked out Mike Jones in 2012 for the IBF welterweight title
“Si was a great guy and a good friend.  As a manager, he always fought for his boxers.  If nobody else cared, Si cared; if they couldn’t do it, Si would do it.  I was with him nearly 10 years and nobody was throwing money our way.  It was hard for us.  I only made enough money in a few fights, like when I won the world title, where he took any money.   If Si had your back, he’d go to war with you.
“He’d drive up from Key West to Miami to see me but, instead of staying overnight, he’d drive back. He’d call me call me 10 times while he drove home.  He was so happy to get me a promotional contract (AK Promotions in Korea) and was really looking forward to my fight October 4th in Korea.  I’m dedicating that fight to Si and we’ll be doing something special.”
L-R: Si Stern & Sherman “Tank” Williams shown here in Romania
Williams was managed by Stern for the past 11 years and they had a special relationship.  They had dinner together in Romania and flew back to the U.S., arriving Sunday, August 30.
“Si was much more than my manager,” Williams offered.  “He was a good friend, a confident I could always rely on for advice, in and out of boxing.  Si was an all-around good man.  We had many deep discussion about politics and religion, me being a Christian and Si a Jew, especially spending so many days together in Romania.
“We all lost a good man in Si Stern.  I was proud to be represented by Si.  He wasn’t in boxing for the money.  He was an important part of my life.  He was always there for me and all of his fighters.  Si never took a short cut or spared money.  Si Stern was the best manager I ever had.”

“The Knock Out King” goes Korean style Randall Bailey signs with AK Promotions Scheduled to fight Oct. 4 in South Korea

      SHS BOXING MANAGEMENT     
PRESS RELEASE
For Immediate Release
MIAMI / SEOUL (August 24, 2015) – Three-time, two-division world champion Randall “The Knock Out King” Bailey (45-8, 38 KOs) has signed an exclusive promotional contract with South Korean-based AK Promotions, Bailey’s manager Si Stern (SHS Boxing Management) announced today.
Bailey, who fights out of Miami and is trained there by Orlando Cuellar, is scheduled to make his AK Promotions debut October 4, in the main event versus an opponent to be determined, at Seonhak Boxing Stadium in Inchon, South Korea.
“This is a very exciting opportunity for Randall,” Stern said.  “I’ve had personal experiences in the Far East and one of my fighters, Sherman ‘Tank’ Williams, won a couple of titles there. (WBO China Zone and interim WBO Asia Pacific championships via a 12-round decision, June 28, 2012, vs. Chauncy Welliver in Macao, China)  I’ve been to South Korea and it’s an extremely exciting place. The great career of Randall Bailey will continue.  I’d like to thank promoter Andy Kim for presenting us with this tremendous opportunity.”
“I’m very happy to have signed Randall Bailey,” AK Promotions president Andy Kim commented. “I hope this helps boost the Korean boxing scene. There are US Army personnel and a lot of foreigners in Korea and I hope it interests them, too. Hopefully, Randall can get another world title shot soon and bring back a championship belt to Korea.”
Bailey has defeated a litany of top junior welterweights and welterweights during his 19-year professional career, including Mike Jones, Rocky Martinez, Carlos Gonzalez, Hector Lopez, Demetrio Ceballos, Anthony Mora, Juan Polo Perez,Frankie Figueroa, DeMarcus Corley, Harrison Cuello, and Jackson Osei Bonsu.
Bailey, 40, was the World Boxing Organization (WBO) junior welterweight champion (1999-2000), Interim World Boxing Association (WBA) junior welterweight titlist (2002) and International Boxing Federation welterweight champ (2012),
Now on a mission to win a fourth world title in his third weight class, the always dangerous and feared junior middleweight believes this signing has given him a new lease on his boxing career.  He has had many problems securing fights in the past few years simply because he’s such a risky opponent for champions, contenders and top prospects alike.
“I can’t wait to go there,” Bailey (pictured on left with his head trainer Orlando Cuellar) said.  “This is going to do a lot for my career.  I spoke to my new promoter and he’s as excited about signing me as I am about signing with him.  He told me that getting me another world title is his goal.  He knows me, liked what he saw, and he’s all about doing his job as my promoter.
“I went to South Korea in 2005 with female boxer we brought there to fight. It was a nice trip, a lot of fun.  Traveling to fight there won’t bother me a bit. I have a good contract, no complaints at all with what they’re giving me.  I’ll go there a week before my fight to get acclimated.  When I come back from a fight, I’ll only take two or three days off, and then go back in the gym because I know that I’ll be fighting every three or four months.  I’m excited and ready to get there to fight.”
“The boxing center of gravity will soon shift towards South Korea when Randall Bailey makes his debut there,” Cuellar predicted.  “One look at his devastating one-punch power and Koreans will fall in love with him.  What Manny Pacquaio is in Macau and Roy Jones, Jr. in Russia, Randall Bailey will become in South Korea.  Bailey has a great opportunity to make a big splash in South Korea.  Once Korean boxing fans get a taste of Bailey, they will be hooked.”
Bailey has joined a growing stable of AK Promotions fighters, including newly signed heralded Pakistan amateur (87-16) super flyweight Muhammad “Falcon” Waseem, WBC Asian Boxing Council welterweight champion Neeraj Goyat (3-2-2), of India, and middleweight Dilbag Singh (1-0), of India.
INFORMATION:
Twitter: @AK-Promotions, @KOKing_Bailey

Randall Bailey serves notice to any & all Top rated junior middleweights in world

  SHS BOXING MANAGEMENT     
PRESS RELEASE
For Immediate Release

Undefeated Cuban heavyweight

Robert Alfonso also impresses

(L-R) Trainer Orlando Cuellar and Randall “KO King” Bailey celebrate after last Saturday’s victory

MIAMI (June 25, 2015) – Coming off 19-months of inactivity and making his junior middleweight debut last weekend, Randall “KO King” Bailey (45-8, 38 KOs) served notice that he’s making a serious run at yet another world title in a different weight class.

 

Three-time, two-division world champion Bailey stopped veteran Gundrick “Sho-Gun” King (18-15, 11 KOs) in the second round with a left hook, not his notorious right, in the main event at Riverdale Center of Arts in Riverdale, Georgia.

 

“In the first round,” the 40-year-old Bailey explained, “I just wanted to get the feel in the ring and start using my jab. I hit him with a couple of good right hands, but I knew he was experienced and that he was looking for my right. I came out in the second using my jab and left hook, starting to really feel it again. I crushed him with my left hook. I’ve been telling people I have more than my right but they haven’t listened.   I did have a little rust in the first round but, in the second, I had my jab working, backed him up with it, and started putting my punches together.

 

“Fighting at 154 was, well, just another fight. I did feel stronger, though. Now? I just want to stay busy. It doesn’t matter who I fight, I’m not worried about anybody at 154, but I don’t really have enough time left to take baby steps. I want to get right back in the ring. It’s go time for The King!”

 

“Sho-Gun” King may not be at the top of the junior middleweight ladder but, he’s a battle-tested, experienced opponent, especially as an opponent for a fighter coming off a 1-½ year layoff such as Bailey. Bailey certainly showed enough against King for his head trainer, Orlando Cuellar, to be impressed.

 

“This was our first fight working together but I’ve seen Randall fight for years,” Cuellar said. “We worked on masking his big right hand by staying busy with his left hand, sitting back on his jab, not falling in, and hooking off his jab. He did it in training camp but sparring and fighting are different. He touched his opponent with his jab in the first round as I instructed. I wanted everything to come off his jab and for him to throw rights to the body, always throwing the first and last punch. In the second round, he effectively used his left hook to the head and body.

 

“Randall Bailey looked better than he has in three years. He’s not backing up. Randall’s finding range with his jab, hooking off the jab, mixing it up and moving around, going to the head and body. His opponent never saw the left hook because he was looking for the big right. He listened and everything came off his jab. I believe he can be as good as he was five years ago. Now, he’s a real sharp shooter. I was very impressed by his performance and I’m very hopeful about his boxing future.”

 

Bailey’s longtime manager, Si Stern, summed it up best: “This was his first fight at 154 and he already looks like a champion. He was a little rusty at first but, unlike in the past, he started moving all over the place. With his knockout power and now this movement, left hook and jab, Randall Bailey is even more dangerous than ever before. I’m fielding some calls about fights for him. If it’s a big fight and the money is good, we’ll take that next. But he won’t fight for peanuts, so, if the big fight isn’t there next, we take another fight and hope the one after that is the big one. Randall is ready to fight any junior middleweight in the world……if the price is right.”

 

Follow him on Twitter @KOKING_Bailey.

 

Undefeated Cuban heavyweight prospect Robert Alfonso shines

 

Bailey’s stable-mate, undefeated Cuban heavyweight prospect Robert Alfonso (6-0, 2 KOs), also shined last week on the Bailey-King undercard, starching mammoth Kevin Kelley (1-4, 1 KO) with a thunderous punches in the third round.

 

The 2008 Cuban Olympian, who now lives and trains in Miami, gave away more than 100 pounds to his 353-pound opponent. Alfonso came out throwing punishing punches from the opening bell, right up until the fight was halted by the referee in the third round.

 

“I’m very proud of Robert,” his trainer Cuellar noted. “He wasn’t known for his power but Robert’s very strong and he can really crack. He hit this guy with a right-left-right and knocked him down face first. The fight should have been stopped then, but he beat the count and the ref let it continue. It lasted only one more punch. His opponent had never been down before. Robert showed his new character as a legitimate knockout artist. He let his hands go and put his punches together. This cat can really crack! He was aggressive from the start, generating power with every single punch he threw.”

 

Stern firmly believes he has a future world heavyweight champion in Alfonso. “Robert weighed in at 250 pounds and he delivered a knockout blow to his 363-pound opponent that was incredible to see,” Stern remarked. “He went straight up in the air and landed flat on his face. I was really impressed by Robert’s power. People love watching heavyweights who knockout people and Robert can do that and a lot more. He may have another six-round fight next, or move up to eight rounds. Another three-four fights or so and he’ll be fighting 10-rounders. Our plan is to get him to around 15-0 with 10-11 KOs, which should get him into a world title fight.”

Randall Bailey returns June 20 in Atlanta area Moving up to junior middleweight for last hurrah

  SHS BOXING MANAGEMENT     

MIAMI (June 11, 2015) – Three-time, two division world champion Randall “KO King” Bailey (44-8, 37 KOs) returns to the ring June 20 after a long absence to fight veteran Gundrick “Sho-Gun” King (18-14, 11 KOs) in the 10-round main event at Riverdale Center of Arts in Riverdale, Georgia.

 

Contrary to some erroneous reports and misconceptions, the 40-year-old Bailey never retired. Unfortunately, he hasn’t fought in 1 ½ years, only four times in nearly five years, due to his well-earned reputation as, pound-for-pound, one of the hardest one-punch boxers in the world.

 

Bailey, fighting out of Miami, last fought November 23, 2013 in Tampa, after a 13-months of inactivity, defeating Ecuador welterweight Humberto “Bam Bam” Toledo (41-11-2, 25 KOs) by way of an eighth-round disqualification. He will be making his junior welterweight debut against King, launching the final chapter of his storied boxing career.

 

“I haven’t been sitting out because I wanted to,” Bailey explained. “We’ve tried to get fights but I’ve been frozen out. It’s been rough but I won’t let it bother me. I just go with the flow, what’s been given to me. I couldn’t get the top junior welterweights to fight me; I’m not afraid to move up to junior middleweight, where I hope to fight ‘Canelo ‘(Saul Alvarez) or (Erislandy) Lara.

 

“I try to explain that I’m not your average 40-year-old boxer. I’m not out every night drinking, getting high, or doing any extra-curricular activities. If these guys really felt I was old, they’d be fighting me. In the Mike Jones fight, they saw a guy losing after 11 rounds but, with a drop of a dime, I let my hands go and ended the show. (Bailey knocked out 26-0 Jones in the 11th round to capture the IBF welterweight title.) They all fade but I don’t.”

 

Bailey has shattered many fighters’ dreams during his 19-year professional career. In addition to Jones, Bailey has defeated a strong group of junior welterweights and welterweights of the past two decades, including Rocky Martinez, Carlos Gonzalez,Hector Lopez, Demetrio Ceballos, Anthony Mora, DeMarcus Corley and Jackson Osei Bonsu. Seven of Bailey’s eight career losses have been to world champions Miguel Cotto, Diosbelys Hurtado, Ener Julio, Ishe Smith, Juan Urango, Corley and Devon Alexander. His only other professional loss was to two-time world title challenger Herman Ngoudjo.

 

Bailey is a promotional free agent. “I’ve come to the point where I’m been having trouble with it,” Bailey’s manager Si Stern spoke about his difficulties landing fights the past few years for a high-risk, dangerous fighter such as Bailey. “If I were a promoter who had a fighter with a great record, why wouldn’t I want to test him against Randall Bailey? I don’t understand these promoters. If Randall knocks his fighter out, they save a lot of time, energy and money. If Randall is beaten, they’ve got a hot fighter who beat a 3-time world champion. That makes all the sense in the world to me. I keep hearing the same excuses from promoters who say television doesn’t want Randall, but that’s BS because fans love watching a KO artist like Randall. And promoters always bring up his age as a safety factor. Most of Randall’s fights didn’t go the distance and he’s never really been on the wrong end of a war. His body hasn’t taken the wear and tear like a lot of other fighters his age. He just went up to Atlanta early to meet with the boxing commission just to show them that he’s in top shape, physically and mentally. We can do that every fight, if needed, without any problems whatsoever.

 

“Let’s face it, promoters and managers are afraid to let their guys fight Randall because they’ll get knocked out. Everybody knows Randall will fight anybody. He made himself available to fight (Floyd) Mayweather and (Manny) Pacquiao, but they didn’t want any part of him. This is what we’ve face with Randall Bailey the past few years.”

 

Bailey has been training for the first time with veteran coach Orlando Cuellar, who is best known for training former world champion Glen Johnson.

 

“Training with Orlando is all about hard work,” Bailey said. “The first week – I can’t really explain how my body felt – but everybody in the gym thought he was killing me. I wasn’t used to working like that but, once I got used to it, I started feeling it.

 

“I know I have power but, after working with Orlando, I realize it’s irrelevant without a good front hand. My jab orchestrates everything. My left look is just as good as my right, if it comes off my jab. Orlando’s helped me bring that back. I’m bringing my power to the 154-pound division and I’m excited about the change.”

 

The feeling is mutual. Cuellar, who also trains 46-year-old heavyweight contenderAntonio Tarver, the five-time, two-division world champion, as well as undefeated world light heavyweight contender Yunieski Gonzalez, among the more notables in his growing stable of fighters, believes age is simply a number for elite boxers who dedicate themselves to conditioning.

 

“Randall is still going to have his power and because he’s not depleting himself making 147,” Cuellar noted, “his power will be even greater at 154. He’ll have gas in his tank late in fights, instead of it being empty from working to make weight like he did at 147. He can run with the big dogs at 154 and still have the most knockout power.

 

“Randall was the most feared 147-pounder in boxing. Hopefully, it won’t be that way at 154, so he can be more active. As a fighter matures in age, sometimes, it’s best to move up in weight instead of using up so much energy to make weight. At 154, Randall will be better because he’ll be more active in the ring. We’re working on stuff other than his big right hand, which we’ll be masking with other punches. We’ve been together six months and he’s looked fantastic. Things are coming along nicely. I have him applying pressure, breaking down his opponent, using three distances – short, medium and long – and then using his signature (right) punch. I don’t want him to rely on knocking out a guy. We have Randall using his speed, movement, power and touching the (his opponent’s) body. He’s bought into my theory and the second coming of Randall Bailey is going to be very exciting.”

 

The final chapter, according to Bailey, will conclude with either his 50th career victory or 10th loss. “It’s all over for me if I win my 50th fight or lose my 10th,” he concluded. “I’m not going to be anybody’s opponent and, if I get to 50 wins, it’ll be all over for me.”

 

Bailey’s journey for his third divisional world title officially kicks-off June 20.

 

Follow him on Twitter @KOKING_Bailey.

 

 

Bailey’s SHS Boxing Management stablemate, 2008 Cuban Olympian Robert Alfonso (5-0, 1 KO), faces an opponent to be determined in a six-round heavyweight bout on the same June 20th card in Georgia..