by James Slater – One of, if not THE hardest hitting boxers in the sport pound-for-pound, 34-year-old former WBA and WBO light-welterweight champion Randall Bailey is close to his fight with IBF 140-pound champ Juan Urango. “The Knockout King” will meet “The Iron Twin” on August 28th, and fans and experts want to see which will prevail – Bailey’s withering power or Urango’s rock chin.
Bailey is sure he will win in Hollywood, Florida, and that he will become a three-time world champion as a result.Very kindly taking time out to speak with me about next Friday night’s fight, the 39-6(35) warrior had the following answers to my questions..
James Slater: Thank you so much for talking to me, Champ. I really appreciate your time. Everyone is looking forward to your upcoming fight with Juan Urango. First of all, how did training camp go?
Randall Bailey: Training camp went very well. We’ve been down here training for quite a while and everything went very well.
J.S: Who did you spar with for Urango?
R.B: I’d rather not say in terms of names, but I worked with a couple of really good guys. Also, my trainer, John David Jackson, he even got in the ring with me and emulated Urango’s style for me.
J.S: The writers see this fight as between your awesome punching power and Urango’s rock chin. Which will win? Are you looking to take him out?
R.B: I think I’ll hit him pretty good, then I’ll see how he reacts after I’ve hit him hard the first time. I’ll see what his reaction is after I’ve hit him.
J.S: Is it a KO you will be looking for though? Is that your mindset, to stop him?
R.B: Just as long as I get the win, I’m not looking for a KO. If a KO comes, it comes.
J.S: Are you overly concerned with his power? Everything he throws seems to be a hook, and he KO’d Carlos Wilfredo Virches in chilling fashion earlier this year.
R.B: Everyone knocks out Virches, so I’m not looking at that at all. He [Virches] was supposed to be knocked out.
J.S: People are really looking forward to this fight, as I’ve said. Do you think it could be a brutal fight – a war? Your styles seem to match real well, and you’re hardly ever in a dull fight.
R.B: I’m looking for a tough fight, but I’m a little more intelligent in the ring these days, and I think I’ll get the fight to go the way I want it to go.
J.S: You scored a frightening and devastating KO in your last fight, against Francisco Figueroa – a KO many said was the KO of the year so far. Is it possible you are hitting even harder now at age 34?
R.B: Yeah, most definitely. I hit a lot harder now, now that I’ve fully grown into this weight class.
J.S: Have you been watching tapes of Urango?
R.B: Yeah, I’ve seen a few of his fights. But me and Urango, we have a little history and we’re pretty familiar with each other. We’ve worked out together a couple of times. You can expect a good fight.
J.S: When people call you one of the hardest punchers in boxing, as you are, does that put pressure on you to get a KO each time out?
R.B: No. I think it makes me more patient in the ring. I don’t rush for a KO like I used to. I used to look for the knockout in each fight, but guys got smart to what I was doing. I’m a lot more patient now.
J.S: You’ve obviously trained hard for the fight, you have no concerns about going 12 rounds if necessary?
R.B: None at all. I have no concerns about having to do 12 rounds.
J.S: Not looking too far ahead, but after you win this fight, what then? Do you have any timeframe in mind about how long you will continue to box on for?
R.B: I will be able to answer that question for you much better after this fight is over with. At the moment I’m just focusing on taking care of this fight. I feel as though I have a few more years in boxing.
J.S: It’s been great speaking with you, Randall. Best wishes for August 28th. Can I ask you for your final prediction?
R.B: My final prediction is that Randall Bailey, The Knock Out King, reigns supreme! Three-time world champion.