(August 31, 2009) In one of the best title fights in recent memory, Randall Bailey fell just short in his bid to wrangle the IBF junior welterweight title from Juan Urango on the ESPN2 Friday Night Fights season finale last Friday. However, after putting Urango on his back with a pulverizing straight right hand in the sixth round, he left little doubt that even at 34 years old, he remains one of boxing’s premiere punchers. Now, after over a decade of fighting at the 140-lb. limit and recently struggling to make weight, Bailey is ready for a change and a move up the welterweight division..
“I have been fighting at 140 since I was a teenager,” said Bailey. “I know that at welterweight I will be bigger, even stronger, and when I put an opponent on the deck, they won’t get up.”
In his years fighting at junior welterweight, Bailey certainly left his mark. He won the WBO title in 1999 with a first round knockout of reigning champion Carlos Gonzalez and defended it twice – both times via knockout. During his time spent there, almost no fighter was immune to his power, given that 35 of his 39 wins came as the result of a knockout.
Despite the loss to Urango in what he has decided will be his ultimate bout at junior welterweight, Bailey showed he can still compete with the very best, and put on as exciting a show as any fighter in any weight class. And Bailey’s promoter Lou DiBella is excited to steer him to a title opportunity at this new weight class.
“If the fight proved anything it is that Randall Bailey is unquestionably one of the biggest punchers in boxing,” said DiBella. “We believe his right hand is a threat to anyone fighting at welterweight. Congratulations to ESPN2 for a great show and to Seminole Warriors Boxing and Juan Urango for a great win. Now it is time to see what Randall can do when making weight is not an issue.”
Travis Kauffman vs. Tony Grano Headlines 9/18 Shobox
READING, PA – Undefeated heavyweight prospect Travis Kauffman will headline his first televised boxing event on September 18 when he faces Tony Grano on Shobox: The New Generation at the Chumash Casino Resort in Santa Ynez, CA. The bout will be Kauffman’s first scheduled ten-round bout. The show will be promoted by Gary Shaw Productions and televised live on the Showtime network, beginning at 11 p.m. ET/PT (delayed on the West Coast) .
Kauffman, 18-0 (15 KO), of Reading, PA made short work of his last opponent earlier this month, knocking out William Shahan in 80 seconds in Primm, NV. He has knocked out his last eight opponents with none of them lasting past the third round. He immediately returned to training camp in Deer Lake, PA, to prepare for his next assignment. There he turned 24 years old this past Friday and celebrated with an arduous roadwork session.
Kauffman has been sparring eight rounds and intends on stepping up to ten in the coming days. Among the sparring partners Kauffman has been working with is Matt “Too Smooth” Godfrey, the IBF’s number three rated contender in the cruiserweight division.
“This is a blessing,” Kauffman says of returning to television for the first time since stopping Malachy Farrell last December, also on ShoBox. “When you first start boxing, you never think you’re going to make it to this level. I remember starting out as the opening fight on club shows, then headlining club shows, then being the first bout on big shows. Now I’m headlining on TV and the only place to go next is up.”
Grano, aged 28, brings a high knockout ratio to the table as well, with 12 of his 15 wins coming inside the distance against one defeat and a draw. The Hartford, CT native is most noted for winning the heavyweight gold in the 2005 United States Amateur Heavyweight championships.
“I know him from the amateurs,” Kauffman says. “He’s very tough and has a lot of experience. He comes to fight and I don’t expect this fight to be easy at all. It’s scheduled for ten rounds but I’ll be ready for 20 rounds.”
The show will be promoted by Gary Shaw Productions and televised live on the Showtime network, beginning at 11 p.m. ET/PT (delayed on the West Coast)
Tickets, priced at $25, $35, $45, $55 and $75, can be purchased at the Chumash Casino Resort box office or online at http://www5.ticketingcentral.com/V2/PickASection.aspx?8CBF3E94B35BD2F
VIP BOXING RETURNS: SEPTEMBER 30TH RUSSO’S ON THE BAY
On Wednesday September 30th, Joe DeGuardia’s Star Boxing returns to the elegant Russo’s On The Bay in Howard Beach, NY to present its second installment of VIP Boxing.
VIP Boxing II will be headlined by Star Boxing’s heavyweight prospect “Devastatin” Devin Vargas (17-1, 7KO) taking on New Jersey’s own Terrell “Baby Bull” Nelson (8-8, 5KO) in an eight round heavyweight attraction.
The 2004 U.S. Olympic Team Captain, Vargas is an exciting fighter, who likes to throw lots of punches. The only blemish on the Ohio native’s record came in his last fight on May 15th against fellow Star Boxing stable-mate, and who many boxing insiders consider to be the top heavyweight prospect in the world, undefeated Kevin “Kingpin” Johnson (22-0-1, 9KO). The fight was telecast live on ESPN2’s popular “Friday Night Fights” series.
Vargas was doing very well against one of the most elite boxers in the world (Johnson) until suffering a perforated ear drum midway through the fight. The perforated ear drum not only caused extreme pain for Vargas but it also caused him to lose all of his hearing in his right ear during the fight. Unfortunately Vargas came up on the short end that night. Although Vargas lost, he still showed the boxing world that he has tremendous talent. A win over Nelson, who has been in with the likes of current WBA heavyweight champion Nicolai Valuev, and heavyweight contenders Vinny Maddalone and Albert Sosnowski, will put Vargas right back on track to make a charge towards the elite of the heavyweight division.
“We are very excited to be returning to Russo’s On The Bay for our second installment of VIP Boxing,” stated Joe DeGuardia, CEO and President of Star Boxing. “We had such a positive response from our first show there in April we just couldn’t wait to bring boxing back to this beautiful venue again. We are putting together a very exciting undercard, headlined by what promises to be an exciting heavyweight match-up that you won’t want to miss.”
“The first event that Star Boxing did here at Russo’s was such a huge success, we just knew we had to have them put on another show,” stated Frank Russo III. “Our guests have been anxiously awaiting and asking when the next show will be for some time now. We are all very excited and expect another fantastic event come September 30th.”
The show will kick off at 7PM sharp with an hour long cocktail reception. Immediately following the reception, a four course elegant dinner will start being served, at which time the first bout will go on. There will be cocktail service throughout, with an open bar running for the remainder of the evenings fights.
A complete list of undercard bouts will be announced shortly. All seats will include full VIP services. Tables of ten are available for purchase for $1500 (Bronze), $2500 (Silver), and $3500 (Gold) respectively. There will be a limited amount of individual seats at select tables available, with the cost for each seat at $150, $250, and $350. You may contact Star Boxing for tickets at 718-823-2000 or by visiting www.starboxing.com. Russo’s On The Bay is located at 162-45 Cross Bay Blvd, Howard Beach, NY 11414.