Greatest I Confronted: Randall Bailey

The devastating energy of Randall Bailey helped him win world titles in two weight lessons, first as an entire unknown within the late Nineteen Nineties after which once more as a seasoned veteran 13 years later, when, trailing on the scorecards, he proved that he nonetheless had dynamite in his gloves.

Bailey was born close to Miami, Florida, on September 13, 1974. His mother and father weren’t collectively and he was introduced up by his mom and older sister.

“I began in Liberty Metropolis, and in 1981 we moved to Carol Metropolis (a neighborhood in Miami Gardens). Rising up, it was tough,” Bailey advised The Ring. “Plenty of medicine, poverty. I see now what it was, however as a child you don’t concentrate. You suppose that’s regular. My sister was like my bodyguard; she did all of the combating. She didn’t play no video games.”

As a teen, Bailey and his good friend handed a boxing health club whereas on a bus, and he was intrigued. When he was 13, he was invited to strive it out.

“On my first day on the health club, I discovered to throw a jab and a proper hand. On my second day on the health club, I used to be sparring with somebody who had 5 fights already,” he recalled. “All I used to be doing was utilizing my jab and proper hand, and I used to be just about dominating him with that after being within the health club two days.”

Bailey had simply 19 newbie fights, going 15-4. 

“I actually didn’t practice so much as an newbie,” he stated. “I’d go practice, and cease, and my coach would name and me: ‘We bought fights subsequent week.’ I’d be like, ‘OK, I’m coming to the health club.’ So, I’d practice for every week … (laughs) … to prepare for a combat on the finish of the week.”

Bailey didn’t initially end college, although he later went again and accomplished his high-school diploma. Within the meantime, he had some run-ins with the legislation in his late teenagers.

“I had little odd jobs, however I used to be on the streets – I used to be a avenue child,” he stated. “I used to be doing all kinds of nonsense, taking part in with weapons, that might have gotten me killed or in jail.”

Bailey spent a day in jail for being caught in possession of a gun in 1993. He was caught a second time in the summertime of 1995, which meant a two-month keep, and he knew he wanted to make some adjustments to his life.

“After I bought out of jail and I ended up discovering a job, I’m making freaking 200-some {dollars} each two weeks – that wasn’t what it was gonna be,” he stated. “I needed to get it collectively, actual fast.”

Years earlier, Bailey had grow to be associates with Freddie Pendleton, who was the IBF light-weight champion within the early Nineteen Nineties. Pendleton acknowledged Bailey’s prowess.

“He took me underneath his wing and he all the time advised me at any time when I used to be able to be severe, let him know,” he defined. “Upon getting out of jail and discovering a job I didn’t like, I ended up quitting that job and calling him, and he introduced me proper in. I began coaching with him in camp when he was preparing for a combat with Felix Trinidad.”

Bailey weighs in alongside Rocky Martinez forward of their April 2000 combat in Paris. Bailey defended his WBO 140-pound title for the second time with a sixth-round stoppage. (Picture by Olivier Morin/AFP through Getty Pictures)

Bailey, who made $250 for his skilled debut, scored a first-round knockout over Fernando Granda in April 1996. He reeled off 12 wins, all inside the gap, earlier than signing with Don King within the fall of 1997 and combating on the undercard of Vince Phillips’ IBF title protection towards Pendleton (Bailey scored a first-round TKO).

He continued to rack up the wins till an enormous alternative got here his approach in Might 1999.

“Vince Phillips was presupposed to get that combat with [WBO 140-pound titleholder] Carlos Gonzalez, however one thing occurred with him they usually wanted a substitute, and I assume they wished to seek out somebody native,” he recalled. “All people within the Don King workplace was like, ‘Give it to Randall.’ They cherished me within the workplace. When Don King used to do exhibits in Miami, I’d really work. I’d drive the van and decide fighters up on the airport, take them to the resort – I did that form of stuff and no person knew who I used to be. 

“On a special event, Carlos Gonzalez’s folks had come down and I drove for them. After they discovered I used to be a fighter, they have been like, ‘Allow us to combat the driving force.’ (laughs) However this wasn’t a kind of Mexican cab drivers they thought it was gonna be! (laughs) Don was a little bit suspicious at first. He didn’t need to do it. I used to be like, ‘Do it.’ My coach was like, ‘Do it.’ All people within the workplace was like, ‘Give Randall the shot.’ And he went forward and did it. I used to be 18-0 (18 knockouts). I used to be prepared. I used to be ranked within the high 10. I took that combat with two weeks’ discover. 

“Report-wise, he was the perfect man I had fought, however I fought opponents that basically got here to combat. I noticed tapes of this man and I already knew I used to be going to knock this man out. I assumed it might go 4 or 5 [rounds].” 

It didn’t take that lengthy. Bailey landed an enormous left hook that just about decapitated the defending champion within the opening spherical. After hitting the canvas exhausting, Gonzalez tried to make it to his toes however was clearly in no place to proceed and was rescued by the referee after simply 41 seconds had elapsed. 

Bailey would make two defenses of his belt towards former title challengers Hector Lopez (TKO 9) and Rocky Martinez (RTD 6). In hindsight, nevertheless, Bailey needs he’d taken extra day without work and feels that contributed to him surprisingly dropping his title and unbeaten document in his third protection.

“I fought December towards Lopez and April Martinez, and in July I’m combating [Ener] Julio,” he defined. “You’ve bought to recollect, within the Martinez combat, my hand was tousled. 

“I used to be knocking them out. I assume they felt I may preserve going. After the Ener Julio combat, the primary knuckle on my proper hand had swollen so huge I needed to go to the hospital they usually needed to drain it.”

He bought again on the horse with 4 wins (all of his victories nonetheless inside the gap) earlier than dropping to Diosbelys Hurtado (TKO 7). Quickly after that, he did not regain his previous WBO title towards the difficult DeMarcus Corley (UD 12).

“Life began to set in,” he admitted. “I used to be making an attempt to vary up my fashion a little bit bit, as a result of that they had figured me out.”

Bailey was outpointed up at welterweight by Ishe Smith (UD 12) earlier than dropping to WBO junior welterweight titlist Miguel Cotto (TKO 6), each in 2004. 

Bailey takes a swing at Mike Jones throughout their IBF welterweight title combat in June 2012. (Picture by Kevork Djansezian/Getty Pictures)

“I actually didn’t begin to be taught boxing absolutely till after the Cotto combat,” he stated. “After the Cotto combat, I actually needed to have a mirror discuss with myself, and I stated to myself, ‘If I don’t discover someone that may educate me what I must know, I in all probability ought to retire.’ 

“I discovered that someone was Norman Wilson. After the Cotto combat, I fought one time after which I took an entire 12 months off. I spent that point within the health club with Norman – coaching, drilling, studying – and he confirmed me and bought me again to the place I understood what I used to be doing.”

The consequence was a extra well-rounded Bailey who went 11-1 in his subsequent dozen fights, together with an eight-round resolution victory over Corley. He then met Juan Urango for the IBF 140-pound title in August 2009. Bailey put up a gallant effort however was stopped within the penultimate spherical.

It prompted him to step as much as welterweight, the place he stayed energetic and was introduced with a combat towards the youthful, greater Mike Jones for the vacant IBF title on the undercard of Manny Pacquiao-Tim Bradley in Las Vegas in June 2012.

Nonetheless, whereas he had loads of discover for the combat, Bailey’s coaching camp was removed from ideally suited. His coach at that time was John David Jackson, who had a number of different fighters and wasn’t in a position to give Bailey the eye he wanted.

“All I knew in my head was if he provides me one alternative to hit him, I’m going to knock him out.”

“I just about educated myself. I had my agent, Chico Rivas, convey all my health club tools to my home and put it in my storage,” he revealed. “I mainly did most of my coaching at dwelling in my storage, simply getting my physique sturdy, and would simply go to the health club for sparring. I knew I’d be sturdy and there wasn’t going to be an excessive amount of he may do to harm me.”

At 37 years previous, Bailey was a 4-to-1 underdog, however he remained centered on the duty in hand.

“All I knew in my head was if he provides me one alternative to hit him, I’m going to knock him out,” he stated. “I advised everyone I used to be going to knock him out, and he gave me the chance when he slowed down. I knew he was going to maneuver so much after the primary spherical once I grazed him and he took off on me. I knew he was going to remain away and transfer so much.”

Bailey was extensively behind and wanted a knockout because the klaxon signaled the ultimate 10 seconds of Spherical 10. He threw a jab adopted by a booming proper hand down the center that dropped Jones flat on his again. The youthful synthetic it to his toes and the bell sounded to finish the spherical. 

“I knew his coach had an enormous ego and would ship him out to return to me [in Round 11] like he was again in management. I form of baited him in a little bit bit and threw a wild proper hand as a result of I knew he was going to dam it. When he was coming again, he’s throwing his jab together with his chin tucked inside his jab. I let him do his pitty-pat factor, and when he threw the jab on the market, I used to be setting him as much as slip and hit him with the uppercut, as a result of I knew he’d be sitting there for it. And that was it.”

Jones walked into the power-punch and was dropped closely. He tried to make his technique to his toes however was rescued by referee Tony Weeks.

“Me, my supervisor, Si Stern, my lawyer, we went and bought one thing to eat,” Bailey stated of the aftermath. “We sat round for a short time, after which I went upstairs and bought on the cellphone. (laughs) I feel I had over 100 textual content messages, over 100 voicemails. I feel I used to be making an attempt to answer to everyone.”

In the meantime, the wrestle to make 147 kilos was all too obvious.

“If I couldn’t get the Pacquiao combat, I’d transfer up,” he stated. “I had some associates of mine attain out to Bob Arum, and he mainly hung up the cellphone. 

“My obligatory was developing and would have been Kell Brook. No one was screaming to combat me. My intention was to maneuver as much as 154 and combat the IBF champion, which might have been [Cornelius] “K9″ Bundrage on the time, however that they had different plans for me.”

Bailey vs. Devon Alexander. (Picture by Naoki Fukuda)

In the end, Bailey fought Devon Alexander for a career-high $500,000. Alexander used his youth and expertise to keep away from the facility and claimed the title by lopsided 12-round unanimous resolution.

Bailey cast forward and gained three fights earlier than heading to Australia to face future titlist Jeff Horn in April 2016 – once more at 147 kilos.

“I had simply come again from jogging, making an attempt to get the final pound-and-a-half off. I bought within the bathe, bought out of the bathe to get on the size to test my weight, and as I used to be getting on the size I fainted proper there,” he stated. “I may hear them within the background, however I used to be out. They laid me on the mattress. I couldn’t say something. Finally I got here again, I began sipping water so I may make the load. I nonetheless fought regardless of all of that.

“That was my final combat. They weren’t going to provide me any fights at 154 … I even had a combat signed in Russia. After I began coaching and because the weight began to return off, I began to really feel actually sick. I stated, ‘I escaped one time, simply passing out, this time it could kill me.’ I stated, ‘I’m not going to kill myself to make this weight. I can’t do it.’ And I ended up pulling out of the combat.”

He stayed true to his phrase and retired with a document of 46-9 (39 knockouts).

Bailey, now 49, is married, has 4 kids and three grandchildren and fortunately lives in Hampton, Georgia, the place he works a day job as a Biohazard truck driver.

He graciously took time to talk to The Ring about the perfect he fought in 10 key classes.

BEST JAB

Mike Jones: “I feel it was his dimension, as a result of he was so huge it took me some time to get to him like I wished to. I didn’t knock him out till the eleventh spherical, and the way I knocked him out, I needed to get by his jab. [The Jab] made getting nearer to him a little bit tough.”   

BEST DEFENSE

DeMarcus Corley: “Within the first combat, he was a little bit slick. I used to be having loads of issues adjusting to the southpaw stance. It was exhausting for me to hit him flush within the first combat.”

BEST FOOTWORK

Corley: “He was actual slippery and in a position to get out the best way. I couldn’t hit him like I wished.”

FASTEST HANDS 

Devon Alexander: “Devon didn’t actually throw for energy; he was throwing for velocity and moved out the best way actual fast. He was throwing to the touch and escape.”

SMARTEST 

Miguel Cotto: “After I did get him in hassle, he mainly retreated so he was in a position to get himself collectively, and he didn’t attempt to be actual ballsy and present ego. He did what he needed to do. He used his head.”

STRONGEST 

Cotto: “Cotto had a big backside half, his legs and all the things. He was actual sturdy on the underside, and that’s what made his physique punches and inside assault so good.”

BEST CHIN

Ener Julio: “I’d say he had chin, as a result of once I hit him, I noticed his head hit the bottom earlier than his knees did. (laughs) Usually no person will get up from a shot like that, however he did, not as soon as however twice, and I couldn’t put him away.”

BIGGEST PUNCHER

Diosbelys Hurtado: “He had sneaky energy. He was quick and he had energy and would positively make you pay for errors.”

BEST BOXING SKILLS

Hector Lopez: “Hector was a wise, cagey veteran. He was doing issues within the ring I hadn’t seen earlier than, his motion and the best way he threw his punches. He was hitting me with photographs and I used to be saying to myself, ‘How’s he even hitting me?’ Hector went the gap with Kostya Tszyu, Miguel Angel Gonzalez – he fought these guys tooth and nail, life and dying. Good expertise.”

BEST OVERALL

Cotto: “His entire profession. After we fought, you noticed how he went to the subsequent degree. Out of all the fellows I fought, I don’t suppose no person has reached that pinnacle that Miguel reached. That’s why I’d positively have to provide that accolade to him.”

Questions and/or feedback could be despatched to Anson at [email protected].

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