By Troy Ondrizek

At the Hard Rock in Hollywood, Florida, the second IBF title fight of the evening saw two light welterweight stalwarts had a tough act to follow.  Former titlist and fan favorite Randall “The Knock-Out King” Bailey and current titlist Juan “Iron Twin” Urango attempted to electrify the crowd nonetheless.  When Randall Bailey talked to Boxingscene last month, he said he would duck and dodge the bull-rushing Urango and land his right hand with frequency.  Early on that was the case at least the dodging part was accurate, for it was hard to discern if this was a boxing or wrestling match.  Urango would charge forward like an angry goat all the while Bailey would duck the wild punches and wait to land the right hand.  

Using his legs to create space and letting Juan create the openings, Randall started to find a home for his right in the second and continued to do so in the third.  However, Urango was undeterred and kept coming forward with vigor and wrath.  The fourth saw the Colombian land some nice shots as he was a tornado of punches and fury, not all landed, but when one throws that many shots a few will find the target. 

Utilizing the chopping right hand, and occasional uppercut, Bailey tried to keep Urango at bay as the fight moved into the middle rounds.  Aggression was starting to overwhelm patience, and fighting in Juan’s backyard where he is the house fighter, it seemed that Randall was letting the fight slip away. 

In the sixth round Bailey made good on his promise of making Urango pay and floored him with a great right hand counter.  With blood dripping down his face from the bridge of his nose as a result of the well placed right, Juan kept coming after Randall determined to give as good as he just got.  Like driving through Texas, the middle rounds were exactly the same with nothing to separate one from the other.  It went like this, Juan Urango charged in throwing a looping left and short right hook, Randall Bailey scurrying backwards and lands right hand.  Rinse and repeat, sometimes Urango would land a shot or two usually to the body, but the action was the same throughout each round.

Then lightning struck in the ninth round in the form of a straight left from the persistent Urango.  Bailey barely made the count and quickly went on a tour of the ring via his legs.  Running from Juan like Forrest Gump from the stone throwing kids; Randall used every inch of the ring but Urango found a way to land another left and put him down again.  Bailey got up a bit easier this time and was able to stave off another knockdown. 

Going into the championship rounds in a close fight Urango started to take advantage of his momentum and commitment to administering punishment especially to the body.  While holding Bailey’s head down, Urango was allowed to land a vicious right to the body that put Randall down to a knee. 

Juan Urango found a way to mug and bully Randall Bailey, punching him in the thigh and back, holding him down and shoving him, and hitting him with elbows.  It was brutal, but some good punches got in between the rough tactics.  John David Jackson saw enough and called an early night for his charge.  Randall Bailey looked defeated mentally and the respected former fighter and trainer made a smart call ending the fight.  Juan Urango showed some serious heart and grit and persevered through some big shots and a rough spot in the sixth.  Retaining his title Juan Urango improved to 22-2-1, 17KO, and with Paulie Malignaggi ringside, it makes one wonder what his future holds.  As for Randall Bailey, he dropped to 39-7, 35KO; his future in is doubt, but Bailey is a tough man to keep down and he brings it all to the ring every time he steps in.