by James Slater – Exciting puncher and former two-time world champion Randall Bailey could possibly be fighting for the IBF welterweight title in the coming months. This is the word according to promoter Lou DiBella, in speaking with ESPN.com. Reportedly, a Bailey-Jackson Osei Bonsu clash is in the works for March 12th in Belgium, and the bout will be an eliminator for the IBF 147-pound belt currently held by Jan Zaveck of Germany..
According to ESPN.com, the winner of the March 12th bout would be “one more win away at most, from a shot at Zaveck.” So 35-year-old Bailey’s, 40-7(35) career is far from over despite the stoppage loss he suffered at the hands of IBF 140-pound champion Juan Urango a short while back.
Having said after the thriller of a loss to the Colombian he had down in the contest before losing in the 11th-round, that he had weakened himself by making weight, “The Knock Out King” said he’d have to move up. Winning a welterweight fight against Germaine sanders four months after the Urango disappointment, Bailey said he felt good at the new weight. Now, if he can get past 28-year-old Bonsu, Bailey could be on the verge of yet another world title fight.
Bonsu, 31-3(24), and born in Ghana but now a Belgian, will be no easy fight for Bailey, however. The former European welterweight champion probably best known on the world scene for his points win over former world 147-pound champ Carlos Baldomir, has fought a number of good fighters in his nine-year pro career. Though he was stopped in July 2009, in the 9th-round by Turkey’s Selcuk Aydin, Bonsu rebounded with a quick win over a so-so opponent in November of last year. It’s fair to say Bonsu is still hungry.
Bailey is not getting any younger and he has a hard career behind him, but with his withering punching power he has a real shot at becoming the third man to stop Bonsu. And, as promoter DiBella and Bailey himself are aware, winning abroad can be tough for the away fighter if he doesn’t score the KO. With a stunning 35 KO’s to his name, Bailey has to believe he will get the job done in March.
Bonsu, though no banger like Bailey, can punch some himself, however, and the action in this one could well be lively. Younger than Bailey, probably having a better chin and definitely having home advantage, “Sugar” will no doubt see a winnable fight ahead of him. Either way, I don’t see this fight going the distance.
As for the potential prize, a shot at IBF champ Zaveck of Germany by way of Slovenia, this would be a tough fight indeed for either Bailey or Bonsu. Having won the IBF belt with an impressive 3rd-round stoppage win over South Africa’s Isaac Hlatshwayo back in December, the 28-1(16) 33-year-old who has never been stopped won’t give up his title without a real fight.
Can Bailey’s lethal fists beat Bonsu? And if so, could “The Knock Out King” soon be facing Zaveck in a attempt at becoming a champion all over again?