Urango Vs. Bailey: Check it Out, Boxing Fans

You're a boxing fan and you're frustrated. Many of the big fights are on HBO and Showtime, but you have neither with your basic cable subscription. Forget about pay-per-view, shelling out $40 to $60 bucks to watch a bout that used to be shown on network TV on Saturday afternoons isn't your cup of tea.

Well, guess what, if you or a local establishment carry ESPN2, then you're in for a treat on Friday night, August 28.

Featured on that card is a pair of world championship fights more likely than not to provide plenty of entertainment for those live in attendance at the Seminole Hard Rock Hotel and Casino in Hollywood, Florida as well as those viewing the event on television.

The main event is a well-matched and hard-to-call IBF junior welterweight (140 pounds) championship fight between Juan Urango and a rejuvenated Randall Bailey.

Urango, 28 years old, enters the ring with a record of 21-2-1 (16 knockouts). He's coming off a unanimous decision loss after going up a weight class to challenge Andre Berto for the WBC welterweight title last May.

Urango had won four fights prior to that defeat, highlighted by a unanimous decision over Herman Ngoudjo this past January and a knockout over Carlos Vilches in April of 2008. His first career loss came on a lackluster performance against Ricky Hatton (unanimous decision in January of 2007).

Bailey, at one time amongst the hottest up-and-comers in the sport, is now 34 years old and has a pro mark of 39-6 (35). He's riding a four-fight winning streak which includes a unanimous decision over DeMarcus Corley last October. His last defeat came at the hands of Ngoudjo via split decision in June of 2007.

Bailey started in the pro ranks on a tear as he won his first 21 fights-all by knockout-before losing Ener Julio in July of 2000.

Urango is a strong, aggressive fighter, without a lot of speed. He's determined, has a sturdy chin and may very well have the all-important edge in stamina over Bailey.

For his part, Bailey, is a big-time puncher and his power is enough to keep anyone ultra alert. He also has an advantage in speed over Urango, which could pay off big time.

This bout may simply come down to who wants it more and who's willing to take more punches to achieve victory. The sense is that Bailey really wants this belt, but the younger, fresher Urango gets the nod on an 11^th round TKO.

The above mentioned encounter is great, but there's more-and we're talking about the co-feature which puts Clinton Woods against Tavoris Cloud for the vacant IBF light heavyweight crown.

Woods, 37 years old with a record of 42-4-1 (24), has lost to some of the biggest names in the light heavyweight division over the past several years in Antonio Tarver, Glen Johnson [whom he also defeated and drew] and Roy Jones Jr. His other career loss happened in 1998 on a decision to Davis Starie.

The loss to Tarver for the IBF title came by way of unanimous decision in April of 2008 and snapped a six-fight winning streak. Woods won the IBF crown with a fifth round TKO over previously unbeaten Rico Hoye in March of 2005.

After downing Hoye, his four title defenses featured wins over Johnson (split decision in 2006) and Julio Cesar Gonzalez (unanimous decision in 2007). Johnson toppled Woods in 2004 with the draw coming in late 2003.

Cloud, 27 years old, is a heavy hitter with 18 knockouts in his 19 pro wins. He got this shot after stopping Gonzalez in the 10^th round of their IBF title eliminator last August. The comparisons in the level of opposition stops there, though.

Cloud's victories prior to the Gonzalez triumph have been against unremarkable opposition and that could be the major difference in this contest. Woods, with a wealth of championship experience, holds off the hard-charging a quite possibly future champion Cloud for a clear unanimous decision.