Thread: Kostya Tszyu vs. Randall Bailey

What if the two hardest right hand punchers the 140 lb division has ever seen collided in their primes?


Tszyu was by far the better overall fighter; he had more tools, a better chin and could box as evidenced by the Ben Tackie fight.


However, Bailey may have eclipsed even him in punching power. He also had a good left hook seeing as that is how he won his first world title.


The consensus is Tszyu by KO, but Bailey woulda had a shot. Who else would have like to seen this one?

Kosta would have shut him out. Bailey isn't in Kostya's class.

Tszyu is one of 140lbs best of all time.

Tszyu in 4. Bailey's chin always let him down

Yeah, I'd only give Bailey the classic punchers chance, and even then Tszyu wasn't chinny or anything. To beat him you basically had to be on his ass for the whole fight and tough as hell, Vince Phillips or Hatton both took a lot of punishment themselves in doing so and had crazy output.

I think prime Kostya beats Bailey, Shane, Floyd, Hatton and Chavez.

Maybe not Chavez but Cotto.

Originally Posted by Master

I think prime Kostya beats Bailey, Shane, Floyd, Hatton and Chavez.

If Bailey had the same amount of power and technique in both hands, Id give him a better shot but he's really a one handed fighter who'd get easily neutralized by Tszyu..

I agree with you.. Tszyu beats mosley and he's the only person who has been constantly praised by Floyd.. FOr some reason, Floyd respects him so much..

Hatton dont even belong in this topic bruh.. lol He'd barely qualify to carry Tszyu's watter bottle in his prime..

I believe a younger Chavez ruins Tsszyu..

Go Tszyu but as with anyone vs Bailey I can see him in serious trouble first. I'd give Bailey a punchers chance vs a Greyhound bus. Tszyu wasn't exactly hard to miss with a sharp and fast right hand but Baileys legs and staying close would cost him dearly in the end. I remember Hurtado coming in on 2 weeks notice and shocking Kostya with sneak right hands for KD's but he was getting hammered the entire time.

Originally Posted by Spicoli

Go Tszyu but as with anyone vs Bailey I can see him in serious trouble first. I'd give Bailey a punchers chance vs a Greyhound bus. Tszyu wasn't exactly hard to miss with a sharp and fast right hand but Baileys legs and staying close would cost him dearly in the end. I remember Hurtado coming in on 2 weeks notice and shocking Kostya with sneak right hands for KD's but he was getting hammered the entire time.

Hurtado also stopped Bailey back then.

Big punchers always have a chance, it all depends on whether or not their opponent gives them one. Tszyu was in a different class to Bailey.
Tszyu had extraordinary ring skills, he knew how to cut you off, he would stalk his opponent and didn't waste punches. Quite often he would systematically wear you down with continuous precision punching (see Miguel Angel Gonzalez)

I was a fan of Miguel Angel Gonzalez but Kostya put the best beat down on him I have seen for a very long time.

Vince Philips hit Tszyu with right hands all night long, but Kostya quit fighting so square up after that and became a much better fighter.