BOSTON (April 20, 2021) – Recently discharged U.S. Army specialist 4th class Daniel Bailey Jr. will be fighting in front of soldiers this Thursday night at the United States Military Academy in West Point, New York. The 24-year-old Bailey (3-0, 2 KOs), fighting out of Tampa (FL), will face Luis Alvarado (1-2) in a 4-round featherweight bout on a Ring City USA card, the first live boxing in New York since before the pandemic.
All the action will be streamed live (9 pm. ET / 6 p.m. PT) on the Twitch.tv app, starting at 9 p.m. ET / 6 p.m. PT, as well as via the Armed Forces Network Europe and Pacific (AFNTV).
“I’ve never been to West Point,” Bailey said. “I’m excited to fight there in front of other soldiers. I’m honored. We’re all brothers and sisters in arms and I want to put on a great show for them. I’m bringing the heat!”
“This is a great opportunity for Daniel,” Bailey’s manager Ryan Roach (Fighter Locker) commented. “Ring City USA has really taken over during the pandemic, putting on some really great shows. Ring City reached out to me looking to get some U.S. Army veterans on the card and Daniel answered the call, as always. I’m excited for this and Daniel is ready for the big stage.”
Born in Miami, Bailey’s cousin is Randall “The Knock-Out King” Bailey (46-9, 39 KOs), the 2-division World champion who was considered one of the hardest pound-4-pound punchers of his era (1996-2016).
Bailey was honorably discharged from the military this past March 19 after serving a 6-year stint. He was a 4-time U.S. Army champion rated as high as No. 1 in the country as an amateur boxer. He was stationed at Fort Carson in Colorado Springs (CO), where Daniel was enrolled in the special soldier-athlete program there, World Class Athlete Program (WCAP).
Bailey made his pro debut November 7, 2020, when he stopped Noe Marquez Talamantes in the second-round of their fight in Mexico. His last action was an opening-round knockout of Jahterris Lewis last month in Alabama.
During his solid amateur boxing career, Bailey benefited from sparring world champions Terence Crawford and Jamel Herring, among the more notables.
“I’ve become a much more complete fighter since I turned pro,” Bailey explained. “I have more control, like fully hydrating after a weigh in. I’m like a kid in a candy store now. I’ve made changes and sparring top guys has really helped my conditioning.
“This is the right place, right time for me,” Bailey concluded. I’m already on weight and ready to fight. It was a good time for me to get out of the army to pursue my dream.”