Frankie Randall

Frankie Billy Randall (born September 25, 1961 in Birmingham, Alabama) is a three-time world champion boxer, who is best known as the man who handed Mexican legend Julio César Chávez his first professional defeat.

Pro career

Known as "The Surgeon", Randall, who was born in Birmingham, Alabama and grew up in Morristown, Tennessee, turned pro in 1981 after a lengthy career as an amateur boxer. He started slowly, winning his pro debut in June of that year, but was inactive in 1982 and did not fight again until February 1983.

Once his career started in earnest, Randall stayed busy, fighting and winning 23 times between 1983 and June 1985, when he fought former and future champ Edwin Rosario and lost a unanimous decision over 10 rounds. The loss probably cost him a chance to fight for the WBC lightweight title later that year. It didn't seem like much at the time, but Randall ended up waiting years for another shot.

On July 4, 1986, Randall drew with Freddie Pendleton for the USBA regional lightweight title, then watched Pendleton get a title shot instead of him even though Randall had previously defeated him. Then, in October 1987, he was knocked out by Mexican lightweight champion Primo Ramos for the NABF regional belt.

Randall then signed with promoter Don King and spent the next six and a half years fighting on the undercards of various championship fights promoted by King. But he also won all 17 of those fights, and on January 30, 1993, earned another title shot...
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