By Phil D. Jay

Former WBO light-welterweight champion and four-time world title challenger Randall Bailey is expecting to land an IBF welterweight title shot after Andre Berto vacated the title to meet Victor Ortiz in a rematch early next year.

The 37 year-old from Florida won an eliminator in March 2010 for what would be his first crack at a 147lb title and has been patiently waiting for the call to meet - firstly former champion Jan Zaveck and then his conqueror Berto for almost two years.

The 50-fight veteran will now be an interested spectator for the semi-final eliminator at Madison Square Garden on December 3rd and explained to WBN that the vacant belt will not be contested until the spring.

“Mike Jones is currently going to fight Sebastian Lujan for the #1 spot and then the winner will fight me for the title,” Bailey told World Boxing News.

“I think everyone is expecting Mike Jones to win this fight so he can come see me on March 3rd I’m hoping.

Bailey, who out-pointed Yoryi Estella in September by a wide margin in a keep-busy fight, is confident of picking up the dormant strap and using it as bargaining tool for one of the other welterweight champions.

“My goal is to win IBF title and get a name fight against a creditable opponent to put myself in position to fight Floyd Mayweather (WBC champion) or Manny Pacquiao (WBO champion) late next year or the beginning of 2013,” he added.

Phil D. Jay covers boxing for worldboxingnews.net