Duran to step in to face Truax

Ossie "The Ghanaian Gladiator" Duran (28-11-2, 11 KOs) will step in to face hometown hero Caleb "Golden" Truax (23-1, 4 KOs) of Minnesota, as the ESPN Friday Night Fights-televised 10-round co-featured bout on Friday, January 3, 2014, at Target Center in Minneapolis, Minnesota.

Presented by Iron Mike Productions, Seconds Out Promotions and Warriors Boxing, Truax vs. Duran will serve as the main supporting bout to the year's first installment of the 17th season of ESPN Friday Night Fights, featuring a 12-round main event for the IBF Super Featherweight Championship fight between champion Argenis Mendez (21-2-1, 11 KOs) of Brooklyn, New York via San Juan, Dominican Republic vs. #1-ranked undefeated challenger Rances "Kid Blast" Barthelemy (19-0, 12 KOs) from Miami, via Cuba.

Tickets for Friday Night Fights are priced at $35, $65, $100, $150 and $250. They are available at Target Center's Box Office, online at AXS.com or by calling 888.9.AXS.TIX (888.929.7849).

With original opponent Derek Ennis forced to withdraw, Duran says he's more than ready to step in and halt the momentum of the streaking Truax. 

In a distinguished career spanning 17 years, 36-year-old Duran, born in Accra, Ghana, and now residing in Paterson, New Jersey, won the Ghanaian lightweight title, World Boxing Federation(WBF) Pan-European welterweight title, World Boxing Federation (WBF) European Welterweight Title, United States Boxing Association (USBA) Atlantic Coast Region middleweight title, Commonwealth welterweight title, and Commonwealth light middleweight title.

He also drew with Eromosele Albert for the vacant International Boxing Federation (IBF) Continental Africa light middleweight title, and was a challenger for the Commonwealth lightweight title against David Tetteh, World Boxing Organization (WBO) North American Boxing Organization(NABO) middleweight title against Fernando Guerrero, and World Boxing Council (WBC) Silver middleweight title against Avtandil Khurtsidze.

Duran and Truax share a common opponent. Both have beaten Minnesota fan 

favorite Matt Vanda by decision.

"Ossie Duran is always ready for war," said Leon Margules. "Caleb Truax had better take this challenge seriously because Duran has made a career out of surprising fighters who were favored to beat him. I am looking forward to watching how this interesting battle will unfold. It will surely be a great test of what Caleb is truly made of."