Duran ready for Truax

Ossie "The Ghanaian Gladiator" Duran (11-1, 8 KOs) says he's well prepared to face hometown hero Caleb "Golden" Truax (23-1, 4 KOs) of Minnesota, on ESPN Friday Night Fights this Friday, January 3, 2014, at Target Center in Minneapolis, Minnesota, and fans watching that night should be ready for an upset.

 

Presented by Iron Mike Productions, Seconds Out Promotions and Warriors Boxing, Duran's 10-round middleweight bout against Truax will serve as the main supporting bout and televised co-feature on the new year's first installment of ESPN Friday Night Fights, headlined by a 12-round main event for the IBF Junior Lightweight Championship between champion Argenis Mendez (21-2-1, 11 KOs) of Brooklyn, New York via San Juan, Dominican Republic and #1-ranked undefeated challenger Rances "Kid Blast" Barthelemy (19-0, 12 KOs) from Miami, via Cuba.

 

Tickets for Friday Night Fights go on sale Friday, November 22, at 12 noon and will be priced at $35, $65, $100, $150 and $250. They will be available at Target Center's Box Office, online at AXS.com or by calling 888.9.AXS.TIX (888.929.7849).

 

"He's beaten a couple of good guys," says Duran of Truax. "I watched him fight on tape and he's a good fighter, but I've been around so long, I'm ready for anyone."

 

36-year-old Duran accepted the fight against Truax on two weeks' notice after original opponent Derek Ennis pulled out. "I'm always in the gym training and working. I train some guys too, so I'm always ready to go. I can't wait for Friday, you know? I can't wait to jump in the ring and do what I got to do."

 

Duran was born in Accra, Ghana and began his pro career nearly 18 years ago as a lightweight. He has won several regional titles along the way including the Ghanaian lightweight, World Boxing Federation Pan-European welterweight, World Boxing Federation European Welterweight, Commonwealth welterweight, Commonwealth light middleweight, and United States Boxing Association Atlantic Coast Region middleweight titles.

 

"It's a short notice but it's going to be an upset," continued Duran. "That's why I have been training so hard: for a chance like this. Beating this guy will put me back where I want to be. I just have to go grab it."

 

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On fight night, doors open at 6 pm, first bell is at 7 pm. ESPN Friday Night Fights presented by Corona Extra will begin at 9 p.m. ET live on ESPN2, WatchESPN and broadband Spanish-language ESPN Deportes+.

 

ESPN Deportes - which will re-brand its coverage as Noche de Combates (formerly Viernes de Combates) with some telecasts on Saturdays - will air the bouts on Saturday, Jan. 4, at 9 p.m.