Duran Wants to Take Truax’s Momentum Away this Friday on ESPN Friday Night Fights

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”.

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.

ESPN2 Commentators/Studio:

Blow-by-blow commentator Joe Tessitore and ringside analyst Teddy Atlas will return to describe the action for ESPN2. Both are recipients of the prestigious Sam Taub Award for Excellence in Broadcast Journalism presented by the Boxing Writers Association of America (BWAA): Atlas (2001), Tessitore (2010).

Studio host Todd Grisham (@GrishamESPN), who will fill-in ringside for Tessitore during the season opener,will return for his second season providing all the latest boxing news and highlights. Bilingual reporter Bernardo Osuna (@osunaespn), who last year became the series’ first-ever on-site reporter, will contribute to Friday Night Fights in English, and Noche de Combates (Fight Night) in Spanish.

ESPN Deportes Commentators/Studio:

Delvin Rodríguez will call the fights with Pablo Viruega for Noche de Combates
on both ESPN Deportes and ESPN Deportes+, while Leopoldo González and Claudia Trejos will anchor the studio. Hall of Fame referee Joe Cortez will join Trejos and González in studio throughout the season, with Osuna providing reports and interviews.

About Iron Mike Productions (IMP)

Previously known as Acquinity Sports, Iron Mike Productions is a full-service boxing promotion company co-founded and led by CEO Garry Jonas. In partnership with Hall of Famer Mike Tyson, IMP is committed to changing traditional boxing promotion by advocating for its fighters’ successes, inside the ring and out, throughout their professional careers and into retirement.

About Warriors Boxing

Launched in 2003, Warriors Boxing operates under a simple philosophy-bring the best boxers in the world to fight fans, match them in competitive bouts, and in doing so help re-establish the sport of boxing for a new generation.

With a series of successful Pay-Per-View shows and packed houses to its credit, the Warriors business model is working wonders in a sport that was sorely in need of the innovation and energy that the company brings to the table.

When it comes down to it though, a promotional company is only as good as the fighters and fights it promotes. Warriors Boxing has delivered on all fronts, with outstanding bouts such as Lara-Molina, Cayo-Peterson, Abraham-Miranda I and II, Miranda-Pavlik, Miranda-Green, Ibragimov-Briggs, Ibragimov-Klitschko, Urango-Hatton, Urango-Bailey, Cayo-Maidana and Ibragimov-Holyfield.

About Seconds Out Promotions

When retired professional boxer Tony Grygelko found himself unable to stay out of the gym, he realized that his passion for the sport was something he couldn’t deny. At age 29, Grygelko formed Seconds Out Promotions.

By utilizing the vast boxing knowledge of world-class trainer Ron Lyke, Grygelko and Seconds Out Promotions found instant success.

Through determination, integrity and hard work, Seconds Out Promotions strives to become a leading fight promotional company in the world, by giving young fighters the ability to showcase their talents to a worldwide audience, along with offering our fans the highest quality programming available.

Seconds Out Promotions was created to bring the very best fights to all fans and participants worldwide. Seconds Out Promotions is committed to the recruitment and development of the best and brightest young fighters to help achieve our mission. Seconds Out Promotions continues to expand its web and television presence, and is establishing itself as one of the fastest-rising fight promotions in the world.