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.
“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.”
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.
