Truax to Face Duran in ESPN Friday Night Fights Co- Feature, January 3 in

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 , 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 , 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 Championship fight between champion Argenis Mendez (21-2-1, 11 KOs) of Brooklyn, 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 title, World Boxing Federation (WBF) European Welterweight Title, United States Boxing Association (USBA) Atlantic Coast Region 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.”

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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. ESPN2 Commentators/Studio:

Blow-by-blow commentator Joe Tessitore and ringside analyst 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 , 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.

For more information on Warriors Boxing, visit their website at www.WarriorsBoxing.com.

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.

For more information on Seconds Out Promotions, visit their website at: www.SoBoxing.comor their Twitter: @soboxing.

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For additional information go online at www.IronMikeProductions.com or www.SoBoxing.comorwww.WarriorsBoxing.com.

Mike Tyson Web Site – miketyson.com

Facebook: facebook.com/miketyson, facebook.com/SecondsOutPromotions

Twitter: @MikeTyson @IronMikeProd @soboxing @MikeTyson @soboxing @TargetcenterMN