Nicholas Barrese is Demonese “Juicy” Duncan’s welterweight trainer and currently his legal guardian.
The duo will return to the ring on April 13 as part of the Superstars of Boxing Series, with Duncan headlining the main event in Louisville, Kentucky. For Duncan, who will face Dashaun “Too Sweet” Johns, the poignant words of Mike Stafford, one of Burrace’s mentors, remain in his heart.
“I started training fighters here in Louisville, but I wasn’t affiliated with a boxing gym or a boxing trainer,” Burrace said. “I just started training fighters in my basement.”
“He said, ‘I want to talk to you about something.’ I just want to tell you, I know who you are and I’ve been boxing all my life. People don’t come out of nowhere, but somehow you came out of nothing. I’m a fan, so please continue…”
Although Mr. Stafford sadly passed away last year, Mr. Burrace’s journey continues and these words continue to drive him.
Now, Burrace is on a long and grueling journey, trying to develop Duncan (9-1, 9 KOs), a 21-year-old who unexpectedly lost to Axel Melendez on Probox TV last year, into a young, talented fighter.
In modern times, perfect records were coveted, but now the perfect world of developing perfect candidates has all but disappeared. Just like in a fight, you have to adapt. Her adaptation originates from the local market of Louisville, the home of Muhammad Ali and where Duncan receives a lot of support.
It looks like her fight with Johns (4-4, 3 KOs) will be no different.
Her ballet made a name for herself in amateur boxing in the United States, where people “literally get in their cars and drive across the country for nine-minute matches,” she said. Those nine minutes would determine this fighter’s career until his next fight. The same goes for coaches. Barrese, a former track and field athlete, was running a restaurant at the time. He was trapped in an unhealthy lifestyle, drinking and smoking marijuana every night after work, and was bored for eight or nine years even though he worked 60 hours a week.
After that, Barres burned out.
He talked to his colleagues about finding some young people who might be interested in boxing, but had never played another sport, and was directed to Louisville.
He actually met his future fighters on a basketball court in a church league. Barrese also went to the library to read books and review them as much as she could to learn more about Ali and Angelo Dundee’s education.
“We started something completely new,” Barrese said. “I wasn’t a boxer. I didn’t start out in sports or anything. Athletes make coaches, not the other way around.”
Barrese is now living a meaningful life as a proud supporter. He praised Duncan and said he was proud of him.
“The show is affordable for fans and Duncan was a huge asset to me as a promoter,” Burrace said. “The city of Louisville loves this young man, so if he was the only local at the show, it would be packed again.”
This card will take place on pay-per-view on Saturday at his LiveSportsCaster.com
