People on the inside recognize the name of Frank Duarte.  Duarte was an active professional boxer from 1973-1989.  He was once the number two ranked Bantamweight in the world.  Keep in mind, in those days there were only really two governing bodies controlling boxing – the WBA and WBC, so it was much harder to be highly ranked.  In his career, Duarte compiled an impressive record of 47-8-1.

After he left boxing, Duarte took on a new profession — cutting hair as a California barber.  “When I was cutting hair, I would really question myself as to why I was now a barber.  I missed boxing.  I started giving private boxing lessons and eventually quit the hair business.”

One of Duarte’s biggest fights was against Bernardo Pinango.  “It was a good fight”, recalled Duarte.  “I was 32 years old and it was my first title shot.  I knocked him down in the 12th round and he had three points taken away for low blows. Unfortunately, the three South American judges scoring the fight awarded Pinango with the decision.  I was never really hurt or dazed in that fight and it was one of the last 15 round fights to ever take place before boxing went to 12 round fights.”

In conversations with Ray “Boom Boom” Mancini, Duarte was told about a young fighter from Campbell, Ohio named Jake Giuriceo.  “Ray would talk to me about Jake and thought that I would be able to make Jake better because Ray saw how I taught. In February of this year, Ray sent Jake to me after I had watched some video of his fights.  In those videos, I saw a very aggressive fighter who stayed active and liked to throw a lot of punches.  I picked up immediately that he needed to move his head and his feet more.  The possibilities for Jake were endless that first training camp in preparation for his Angel Hernandez fight.  He was not a complete or polished fighter yet, but there was so much potential there.”

Giuriceo said he is not distracted when he is at home and that he is training hard in California in preparation for his August 13 fight at Cene Park against George Mchedlishvili (8-4-1).  “It is easier to focus when I am here because I don’t have to worry about work and can concentrate strictly on boxing”, commentd Giuriceo from California.

Duarte disagreed with the distraction factor.  “Going into his last fight, he trained hard but there are things that mentally take him out of that zone.  He was trying to sell a car, looking for an apartment, and making phone calls a lot.  When he is here, there is really nothing else for him to do except focus and stay dedicated, both physically and mentally.  I expect him to look like a polished contender and he has added stuff each fight that I have gotten to work with him.  It started with head movement and  his footwork, it has now progressed to angles and sliding away from punches.  He eats right, runs daily, and lives a very clean lifestyle, physically he is where he needs to be. He has sparred with some great fighters here and I am really happy with his progress and attitude.”

Duarte will be in the Youngstown area for the fight on August 13.  He will work with Giuriceo and his local trainer, Keith Burnside, in the week leading up to the Cene Park card.  Mike Cefalde is promoting the event and it will mark the third time that Giuriceo has headlined for Cefalde.