By Ricardo Mendez Archibold

Panamanian prospect Israel Duffus (6-1, 5KOs), 22-years-old, is training hard with Hall of Fame coach Freddie Roach at the Wild Card Boxing Club gym in Hollywood, California. Duffus has been inactive since turning pro in 2011, but wants to step things up by getting in as many fights as possible. He will return on September 6th in North Dakota  against an opponent to be determined. He saw action last month, also in North Dakota, and had a first round TKO victory over Michael Birthmark.

"I thank God for the blessings that he's given me. From the amateur ranks we've been working on [getting to this point] and I think [my work] has paid off at my young age. Now I join a select group of fighters like Manny Pacquiao, Miguel Cotto, Ola Afolabi, Lucian Bute, Lateef Kayode, among others [who are training with Roach]," Duffus said. 

 

'With Roach I'll do 10 fights, at light heavyweight and cruiserweight, to see between which of the two I'm going to stay in. We are now training for the next fight and I am being helped in sparring by Afolabi, Kayode and Bute."