Weigh-ins for ESPN's "Friday Night Fights" on Jan. 3 will take place the day before, at 3:30 p.m. Thursday at the Pour House, located in the Lumber Exchange Building in downtown Minneapolis.

Seven Minnesota-raised fighters are on the eight-bout Target Center card, including middleweight Caleb Truax of Osseo in one of the two main events. The card is being produced in part by former heavyweight champion Mike Tyson's Iron Mike Productions.

Truax, 23-1-1 with 14 knockouts, will fight Ossie Duran, a native of Ghana now living in New Jersey. He is 28-11-2 with 11 knockouts.

Other Minnesota natives on the card: Tony Lee of St. Paul vs. Willshaun Boxley of Coon Rapids, Nate Richardson of Coon Rapids vs. Damien Hill of Minneapolis, and, in separate bouts, Javante Starks of Minneapolis and Trevor Marman of Duluth.

Tickets, ranging from $35 to $250 apiece, are on sale at the Target Center box office and Ticketmaster outlets.

Etc.

• Gophers senior middle blocker Tori Dixon signed Thursday with Rabita Baku, a professional volleyball team in Baku, the capital of Azerbaijan. "It's a volleyball hotbed. It is considered one of the best teams, and they are hosting the European Championships this year," said Dixon, who signed a contract for the second half of this season and two more seasons.

• Ian Shoemaker, the co-offensive coordinator for St. Cloud State, was hired as the head coach at Central Washington University in Ellensburg, Wash. He helped the Huskies go 12-2 this past season.

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