Caleb Truax returns to where his professional boxing career started at the Target Center on Friday.
The Osseo native recalled how he was jittery and overanxious at the start of his fight with Ray Walker in front of 5,000 people in 2007.
That all changed when Walker landed his first punch.
"Once you get hit, everything slows down and you have to get back to reality," said Truax, who won in the second round by TKO.
Truax has participated in 25 fights since his debut (23-1-1), with an ever-growing fan base that should be present in his bout against Ossie Duran (28-11-2) on ESPN's Friday Night Fights.
"It's a breath of fresh air to see a whole town stand behind a fighter and have belief … confidence in him to do well," said Hall of Fame boxer Mike Tyson, who's one of the promoters of the event. "That's just awesome and really beautiful. They don't do that anymore."
Tyson compared Truax to a politician during Thursday's news conference in downtown Minneapolis with the ovation he received and the way he spoke to fans in attendance.
The University of Minnesota alum had just two weeks to prepare for Duran. Truax's original opponent, Derek Ennis, suffered a rib injury while training.