Welterweight Demontaze “Juicy” Duncan took a chance early in his career and learned a valuable lesson. He lost to Axl Melendez on a ProBox TV card in 2023. That defeat led to a rebuilding process – a reno job that perhaps no one was better suited to take on than Duncan himself.
Duncan, 11-1 (11 KOs), will return against Pablo Polanco Fernandez on Saturday at an outdoor venue at Stooges Bar & Grill in Louisville, Kentucky.
Life has been testing Duncan’s foundation for longer than he has been fighting. A 22-year-old from Louisville, Duncan had his world shaken by the death of his mother, when Demontaze was just 7 years old. Duncan’s four siblings were divided, and he went into foster care. When he was 12, Duncan’s stepfather, Tony Sublett, was murdered. Demontaze would move into another relative's house – that of his great uncle James Davis. Only two years later, when Duncan was 14, Davis died. That’s when boxing coach Nicholas Bareis petitioned the court and became Duncan’s legal guardian.
“It was new for me and him,” Bareis told BoxingScene. “I had never fostered any kids, and I didn’t get into boxing to do charity. I wanted to build champions, and I want to win. He carried the same sentiment. Becoming his guardian was a blessing for us both.”
But first came more heartache. In 2019, Duncan’s uncle Chris Davis was murdered. In 2023, his best friend, Jeremiah Hurt, was shot and killed. Last year, his half-brother Torrence Searcy was murdered. The sheer volume of loss and anguish Duncan has endured is astonishing, yet it seems to have intensified his focus and sense of purpose.
“We are not only a father-son, but we are business partners,” Bareis said of Duncan. “We still live together, and even though he eats me out of house and home, he is one of the most considerate and respectful people I have ever met."
Duncan, who initially wasn’t on many people’s radar as an amateur, found his match in Bareis. Yet even after winning four national tournaments and fighting the best in the nation, major media didn’t pay much attention. His pro career has thus far been a similar slow boil.
“As soon as he came to live with me, his amateur career took off, and it was nothing short of remarkable,” Bareis said. “As impressive as he was as an amateur, he has exhibited those same characteristics as a professional.”
Boxing coach Mike Stafford once told Bareis, “People don’t come out of nowhere in boxing – but you did.” In reality, the team of Duncan and Bareis put together a 100-amateur fight career. After seven straight knockout wins to start Duncan’s pro career, then came his first loss.
“It was a six-rounder, and we ran out of time,” Bareis said. “He got behind early in the fight but came on late, losing a majority decision. This loss, while disappointing, has only fueled his determination to improve and climb the ranks.”
In three fights since, Duncan has won all by knockout, on shows he has co-promoted with Bareis.
“When things don’t go his way, he listens,” Bareis said. “I know he has something special inside him, and we plan on finishing what we started.”
Fernandez, 11-19 (4 KOs), is typical of an opponent who might be seen in a regional show. A 35-year-old from Motul, Yucatán, Mexico, Fernandez might not have a sexy record, but he’s a veteran who was willing to accept a fight with an up-and-comer on his home turf.
Duncan is hopeful that a strong performance against Fernandez can be a jumping-off point for the next stage of his career.
“I want the big fights, and when my coach and team think I’m ready, I’ll be ready,” Duncan told BoxingScene. “I can’t wait to get another opportunity to fight the best. I’ve worked so hard to prove I belong, and I will make good on my hard work.”
Said Bareis: “He is the poster boy of the city for overcoming adversity and rebounding from devastating losses. A boxing match is nothing compared to the other triumphs he has encountered. He remains positive, focused and determined to not only win but change the trajectory of his life.”
Lucas Ketelle is the author of “Inside the Ropes of Boxing,” a guide for young fighters, a writer for BoxingScene and a member of the Boxing Writers Association of America. Find him on X at @BigDogLukie.