Nunn Draws Boxer With Pliable Mark

His name is Jose Duarte and he’ll be fighting North Hollywood middleweight Michael Nunn in tonight’s 10-round main event at the Reseda Country Club.

No argument there.

Beyond that, however, you pay your money and take your chances.

The Country Club lists the 33-year-old Duarte, from Mexico City, as 32-9 with 31 knockouts.

Duarte says his record is 32-14-1 with 31 knockouts.

The State Athletic Commission, after an hour’s research, came up with 28-14-1 and 27 knockouts.

One thing seems sure. All parties will add one more loss to whichever record they recognize after tonight’s fight or we’re talking major, major upset.

Nunn is 23-0 with 15 knockouts and ranked fourth by the World Boxing Council. This fight, one of six on the card that begins at 8 p.m., figures to be nothing more than a tune-up for him.

Should Nunn indeed win tonight, however, the road ahead is as muddled as Duarte’s record. The list of possible opponents for Nunn has been long and impressive.

There is Michael Olajide, currently ranked third by the WBC. There is Darnell Knox (26-1, 20 knockouts), ranked 10th by the WBC. Former champion Thomas Hearns is a possibility and even the name of former champion Marvin Hagler has been mentioned.

Hearns tentatively has agreed to fight Juan Roldan, the WBA’s No. 2 contender, for both the WBC and World Boxing Assn. titles, both of which are vacant. Olajide may fight Iran Barkley (No. 5 in the WBA) for the International Boxing Federation title, also currently vacant.

All of which would leave Knox for Nunn in a North American Boxing Federation title fight.

All three fights could be held Sept. 11 at Caesars Palace in Las Vegas. Or elsewhere in Vegas. Or perhaps in Madison Square Garden in New York. Or maybe later in September.

Or maybe not at all if Olajide doesn’t receive the money he wants.

Like Duarte’s record, the possibilities go on and on.