Brayan Duran hopes that 2025 will put him back in front of a world title fight. But Bare Knuckle’s Cuban Fighter Fighting Championship wants much more in terms of knowing other geographies and fighting new fans.
After having made his entire career on stage in Miami and South Florida, the warrior known as El Gallo awaits his new date of promotion to the ring It could well be a rematch against 145-pound champion Kai Steward, with whom he had a small altercation after his last triumph on December 21 at Hard Rock Live in Fort Lauderdale.
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The first time Steward and Durán fought for the world girdle, the matancer suffered an injury in the first round that conditioned the rest of the fight and although he tried by all means to take the victory, the difficulties with his right hand prevented him from going further.
Now, fully recovered and after last December’s triumph, the Gallo proved that this power is still intact, but other boxing elements were also seen that the illusion. Pupilo of Professor Eric Castanos, Durán is aiming for big things in the new season of BKFC.
After seven months of preparation, of surgery, and the mentality I had to have in those seven months, it felt better than ever. As I told my family and everyone, that victory felt better than if I had won the world title. I’ve never lost in my life. I didn’t know how a defeat felt or I didn’t appreciate how cute it is to win.
Let’s just say defeat puts a lot of things in perspective.
I was going over my rivals and maybe I didn’t see other things. That defeat made me appreciate the cute moments of the sport, the victories, and the moments with the family, and the fans. I hope I still feel that as many times as I can. We’re going to keep winning.
When you got out of the ring, you had a problem with the champion. Was I in my euphoria, coming down from the super-happy ring for having worked so hard those seven months, with my best boxing? It was my time, my night and when I went down he started to disrespect me, he told me things I’m not going to say now. I felt like hitting him, but since I couldn’t, because I’m a professional, I wanted to put a touch of play on him threw a coffee over him, and ran out.
Steward got really upset…
That was the point. He talked so much about me. I did it on purpose. I wanted to steal the happiness of the moment and say I had earned myself. I said my surgery was nothing but an excuse, but I knew I wasn’t going to give myself the rematch immediately. I certainly knew I had fought him when I was hurt. He fought Jimmy Rivera, who comes from the UFC and didn’t give him half the fight I gave him with one hand and in the midst of tremendous pain.
And you’ll take the revenge?
One person said he was a week away and all that came to me. I know he was hurt and then he said it was the easiest fight. It was all a lie. I was already offended, but I don’t take anything emotional. Since I knew I wasn’t going to fight with me I had to do something to put it brave and make that fight happen in the future. Now there’s a story, a narrative that people want to see. I’m waiting for a chance.
What’s in the future?
I’m waiting to fight in April outside the United States. He has already fought eight BKFCs in South Florida in Miami. I’ve helped everyone, I’ve done everything, I’ve been a good soldier. A contract, I sign it. It’s time to grow the brand of El Gallo. I have fans in Europe, Central America, and South America. I haven’t been able to give these people a show. I’d like to fight in Argentina, where I’m followed by a lot of people. I’m expecting something big.
