Jack defeats Dirrell; Jacobs defeats Truax

04/25/201504/24/2015 Jeff Sorby

In a surprise upset, WBC super middleweight champion Anthony Dirrell (27-1-1, 22 KOs) was defeated by #8 WBC challenger Badou Jack (19-1-1, 12 KOs) by a 12 round majority decision on Friday night in a fight that wasn’t supposed to be competitive at the UIC Pavilion, in Chicago, Illinois, USA. Dirrell, 30, looked under motivated from the start as he threw single shots and spent much of the time clinching to try and shutdown Jack’s pressure style offense.

Jack didn’t have fast feet, and Dirrell likely could have out-boxed him if he was a mobile fighter like his older brother Andre Dirrell, but he simply didn’t have the mobility to stay away from Jack. All throughout the fight, Jack would cut off the ring on Dirrell and force him to fight on the inside where he was less skilled. Dirrell would then clinch to stop Jack from nailing him with shots. But Jack used these opportunities to rough Dirrell up by hitting him to the body, side of the head and even to the back of the head.

PBC Seems to Have Forgotten Caleb Truax

04/13/201504/13/2015 Paul Strauss

Premier Boxing Champions (PBC) offered another big show this past weekend. Danny “Swift” Garcia squeaked out a decision win over Lamont Peterson, and Peter “Kid Chocolate” Quillen knocked Andy Lea down twice, and came away with a draw. A notch lower comes Friday the 24th, on Spike TV when fans will see Anthony Dirrell battle Badou Jack.

The co-feature pits Daniel “Miracle Man” Jacobs 28-1-0 (25KO) against Caleb “Golden” Truax 25-1-2 (15KO). A check of PBC’s premierboxingchampions.com website provides profiles for each of the fighters, with the exception of Caleb Truax? Undoubtedly, it was just an oversight, but Caleb merits at least a few words.

ESPN2 Friday Night Fights Full Recap: Truax/Duran battle to a disputed draw and a controversial knockout in the main event

01/04/201401/04/2014 Chris Carlson

The night started out at the Target Center from chilly Minneapolis with a rematch from a spirited first fight featuring Milwaukee prospect Adrian Martinez fighting Duluth native Trevor Marmon.

The 1st round was evenly fought until the fighters exchanged left hooks with Adrian getting the better of it forcing Marmon to hold avoiding a knockdown.

Beginning of the 2nd round Marmon got to the body but Martinez’s uppercuts, body shots, and several huge right hands seem to bother Trevor. Martinez landed another flush left hook that closed the show with a knockout at the 1:18 mark in the 3rd round.

ESPN2 FNF Ends With After the Bell KAYO

01/04/201401/04/2014 Paul Strauss

Something unusual occurred in the season premier of ESPN’s Friday Night Fights. It occurred in the main event at the Target Center in Minneapolis, MN. It was almost musical. The end came with a thud. Watch the replay, and see if you can keep time with the two punches and bells that ended round two of the fight. First, watch undefeated Rances Barthelemy;s land a hard right to the head of 130 pound champ Argenis Mendez.

Then he ends things with a left hook land as the bell clangs a second time. The fight is over. Oops! Referee Pete Podgorski was out of position and failed to separate the fighters at the end of the round. Can you say appeal? The winner of course didn’t know what announcer Bernardo Osuna was talking about when Osuna asked in the post-fight interview about the infractions? Naturally, Rances was excited with his big win and capturing of the IBF super featherweight world title.

Espn2 Friday Night Fights kicks off the season from Minneapolis at the Target Center

01/03/2014 Chris Carlson

637 The season premiere of Espn2’s Friday Night Fights will begin in sub zero degree weather at the Target Center from Minneapolis, Minnesota. In the main event IBF Super Featherweight Champion Argenis Mendez takes on unbeaten challenger Rances Barthalemy and serving as the co-feature is local attraction Caleb Truax squaring off with tough as nails Ossie Duran. The event is promoted by Iron Mike Productions, Seconds Out Promotions, and Warrior Boxing.

Caleb Truax scores 4th round KO: Plus Full Recap from Minneapolis

09/22/2013 Chris Carlson

Caleb Truax hurt and finished local rival Cerresso Fort in the fourth round, quieting a talkative Fort in the early goings. With this victory Caleb keeps his position as a contender and will continue to climb the ladder of the middleweight division with the next step coming in January on Espn.

The main event between the now 22-1-1 (14KO) Caleb Truax and Cerresso Fort started slow with both fighters working behind their jabs. Fort made Caleb miss a few time early on making sure Truax knew it as he talked trash for most of the 1st round. In the second round Truax was able to land stiff jabs which opened up power shots to the head and body.

Caleb Truax vs Cerresso Fort: Unfinished Business; Weigh-In Results

09/21/201309/20/2013 Chris Carlson

This Saturday rising middleweight contender Caleb Truax, who was last seen knocking out Donovan George on Espn Friday Night Fights, faces an old nemesis from his brief amateur career, Cerresso Fort at the Minneapolis Convention Center.

The card is promoted by Seconds Out Promotions, a company that in recent years has created a boom for Minnesota boxing.

An Interview with Caleb Truax

08/29/201308/28/2013 Boxing Roundup

Q.1 Caleb, you discovered your talent for boxing quite late on. Tell us a little about your introduction to the sport.

Yes, I didn’t begin boxing until I was 19. I was always a big boxing fan, but never knew it was accessible in MN. Ultimately, I saw an ad in the local City Pages for a tough guy tournament, decided to enter with a friend, and that’s how I was introduced to competing in the sport.

Q.2 Growing up in Minnesota you were heavily involved in team sports. How did it feel to step into the individual environment of a boxing ring for the first time?

As a kid, I played every sport there was to play, but outside of golf, I never played individual sports. It was definitely a change not to have any teammates to rely on, but I welcomed it. I enjoy having everything start and stop with me in the ring. I think not having any safety valves to the left or right, as is the case on a team, brings out the best of me.

Caleb Truax Stops “Da Bomb” in the Sixth Round

06/22/201306/22/2013 Paul Strauss

There’s been a bit of a drought in Minnesota when it comes to victories on the big stage. For a while there, it seemed like it would never happen. ESPN2 analyst and famous trainer Teddy Atlas reminded fans right away of that fact. He has a habit of pointing out what he thinks might be padded records. In Caleb “Golden” Truax’s case, Teddy explained that most of Caleb’s victories took place in his own backyard. It wasn’t hard to figure out what he was implying. He further explained that Caleb blew his big chance against Jermain Taylor on 4-20-12 in Biloxi, Mississippi. Except for a ninth round knockdown of Taylor, Caleb was pretty much shutout. Caleb 22-1-1 (13KOs) was determined to not let that bad memory repeat itself.

Caleb managed to get Don “Da Bomb” George 24-3-2 (21KOs) in trouble right away in the first round. Caleb quickly figured out George was not a counter puncher, and didn’t use his legs much for anything other than moving straight ahead. Consequently, Caleb started teeing off. He was using a hard jab to set things up and then pounded in with good three punch combinations. George’s idea of a guard was easily exploited by Caleb. The 29 yr old kid from Osseo, MN didn’t have to rely on his college degree to realise he could slam shots right into George’s guard without retaliation.

ESPN2 Friday Night Fights Recap from Minneapolis

09/15/201606/22/2013 Chris Carlson

In what was a shorter than expected main event IBF Title Eliminator from the Minneapolis Convention Center which was broadcasted by Espn2 and Espn Deportes. Rances Barthelemy scored a 2nd round knockout with shots the body that put Fahsai Sakkreerin on the floor for the full 10 count. Fortunately Sakkreerin was able to get up after a being tended to by the ringside doctor.

Rances controlled the 1st round with lead left hooks and counter right uppercuts on the inside. Fahsai landed his left early in the round but Barthelemy’s ability to roll his punches enabled him to land anything clean.

In the second round Barthelemy stuck his long jab in Fahsai’s face than followed it up with solid shots to the body and head. The fighters exchange body shots a few times in a row but it was Rances bigger, more accurate shots that ended the night. The win moves Barthelemy’s record to a perfect 19-0(12Ko) and puts him in prime position in the IBF rankings.