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TRUAX, HOPE, KAYONGO DISCUSS FIGHTS
Photos and Story By Jesse Kelley
November 20th, 2009
Undefeated Caleb Truax (13-0) will battle the UK's Kerry
Hope (14-2) tonight at the Saint Paul Armory. The bout will head the
four boxing / two mma fight card.
It will be the first time either fighter may be pushed past 8 rounds
as the WBF title bout is scheduled for 10 rds.
For Truax, the addition of Hope comes on short notice as his original
opponent Carl Daniels ran into legal trouble which forced him off the
card. Truax says that he is familiar with Hope as the two shared training
time together recently in California.
"I know he is going to be in good shape" said Truax on Wednesday
night during a charity event. " People talk about him only having
one knockout but I have seen him hit the pads and I know he can crack.
It's a good matchup of styles and I expect it to be a good fight."
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Hope, of Wales, comes to Minnesota confident in pulling
off the upset of the hometown backed Truax. The 28 year old answered
a few questions for MinnesotaBoxing.com in lead up to the super middleweight
headliner with Truax.
You and Caleb have seen each other workout before.
Can you tell us what you know about Caleb and what you expect Friday
night?
I've spent a week in camp with Caleb in recent times. During that time
I got to know him and I have a lot of respect for him outside the ring
because he's a nice guy. But this is the fight game and we have the
same ambition. One of us is standing in the way of that. Caleb's record
suggest that he can punch, but I think it would be somewhat different
if he was boxing in the UK. I don't underestimate an opponent for one
minute but I know my job is to win whether it be points or stoppage.
Describe your style if you could and talk what you
would consider the best performance of your pro career.
I couldn't describe my style, I know my work rate is high and my hands
are fast so your going to have to judge that one for yourself and let
me know (laughing)! One thing for sure is that people have accused me
of wearing my heart on my sleeves in sparring or fights before now,
so when the time is needed, I'm a fighter with a lot of pride and Iknow
I have the ability to dig deep. I don't really consider a best performance
in my career so far. I'm always critical of myself and looking to improve.
I should still be undefeated only for a lack of preparation and complacency
thinking I didn't need to train which I will admit openly and cost me
my unbeaten record. Then the second loss came via a clash of heads.
I was winning the fight at the time but we don't get no contest rulings
for this sort of incident in the UK and therefore it goes down as a
loss.
People may look at your record of 1 KO in 16 fights
and assume you are not a big puncher. But Caleb himself feels that your
record is deceiving and that you bring power to the ring. Would you
consider yourself a dangerous puncher if need be?
I admit my record doesn't look like that of a punchers, but we'll see.
A few of my opponents have been veteran fighters and learning experiences,
and I don't see it as a bad thing that I've had to go the distance on
most occasions. At least I know what to expect. I do punch a lot harder
than my record suggests and numerous people have questioned me to how
I don't have a number of KO'S on my record before now, but that's how
it is. I have however during my time here in the US been working on
my power to go with my handspeed. At the time Caleb was here I was constantly
walking around at 160lbs, but now I've been allowed to put on weight
for the fight so its made me feel stronger and I know I'll make weight
with ease.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
Mohammed Kayongo (14-2-1) has been sort of a mystery to
MN boxing fans. Blessed with natural talent and freakish 
power,
Kayongo has always been mentioned as a prospect, but rarely has he been
seen in the ring since 2005. Kayongo was unable to rise to the occasion
when big fights presented themselves, most notably to MN fans being
his bout with Jose Leo Moreno in 2005. Kayongo easily controlled the
early action in that bout but seemed to fade as the rounds went on as
pressure fighter Moreno kept coming forward. Lack of preparation to
go long hard rounds seem to have been the only things holding him back
in those losses but with local trainer Scott Tolzmann backing the 28
year old and conditioning being a key part of Kayongos preparation,
Kayongo feels that he is best prepared for tonight against his opponent
James Todd.
"I have been training hard for 6 weeks. I will be ready to go.
I don't know much about him (Todd) but we have prepared for any style
in the ring so it doesn't matter what he does, I will be ready."
Todd brings a record of 2-1-1 but ask anyone in the UK and they will
tell you that they expect big things from Todd. Todd was a big name
amateur overseas but kayongo says that doesn't bother him.
"He might be a big name but I was also a ranked amateur who fought
over there many times (Kayongo ended his amateur career with a 127-9
record). Amateurs are different then pros and we will all see that Friday
night."
Tickets are $25 for general admission and $55 for VIP. General admission for children under 13 is $5.
Tickets to “The Golden Age”, which is sponsored by Ultimate Boxing Results and Talon Boxing, are available by calling 612-807-5547. Doors open at 7 and the first bell is slated for 8 pm.
The St. Paul Armory is located at 600 Cedar Street St. Paul, MN 55101
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