BOXING: TRUAX BATTERS DEGALE FOR TITLE

Caleb Truax holds his IBF super middleweight title last night after defeating James DeGale in London, England. Photo Credit Star Tribune.

Newly crowned IBF super middleweight champion “Golden” Caleb Truax (29-3-2, 18 KOs) pounded his way to a 12 round majority decision win over James “Chunky” DeGale (23-2-1, 14 KOs) earlier tonight in London, England. One British publication has called it one of the biggest upsets in boxing’s history with Truax entering the ring as a huge betting underdog. Against the odds, Truax, of Osseo, Minnesota battered the former Olympic gold medalist DeGale to earn the title.

DeGale’s speed and movement put Minnesota’s Truax behind after two rounds. However, Truax seized control of the fight by walking DeGale down, trapping him along the ropes, and mixing in hard shots to the head and body.

Truax was a punch or two away from winning the title by stoppage in round five. DeGale was busted, bloodied, and rocked by powerful punches by Truax. DeGale survived the round and came back in the sixth using a counter punch and move style. Truax refused to let DeGale’s rally steal his momentum and the Minnesotan returned to stalking and out working the Brit along the ropes. The action was intense down the stretch with both fighters trading blows. Truax fell to his knee’s after the fight to take in the fact that he had just done enough to win the belt. The judges agreed soon after with scores of 114-114 and 115-112, 116-112 in favor of the new IBF super middle weight champion.

Caleb Truax is now one of four Minnesota boxers to have held one of the major world titles. He joins an elite list that includes Minnesota boxing Hall of famers Johnny “Kewpie” Ertle (1915), Mike O’Dowd (1917), and Will “Steel” Grigsby (1998, 2005).

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