TRUAX UPSET IN RETURN BOUT BY BROOKS AT PACKED ARMORY

Former IBF super middleweight champion “Golden” Caleb Truax (now 31-6-2, 19 KO’s, 1 NC) of Osseo, MN lost a ten round decision to Burley Brooks (now 7-2-1, 5 KO’s) of Dallas, Texas in a light heavyweight bout earlier tonight in front of a packed Armory in Minneapolis, MN. For Truax, 39, some are speculating whether the fight was the last in a colorful 16 year career. Truax had some nice moments throughout the battle but the head movement and stamina after two and a half years off as well as 40 pro fights were not available enough to get the decision. For Brooks, a natural light-heavyweight, it was a nice jab and higher volume of punches that won him the fight. The fight was the main event on Showtime’s free undercard stream.

Truax pounded home body shots and a hard right hand to win the opening round. Brooks set the tone for himself with fast combinations which allowed him to even the score through two rounds. Truax began the third round coming forward with snapping right hands to the head and Brooks answered with body shots. Brooks, the taller of the two, began landing a pestering jab as Truax continued to try closing the distance with body work. Heading to the end of round three, it was Truax landing the harder yet lesser volume punches while Brooks staying busy with clean multiple punches.

Truax continued to fight in spurts with pounding punches in round four while Brooks successfully put combinations together. Brooks was warned once to this point for dropping his mouthpiece out to the canvas. The two boxers came out looking to make a statement in round 5. Both tried to land heavy shots. It was a rough, tough and grueling fight on the inside for both with Truax’s face beginning to swell, particularly under his right eye. Good moments came from both. Truax got his hard jab working but Brooks was doubling and tripling his. Neither boxer was rocked or seriously hurt at the fights midway point.

The hometown Truax mounted a comeback in rounds six and seven. The crowd cheered and urged Truax on as he showed better head movement to land solid blows while avoiding the combination punches from Brooks. Brooks’ mouthpiece crashed to the floor a third time in round 6. Brooks lost his mouth piece again to begin round seven. Hard right hands were landing for Truax, and the crowd sensed a comeback from the local hero was mounting with Brooks being the one looking tired. Brooks did well in coming back himself momentarily but Truax secured round seven with a late charge.

Brooks, 27, used his size and sharp combination punches to take rounds eight, nine and ten despite a point being taken away in round nine for again losing his mouth piece. Brooks, who had a near two year layoff himself, looked fresh down the stretch. Truax gave it his all and tried to land a fight changing punch but just didn’t seem to have the energy to land something big and with enough power as the fight came to a close.

Judges saw the fight in favor of the winner Burley Brooks by scores of 98-91, and 96-93 twice.