No Pressure
By Ray Kilgore

 

Caleb Truax is in a good spot mentally because unlike many amateur boxers, he's able to put what the sport can and cannot offer him into perspective, and he's not looking for boxing to provide anything more than competition, staying in shape physically, and getting occasional fan appreciation.

The first thing you notice about Truax is that he has the type of eyes that can intimidate you if he stares hard enough. As he reflects on his amateur career thus far, you can't help but notice his face looks older than his biological age of 22; it isn't that his face looks older from taking too many punches or abusing his body, it looks older as a result of having wisdom and the maturity of knowing what he wants and enjoys from life.

Truax, who has a twin sister and younger brother, was raised in MN, and although he was active in sports, he didn't take up boxing until the age of 19. "I would watch fights on HBO and Showtime and didn't realize we had boxing gyms in MN" he says with laughter. The boxer, who trains out of Anoka Coon Rapids gym, has tried to take as many bouts as possible since taking up the sport three years ago; but he says finding opponents in the 178 pound division has been problematic. "I've had to fight Isaiah Lottie twice since boxing at Canterbury and it would be nice if they can find guys [not based in MN] for me to box." Strangely, as he talks about his lack of opponents, there isn't the feeling Truax is overly concerned or disappointed. "All many boxers know is they have to box and want a career out it, I want a career but I don't have to have one" he says point blankly. The major reason he doesn't need a career from boxing is because of focusing on his college degree at the U of M majoring in Sociology with plans to attend graduate school to study City Planning.

Truax originally got involved in boxing after seeing a want ad in City Pages which advertised for a Tough Man contest, and knowing he enjoyed contact sports, he thought boxing would be the perfect choice since he was forced to end his college football career because of knee problems. Truax, whose nationality is African American, and Caucasian says he comes from a "stable" family, and his mother is his true inspiration. She put off her dreams of going to college until he was in the third grade. Although the boxer values family, he doesn't have any children of his own, and when asked if he's involved in a relationship, he responds, "Man I am in college I don't have time for that."

Truax has a very busy schedule in addition to boxing and college, he also works. As far as boxing is concerned, Truax says he'd like to be involved in the sport in some fashion, but if he continues to improve his game, he'd consider turning pro but for now, he has a semester left in college, and plans to finish because he understands that boxing is a tool that can be taken without warning, but his college degree will stay with him a lifetime and will be something that can make him proud for years to come.

By Ray Kilgore