Minnesota Boxing News: Ray Edwards Boxing

KOLLE VS TRUAX: OH YES, IT'S A GRUDGE MATCH
April 15th, 2011
By Jesse Kelley

In just under a month, fight fans will see two of our state's top draws battle it out in the capitol city of Saint Paul to determine who the number one middleweight is in Minnesota. Both Caleb Truax and Andy Kolle say they have been trying to get this fight lined up for years. What they have a hard time telling you on record is just how badly they have wanted to take a swing in the ring at the other. The lack of "rivalry" talk doesn't come from fear but rather the similarity both guys share in avoiding trash talk in and out of the ring. As the old saying goes, they like to let their fists do the talking. And judging from the words the fighters and their camps share away from the mic, there will be plenty of chatter coming out of those fists when May 27th finally arrives.

When looking at recent local grudge matches, Anthony Bonsante's long awaited showdown with Matt Vanda in 2005 tops most people's list. Neither Bonsante or Vanda held back the dislike they shared for one another. The result was one of the more memorable bouts in modern times inside the MN boxing ring.

Kolle vs Truax however seems to be grabbing even the non boxing crowds attention without that type of animosity or a pre-fight explosion. When Raphael Butler and Joey Abell met up at the Target Center in 2009, both fighters were largely polite and respectful during press conferences leading up to the fight. Like Kolle-Truax, those two heavyweights did share a rivalry but they failed to portray that to the public. Despite having the states top heavyweights in the ring, fans did not pack the house on that cold December night. The difference between that fight and this one is that both Truax and Kolle already have large and vocal followings that have sold out arena's during less important fights. And most importantly, nobody really knows where either guy stands at this moment in their careers despite having a 33-2-1 record between the two. Nobody knows which fighter has the best chance to compete at the next level. That is why fight fans and media alike seem to be lining up to watch and find out.

The fight is being billed "There can only be one", meaning one middleweight champion. Several media outlets have already spoken with the two middleweights about the matchup. While the stories have been good hype, the fighters chose not portray any "bad blood". When Minnesotaboxing.com contacted both fighters last week to get the ball rolling on camp updates, the same excitement was there but both held back any negative words toward the other.

"I am just very excited to get in the ring with Andy" said Truax. "This is the biggest fight that can be made in Minnesota and I am happy we could finally make this thing happen."

Kolle also gave the same impression that May 27th could not come sooner. " I feel like I have earned my place at the top in Minnesota at this weight. I fought everybody that I have been given the opportunity to fight. Both of our camps were finally able to come to an agreement and now we can finally meet in the ring and give the fans the fight they have wanted to see."

Now that is good stuff, but it would be silly to call this fight a grudge match based on those quotes. And it should be obvious by now that I think it is. I have witnessed heated confrontations between Truax and Kolle at other boxing events and have listened to both camps point fingers at the other side for years as to why the showdown hasn't already taken place. So I contacted them both again to do some more inquiring about the history they share.

"Back in 2006 Caleb went on a boxing forum and called me a bum after I lost to Andre Ward" said Kolle. "I knew one day we would meet after that so I kind of kept what he said to myself. I knew I would get the chance to make him live up to those words one day. And I have worked my ass off to beat the guys people said were the best in the state. Now Caleb and his team want to take that title from me without having beaten any of them? It's not that I hate Caleb, but yeah there is a rivalry there. We both want to try to show we are the best in the state. Caleb is finally going to find out exactly what I've got."

"Honestly, that was so long ago and I don't even remember what was written" said Truax when asked about Kolle's forum accusation. "Our supporters were going back and forth and something might have been said but I can't even remember to be honest. All I know is that I have been waiting for this opportunity for a long time. We have offered them the fight on more then one occasion and they never got back to us. I'm sick of talking about the fight and just want to get in there and prove I am better. I don't just want to win. I want to win big and make sure there are no doubts as to who is the best middleweight in the state. I want to crush him man and settle this once and for all."

So now we have a glimpse into where the silent animosity between Kolle and Truax comes from. To say there is bitter hatred between the two would be a stretch as they both have said but both Truax and Kolle confirm that this is a grudge match. So don't look for a pre-fight press conference brawl in the weeks leading up the the big showdown. But also don't expect any touching of the gloves after the first bell rings, and don't expect the punches to stop flying until either Kolle or Truax is declared the best middleweight in our state on May 27th at the Armory in Saint Paul.

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