Minnesota Boxing News: Caleb Truax vs Matt Vanda

Caleb Truax Won't Rest on His Laurels as He Eyes Fight with Matt Vanda
March 21, 2011
By Ray Kilgore

As a young boy and teenager, the last thing on Caleb Truax's mind was boxing. He loved football and adored baseball. He enjoyed boxing wasn't engaged in the sport enough to consider competing professionally. Now four years into a professional career, he boasts a record of 17-0-1 (10 KOs), and at 27, he seems to have found a stable place inside the ropes while carving out a name for himself in the process.

"I never dreamed I'd be a boxer growing up," he said. "I was a baseball and football player until I was 20 years old. [Success] is coming at me fast and hopefully I can put Minnesota on my back and bring some attention here."

With each performance, fans are becoming better acquainted with Truax, just as the fighter appears more and more comfortable as a boxer. This past weekend, he took a major decision win over Phil "The Drill" Williams in Hinckley, Minnesota. The win was significant because last April, the two fought to a draw, although each was convinced he'd won.

Ironically, this time around it was Truax who suffered a moment of doubt before the score cards were read. "I thought this fight was much tougher and closer than the last," he said. "I was more nervous about the decision for this one."

He admits that he suffered from poor sleep the night before, and when the 33-year-old Williams came in above the contracted weight of 162 pounds, this caused more concern. "I knew he was going to be bigger than me in terms of what he weighed," Truax said. "When he came in three pounds overweight, that didn't help me in any way." On top of the physical advantage, Williams, a professional barber, brought a knockout punch, having stopped ten of his 11 opponents.

In the end, Truax, a native of Osseo, MN, had little cause to fret, as two of the three judges saw the fight in his favor, an outcome he'd waited months to hear. "I'd been looking forward to getting the win after the draw," he said. "I was fired up to get back in the ring with him ever since the first fight."

Although Truax, who holds a four-year degree from the University of Minnesota, got what he wanted-a decisive win it--came at a small cost. He suffered a sore eye and planned to have his swollen hand x-rayed to make certain it isn't broken. But even while nursing his wounds, the fighter still has boxing on his mind, most notably his showdown with Matt "The Predator" Vanda.

Each boxer brings his own following. And lthough the 32-year-old Vanda has been on a slight downward keel as of late, losing his last two fights, his record of 43-13 (23 KOs) and his ring experience shows he can never be dismissed.

The fighters' camps had previously been in talks about a potential match, but negations broke down after disagreements over money. Now, with the fight set for May 27th, Truax remains optimistic that he has what it takes to beat Vanda.

"I have all the respect for Matt. He worked out at my gym and taught me a lot," said Truax. "I learned a lot from him. Now it's time to come full circle and get in the ring with him and show him what I got."

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