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An
Ill Truax Defeats a Game Echols
An Ill Truax Defeats a Game Echols The main event featured 26-year-old Caleb "Golden" Truax (15-0-1, 9 KOs) defeating a game Antwun Echols (32-13-4, 28 KOs) in a unanimous decision. Carl Benson saw the fight 97-93, Denny Nelson 99-91, and Veid Muiznieas 98-92, all for Truax. Truax entered round one hesitantly and needed to adjust his approach early in the round, despite his size advantage over Echols. The 38-year-old Echols pushed the action and landed several good right hands, which Truax took well. Truax, 26, had a better second round as he landed a hard 1-2 combo that forced Echols to hold. Echols, who was never completely out of the fight, landed a solid right that opened up a small cut over Truax's left eye. In round three, Truax showed signs of fatigue. Echols missed with a wide right, forcing him to do a complete 360 spin, but Truax was not able to take advantage of the opening. Echols was somewhat embarrassed as he took a bow, eliciting a negative reaction from the pro-Truax crowd. "Caleb was sick all weekend with a fever. I was thinking of calling the fight off," said Ron Lyke, a member of Truax's team. Ironically, Echols revealed after the fight that he, too, had recently
suffered from an illness. Both Truax and Echols, who have been in with top name fighters, showed a high degree of professionalism as they fought hard throughout the ten rounds. In round four, Echols, a native of Davenport, Iowa, seemed confident as he showboated and landed a right that prompted Truax to hold. By round six, the focus of the fight seemed to have changed; now it was about who could take the better punch and influence the judges. Truax even complained to Referee Mark Nelson that Echols was hitting on the break and using roughhouse tactics. Echols has been accused of dirty tactics in the past. In 2000, he threw Bernard Hopkins to the canvas. Hopkins, who would go on to TKO Echols in round 10, said his shoulder was numb for several rounds thereafter. At the end of round six, Truax landed a big right at the bell that prompted Echols to throw his hands up and shake his head, indicating that he wasn't hurt. The fight was entertaining, and Truax had impressive moments, such as that in round eight, when Echols dropped his hands, leaving himself vulnerable, and Truax teed off on him with four or five punches. Echols' head jerked around so violently that he looked as if he were shaking sand out of his hair. It looked like the veteran Echols might hit the canvas. Echols looked sloppy at times, but by halfway through the round, Truax was taking deep breaths while clinching and managing to land one or two blows. In round nine, the crowd picked up their chant "Tru-ax Tru-ax," and the fighter stepped on the gas, but unfortunately he ran out of steam halfway through the round. At the sound of the bell, Truax headed to his corner and flopped down on the stool like a man who had lost his balance. In the final round, it was clear that Truax wanted the fight more, as he landed hard rights and pushed the action. The veteran Echols was baffled and simply didn't know how to approach Truax now. "I thought Caleb won it," said Echols' trainer, Fred Thompson. "We have to go back to the gym and work on some things." Echols agreed, saying, "I just need a little bit more training. The game is still going to see me." When the decision was announced, Carl Benson had it 97-93, Denny Nelson had it 99-91, and Veid Muiznieas had it 98-92, all in favor for Truax.
Schmidt kept his tight defense. Crouch moved hands down, suggesting that he wasn't overly concerned with what Schmidt had to offer. By round two, Crouch had landed enough body blows that he had forced Schmidt to circle and move. Schmidt adjusted and landed several good right hands before the round ended. By round three, the action picked up; the fighters moved in to work on the inside. With the close proximity fighting, Schmidt was head butted, suffering a nasty gash to his forehead above his right eye. Referee Mark Nelson called the doctor to examine Schmidt, who was cleared to continue. The fight resumed with an angered Schmidt as the aggressor, landing a hard left hook and strong jabs. At the conclusion of the round, the doctor was again in Schmidt's corner. Though one of Crouch's rights got an intense reaction from the crowd, Schmidt never seemed hurt, keeping his gloves pinned to his chin while throwing jabs and occasional right hands of his own. Halfway through the round, Referee Mark Nelson called a halt and summoned the ring doctor to examine Schmidt. At that time, the fight was called off. The fighters were not happy with the decision to end the fight; Crouch yelled a profanity, and Schmidt was also visibly disappointed. Crouch shoved Schmidt, prompting Mark Nelson to intervene. But minutes later, when tempers had cooled a little, the fighters showed their sportsmanship by embracing.
For the first time, Rodriguez entered the fight at middleweight, and he seemed very confident. He didn't disappoint, as minutes into round one, he landed a major left hook followed by a right that sent Meier to the canvas. The blow was so devastating, Rodriguez was confident the fight was over, running to the neutral corner and jumping on the ropes to celebrate. But Meier, known for his toughness, lived up to his reputation by beating the count and fighting on. For the rest of the round, Rodriguez worked the body and poured it on, but Meier refused to give. By round two, fans in attendance were being treated to more great
action, as both boxers landed rights and went to the body. Several
times, Rodriguez found a home with right hands that seemed to hurt
Meier. More than once, Meier, the crowd favorite, landed sizzling uppercuts that snapped Rodriguez's head back. At the end of the round, Rodriguez landed a right that rocked Meier. "Sr. Charles," as he is known, started round five by hurting a visibly tired Rodriguez, who had kept a high intensity level during the fight and in the round. Both men exchanged strong shots, and Meier threw a punch that sent Rodriguez face down on the canvas. The crowd went wild as Rodriguez struggled to his feet. Despite his fatigue, after the eight count, Rodriguez recovered well and went after Meier, who was looking for the KO. By the final round, both men had earned the respect of fans, as
Meier continued to throw right hands and uppercuts and Rodriguez
came forward, landing his own solid shots. And given that the fight
ended in a draw, they clearly both won the respect of the judges
as well.
In the first round, Muwendo used jabs and strong right hands to wobble Baltierrez. During round three, Muwendo backed Baltierrez up with a left hook, followed by a right that sent his foe down. Baltierrez beat the count, but the fight ended shortly afterward, when Muwendo landed a blow that knocked Baltierrez flat on his back.
Vincente Alfaro Wins Split Decision over Jake Backus There was little action in the first round, but by round two, both fighters were landing good shots with Backus seeming to get the better of the exchanges. In round two, Backus' constant movement finally caught up to him and he started to look tired. Backus was able to land good right hands, but Alfaro hurt him with a right of his own that forced Backus to hold. Backus was rocked by several blows and was buzzed by a blow that led him to hold Alfaro's waist to survive, as both fighters fell to the canvas. By round four, Backus was not as confident as Alfaro, who took the round easily. When the fight was over, the official scores were: Carl Benson 39-38 for Backus, Veid Muiznieas 38-37 for Alfaro, and Denny Nelson 39-37 for Alfaro.
Orozco seemed to get the better of it in round one, but in round two, Figueroa picked things up as he came forward and pushed the action. Both fighters exchanged punches on the rope, and Orozco landed a right that snapped Figueroa's head back. By round four, each man was landing hard punches and receiving them as well. Their spirits were so much in the fight that they were willing to risk getting knocked out. When the bell sounded, Carl Benson seen the fight 39-38 for Orozco, Veid Muiznieas had it 39-37 for Orozco, and Denny Nelson saw it 38-38.
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