By Ian S Palmer
There’s an IBF Jr. Middleweight eliminator in Los Angeles this Saturday, August 29th as former IBF Middleweight Champion Caleb Truax of Oseo, Minnesota will be taking on Alfredo Angulo of Mexico. The 12-round bout can be seen live in America on Fox and Fox Deportes. Truax last fought in January when he beat David Basajjamivule by 10-round majority decision. Angulo’s last outing was in September when he edged Peter Quillin by a 10-round split decision.
The 36-year-old Truax beat James DeGale in December of 2017 and took the Briton’s IBF Super Middleweight crown. He then lost the rematch by a close unanimous decision four months later. Truax stands 6-feet-1-inch tall and possesses a 75-inch reach. He has a record of 31-4-2 with 19 Kos. He also lost a world title bid to Daniel Jacobs in 2015 when he was stopped in the 12th round. Truax’s other defeats were also to former world champions as he dropped a unanimous 10-round decision to Jermain Taylor in 2012 and was stopped in the first round by Anthony Dirrell in April, 2016.
Truax has fought 242 rounds since turning pro in 2007 and has a current knockout ratio of 50 per cent. His draws came against Ossie Duran in 2014 and Phil Williams in 2011. He’s fought and defeated a few other good pros in Antwun Echols, Matt Vanda, Don George and Derek Ennis. Truax has the ability to give anybody a tough time of it as he proved in against DeGale, Taylor and Jacob, especially if they’re not at the top of the game. He’s been stopped twice, but doesn’t really have a weak chin. Truax’s competitive in bouts against Grade A boxers, but up until beating DeGale he typically fell just short.
Angulo is a 38-year-old slugger who fights out of California. He fought Quillin last year as Truax was injured when he was supposed to meet Quillin. Truax and Quillin had met in April, 2019 and it was ruled a no-contest in the second round when Truax was cut by an accidental head butt. Angulo will climb into the ring with a record of 26-7 with 21 Ko’s. Angulo is a fan favourite who has also taken on the likes of Gabriel Rosado, Joel Julio and Joachim Alcine and knocked them all out.
Angulo’s seven losses have come at the hands of Mora and Freddy Hernandez as well as Saul ‘Canelo’ Alvarez in the 10th round in March of 2014, stopped by Erislandy Lara in the 10th round a year earlier and by James Kirkland in the sixth round in 2011. James De la Rosa beat him by 10-round unanimous decision six months after Alvarez for his third straight loss and Kermit Cintron beat him by 12-round unanimous decision in 2009. He’s lost five of his last nine fights.
He stands 5-feet-9-inches tall and has a reach of 69.5 inches which places him four inches shorter than Quillin with a 5.5-inch disadvantage in reach. He’s boxed 169 rounds as a professional since 2005 and has taken on some tough, experienced opponents over the years. Angulo has a straightforward slugging style in which he’ll take two or three shots to land one of his own.
He has better than average power with a current knockout ratio of 63.6 per cent. And even though he’s been stopped and decked on more than one occasion, Angulo still possesses a pretty solid chin. He always seems to fight well against Grade A opponents, but has always fallen slightly short on the judges’ scorecards. He’s proven to be a forced to be reckoned with over the years though.
Prediction…
Truax has the edge in height and reach and owns the better boxing skills. Angulo won’t be looking to box him though as he’s simply a slugger who’d rather win by stoppage. Angulo will try to take the fight on the inside when he can by cutting off the ring and will be going to his opponent’s body as much as his head. Angulo can get frustrated when he’s being outboxed and he isn’t that hard to hit, but he’s never out of a fight due to his power. Angulo has good power and has a puncher’s chance but as long as Truax’s chin holds up and he utilizes his skills he should take the contest.
