Former world champion turned analyst Sergio Mora has queried the mandatory position of Caleb Truax ahead of his clash with IBF super-middleweight king Caleb Plant at the Shrine Exposition Center in Los Angeles on Saturday.
‘Sweet hands’ Plant (20-0, 12 KOs) is a huge 1/40 favourite in his mandatory engagement and third defence, following two underwhelming challengers in Mike Lee (WTKO3) and Vincent Feigenbutz (WTKO10). The 37-year-old Truax is a lengthy 12-1 outsider and appears to require a minor miracle to dethrone the unbeaten champion from Nashville.
Almost three years ago, Minnesota battler Truax (31-4-2, 19 KOs & 1 NC) lost his IBF super-middleweight crown in a rematch with James DeGale, but he has done little since to justify such a lofty rating in a healthy division.
Truax’s form after the DeGale loss is patchy, comprising a majority decision over then 41-year-old David Basajjamivule, a two-round No Contest after a head clash against former middleweight champ Peter Quillin and a five-round stoppage of unresilient journeyman Fabio Pena. Mediocre form at best, but enough to significantly impress the IBF Ratings Committee.
Former WBC 154lbs champ Mora, now a respected analyst, can’t quite fathom how Truax has earned this mandatory title shot.
“I don’t even put him in the Top 10, to tell you the truth. So for him to be getting a title shot versus, arguably, the second best super-middleweight, raises a red flag, because I think there are a lot more fighters who should be fighting Plant,” Mora told Espn.com.
“Truax is not fast enough to compete with Plant’s speed. I don’t think he has any foot speed or good defence or head movement to compete with Plant’s punches. I don’t see Truax being able to avoid the offensive onslaught Plant could bring.
“Plant has had it pretty easy since winning the title, fighting Mike Lee, who is not a top-ranked fighter, and then fighting Vincent Feigenbutz. I’ve never heard of Feigenbutz, this guy had no amateur background, I don’t know how he got the title shot. So from Lee to Feigenbutz to now fighting Truax, who is a career middleweight, it’s a bad look for Plant. He should take care of business by stopping Truax. If Truax goes the distance with Plant, it’s gonna look even worse for Plant.
“I don’t see a path for Truax to win. Plant is young, he knows how to box, but he has the power to fight you on the inside and get that respect. He has good legs, fast footwork. I don’t see him languishing or staying on the inside long enough for Truax to beat him. In his last fight, Truax looked like he lost a step, he has no speed anymore. He might still have some strength, but for him to land that big punch against a younger, faster, fresher champion – I just do not see it.”