Former IBF super-middleweight champion Caleb Truax employed old school methods to stay in shape – including chopping wood – when the Covid-19 Pandemic stopped normal life in its tracks and disrupted training.
Now Truax (31-4-2, 19 KOs & 1 ND) is fully prepared to take advantage when he faces a rejuvenated Alfredo Angulo in their IBF 168lbs title eliminator at the Microsoft Theater in Los Angeles on Saturday.
“Training camp was a little tricky with the pandemic, but we did most of our training at Lyke’s Boxing Gym in Spring Lake Park, Minnesota,” said Truax. “Me and my trainer Tom Halstead just moved there in December, but then the Governor shut everything down with the pandemic, so we had to adjust.
“Luckily, I have the keys to the gym, so I could go when I wanted and get a private workout in. It was tough to navigate everything being shut down, though. We had to make up ways to stay in shape. I was chopping wood and doing all sorts of crazy stuff outdoors to stay active.
“The only real negative was that my routine was interrupted. I’m a creature of habit and have basically been doing the same thing my whole career. But we rolled with the punches and were able to find creative ways to train. Plus it was great to be able to spend more time with my family.”
In April 2019, Truax saw an IBF title eliminator against former WBO middleweight champion Peter Quillin end in unsatisfactory fashion after he suffered a bad cut from an accidental headbutt and the fight was ruled a no decision. A September rematch was cancelled after Truax suffered an achilles injury. Mexican veteran Angulo stepped in as replacement and shocked Qullin on the cards as Truax suffered a frustrating spell on the sidelines.
“I had kind of an unlucky year and a half with the cut and the injury,” said Truax. “Watching Quillin and Angulo fight last September was definitely frustrating because that should have been me in there. But I’m a pretty low-key and even keel guy, so I just stayed calm and knew that I’d get my chance again, whether it was against Quillin or Angulo, or someone else.
“I knew Angulo was a great fighter, but I definitely favoured Quillin going into the fight. I thought the judges got that one right, though. Angulo was able to push Quillin back and I thought the right man won.”
“I like when fighters come at me like Angulo typically does,” he continued. “If Angulo comes at me, I plan to set the distance that I want to fight at. I’ve had some great sparring and, even with the pandemic, I was able to get some work with good pressure fighters. So I’ll be ready for whatever he brings in the ring on Saturday.”
Truax won the IBF 168lbs crown with an upset win over James DeGale in December 2017 before losing it on the scorecards in an April 2018 rematch. A win over Angulo will see him face current champion Caleb Plant after the Minnesota veteran passes his 37th birthday in September.
“I think Caleb Plant is a really good boxer,” said Truax. “He’s very talented and one of the best in the division. Most importantly, he’s got the belt that I want to get back, so I hope I get the opportunity to face him.”
The FOX PBC Fight Night broadcast featuring Truax-Angulo begins at 8pm ET/5pm PT on Saturday in the US. All programming can be live streamed in English and Spanish on the new FOX Sports app. FOX Deportes offers delayed coverage of all FOX and FS1 programming beginning at 10:00pm ET.