CALEB PLANT VS.
CALEB TRUAX
EVERYTHING YOU NEED TO
KNOW ABOUT THE BIG FIGHT
- When: Saturday, Jan. 30
- Start time: 8 p.m. ET / 5 p.m. PT (main event later in show)
- Where: Shrine Auditorium and Expo Hall, Los Angeles
- TV: FOX
- Division: Super middleweight (168 pounds)
- Rounds: 12
- At stake: Plant’s IBF title
- Odds: Plant 20-1 (BetMGM)
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CALEB PLANT BIO
- Record: 20-0 (12 KOs)
- Current titles: IBF super middleweight
- Other titles: None
- Home country: United States (Nashville, Tenn.)
- Age: 28
- Pro debut: 2014
- Pro rounds: 110
- Height: 6 feet, 1 inche (185 cm)
- Reach: 74 inches (188 cm)
- Stance: Orthodox
- Trainer: Justin Gamber
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CALEB TRUAX BIO
- Record: 31-4-2 (19 KOs)
- Current titles: None
- Other titles: IBF super middleweight (2017-18)
- Home country: United States (Minneapolis)
- Age: 37
- Pro debut: 2007
- Pro rounds: 242
- Height: 6 feet, 1 inch (185 cm)
- Reach: 75 inches (191 cm)
- Stance: Orthodox
- Trainer: Tom Halstad
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WHY YOU SHOULD WATCH
Plant is one of the sport’s brightest young stars. The native of Nashville, who lives and trains in Las Vegas, has unusual natural gifts and refined technique. He’s in the sights of fellow 168-pound beltholder Canelo Alvarez, who has stated that he wants to unify the titles. They could meet this year in a high-profile fight. Truax is a 20-1 underdog but he has upset the odds in the past, beating former Olympic champion James DeGale to win a title in 2017. He’s nearing the end of his career but might not be the pushover the oddsmakers and others seem to think he is. He’s a solid fighter, which makes this an interesting matchup.
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FIVE KEY QUESTIONS
How good is Caleb Plant? Very good … with qualification. He has won impressively throughout his career, including his title-winning victory over rugged Jose Uzcategui. However, he has yet to be tested at the highest level.
How good is Caleb Truax? We don’t know. The Truax who upset James DeGale in 2017 was impressive but that was three-plus years ago. Truax is in his late 30s and has battled injuries, although he insists he’s 100% healthy now.
Can Plant hurt Truax? We’ll see. Truax is going to come after Plant, who will need to have enough punching power to knock him off course. The titleholder isn’t a KO artist but his sharp shots have done damage in the past.
Could Plant be overlooking Truax? Doubtful. Plant knows that a slip up against Truax would upend his plans, which includes a lucrative and career-defining showdown with Canelo Alvarez. He should be on his game Saturday.
Was Truax’s victory over DeGale a fluke? No. That wouldn’t be a fair assessment. He traveled to DeGale’s backyard (London) and was ready for the fight. And it wasn’t as if he landed a lucky punch. He outworked DeGale to earn the victory.
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WHY PLANT WILL WIN
Plant has superior physical tools and ability, he has enough experience and he’s in his prime. The one thing fans will notice immediately is Plant’s speed, particularly in relation to Truax’s lack thereof. Plant will stick and move before Truax has a chance to react. That doesn’t mean Plant will run. He will fight with controlled aggression, picking his spots to land punches and break down Truax. And he will have success doing that. The challenger, a tough, proud fighter, will never give up but his body will be able to take only so much punishment. Unknown David Basajjamivule gave Truax problems in January of last year, Truax’s most-recent fight. You have to think Plant will be able to handle him.
WHY TRUAX WILL WIN
The one advantage Truax has is experience. He has fought more than twice as many professional rounds as Plant (242 to 110). And while he’s 37, he says he’s healthy for the first time in years after recovering from an Achilles tendon tear and nagging elbow soreness. We’ll take his word for it. A healthy Truax is a legitimate contender, meaning he could give almost anyone trouble if he’s on point. Once again: He beat one of the better super middleweights in DeGale not too long ago. He has it him. If he’s patient, executes his game plan and can take Plant’s power, he is capable of making Plant’s life difficult – at least for a while.
PREDICTION
Plant is simply too good for Truax. He will use his jab and footwork to establish the optimal distance for him and land more and more power shots as the fight progresses. Truax is a tough guy. He will take some punishment and continue to stalk Plant. However, by mid-fight, Plant’s hard blows will have begun to take a toll on him and he won’t survive to hear to the final bell.
Plant KO 10
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ALSO ON THE CARD
- Michael Coffie vs. Darmani Rock, heavyweights
- Joey Spencer vs. Isiah Seldon, junior middleweights
On FS1 (6 p.m. ET / 3 p.m. PT from the same venue)
- Rances Barthelemy vs. All Rivera, welterweights
- Atif Oberlton vs. Nathan Sharp, light heavyweights
- Brandyn Lynch vs. Mark Hernandez, middleweights
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