Caleb Truax is out as the opponent for Alfredo Angulo on the Erislandy Lara-Greg Vendetti card Saturday at Microsoft Theater in Los Angeles.
Truax had to pull out of the super middleweight title eliminator because of the effects of dehydration, according to a Premier Boxing Champions news release.
Angulo will now fight Vladimir Hernandez, who was paid to standby in case one of the fighters tested positive for COVID-19.
“We wish Caleb the best and hope to see him back in the ring soon, but it is fortunate that we have backups in place because of COVID-19,” said Tom Brown, pPresident of TGB Promotions. “Under normal circumstances you wouldn’t have a backup on standby. But because of COVID-19, we have someone who has been training, has been tested and is in the bubble and ready to go.”
Hernandez (11-4, 6 KOs) is a short (5-foot-7½), thick journeyman from Mexico who perhaps is best known for being the debut opponent of Israil Madrimov, who stopped Hernandez in six rounds in 2018.
Hernandez, 31, is 4-4 in his last eight fights, six of which were scheduled for eight rounds.
Angulo (26-7, 21 KOs) is coming off a sensational split-decision victory over Peter Quillin last September, which pumped life into his faltering career.
Truax is rated No. 3 by the IBF, with Nos. 1 and 2 vacant. Angulo is No. 12. That’s why the fight was designated as a title eliminator. The new matchup presumably will not be a title eliminator.