IBF super middleweight champion Caleb Truax 29-3-2 (18) believe he is being overlooked in his rematch with James DeGale 23-2-1 (14) on Saturday night.
The 34-year-old from Osseo, Minnesota scored an upset win over England’s DeGale last December when he won a majority points decision at the Copper Box Arena in Hackney Wick, London. This time around the two will meet up at the Hard Rock Hotel and Casino in Las Vegas, Nevada.
“I think DeGale has been making excuses,” said Truax. “He couldn’t stop talking about how great his shoulder felt heading into our first fight. Then right after the fight he said he felt fine. Now I guess he came back too early.
“He was in a tough fight not too long ago, so we’ll see how he is on Saturday night…as far as I know, I’m still an underdog for this fight. A lot of people think I was a fluke the first time around, so it’s up to me to prove them wrong. I’m ready to silence the critics and silence DeGale.”
Truax was the aggressor in their first fight, consistently pushing back DeGale who was strangely passive at times. When the dust settled, Truax had run away the winner by scores of 116-112, 115-113 and 114-114. It was the fourth title defence for DeGale.
DeGale won the IBF championship with a twelve round unanimous decision win over Andre Dirrell in 2015 before defending the title against former champion Lucien Bute and fringe contender Rogelio “Porky” Medina. In January 2017 DeGale was held to a majority draw against Badou Jack in a fight that saw both men on the canvas.
Truax had mixed it with some good competition but lost every time he has stepped up in class, with Daniel Jacobs, Anthony Dirrell and Jermain Taylor all holding victories over him. The best wins on his ledger were against Donovan George and Derek Ennis.
This Saturday night Truax has the chance to prove that his December win over DeGale wasn’t just a flash in the pan.
 believe he is being overlooked in his rematch with James DeGale 23-2-1 (14) on Saturday night.){kind=link}