Tag Archives: Jonathan Reid

Caleb “Golden” Truax (18,0,1) vs Jermain “Bad Intentions” Taylor (29,4,1) Tonight in Showtime’s Main.

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Update: Taylor wins over Truax by UD, Truax did put Taylor down in the 9th.

Huge fight tonight for both Truax and Taylor. Taylor has eyes set on getting back into belt contention and being considered in the pound for pound list. It wasn’t that long ago that people were singing Jermain’s praises and watching with much admiration as he went after the best fighters in his division early in his career. But several brutal knockout losses and his tendency to fade late in fights had/have people wondering if continuing his boxing career is the best move for him professionally and for his own well-being. He fought Jessie Nicklow in his first fight back after his KO loss to Arthur Abraham in October of 2009 during his stint in the “Super Six”. Taylor was able to stop Nicklow in the 8th round of the scheduled 10 round bout. Most see this fight with Truax as a nice step up from Nicklow and if things go well for Jermain, fans hope to see him in with one of the best middles in the World. HOLD UP…….

Caleb “Golden” Truax (18,0,1) has much to say about all of Taylor’s plans. This is his big shot and with a team that has moved him perfectly, I have to think this is a well planned step up. Trust, this is not the first big fight opportunity that Truax has been presented with, in fact they turned down Taylor’s first comeback fight so they could study the new Taylor if a future opportunity came up. Caleb has not taken the easy way to his (18,0,1) record. Yes, much of the competition was “regional” but some of those “regional” fighters are very good. He has fought; Jonathan Reid, Antwun Echols, Phil Williams twice, Andy Kolle, and Kerry Hope (obviously Hope is not regional, but does not change my point). At the time Truax fought Hope many did not give him the appropriate credit for that fight. Let me toot my own horn here, I said all along that Hope was one of the stiffest fights he had had or would have in regional competition ( again, obviously Hope is not regional, but does not change my point). Most know that Kerry Hope just beat Grzegorz Proka for the European Middleweight title. What I am getting at is, other than the long lay-off Truax has had, he is very ready for this step up in competition.

Truax told me shortly before he set off for Mississippi….”Camp was very productive. I’m right where I need to be heading into the biggest fight of my career.” I asked him his thoughts on fighting away from home in what probably will be a pro Taylor crowd…. “I’m not too concerned with the crowd because I know all my family, friends, and fans are behind me 100%!”

I predict a very good fight. Taylor will be faster but I expect Truax to always be in his business and trying to counter. To be honest, both have had issues fading late in fights and that may be what this one comes down to. I have been telling everyone that Caleb Truax will be bringing Minnesota home a big W. I will admit that much of that talk is the homer in me, but I do feel this is a great opportunity on a great stage for Truax to show what many feel in their hearts. Truax by SD….

Todd Bechthold

Some outside of state perspective and nice write-up on maxboxing.com here

Headlines for Kaos?

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Photo Courtesy of Walters Photography, all rights reserved

Photo Courtesy of Walters Photography, all rights reserved

Here is a list of Andy “Kaos” Kolles last five fights; (records are from time of fight) Nov,17-07 Matt Vanda (37,4), June,7-08 Jonathan Reid (34,9), Sept, 25-08 Paul Williams (34,1), March, 28-09 Anthony Bonsante (32,10,3), June, 18-09 Anthony Shuler (20,5,1). Andy won all but one of these fights. The only person in this state who could match the opponents Kaos has faced over the last couple of years would be Matt Vanda but he didn’t bring home the W’s. The reason I bring this up is, Where is the buzz? The major talk around the state has been revolving around; Matt Vanda, Zach Walters, Phil Williams, Jason Litzau, and Wilton Hilario. Hasn’t Kolle been the one guy who has brought home the bacon? Jake Wegner recently listed Kolle along with Litzau as somebody who was right there as far as the national scene goes, going as far as to say he was one of the better south paws in the Country. Where are the headlines? Where is the buzz?

 

There was a lot of talk and excitement after Chuck Horton and Tony Grygelko made their gentleman’s agreement to have “Golden” Caleb Truax take on Kolle this fall. But with all the calling out, and big fight announcements the Truax/Kolle affair seems to have lost steam. Would setting a place and date for this fight kindle the fire again? Are Andy and Caleb just not outspoken enough to stir the fans imaginations? There are not many in the state who would argue there are better middle weights then, Andy Kolle, Caleb Truax, and Kenny Kost. With Kost having not fought for a very long time, doesn’t that leave Kolle/Truax as the best middle weight match up in the state? Its often been said that middle was the strong division in Minnesota, why the lack of love?

 

Okay, Okay, I hear you, the name Andy “Kaos” Kolle often finds its way into my writings. But instead of talking about what he has done, shouldn’t we be pondering what might be. What national fighters should team Horton have their eyes on? How can Andy get some quality TV time? It would seem to me that he is a marketers dream. He is obviously not afraid of anything or anyone in the ring. He is only fighting quality record boxers. He has proven power. And he has an Oscar type look. What’s the problem? Boxrec’s # 6 in the Nation Andy Kolle (19,2). Bring on the headlines….

 

From our Jake Wegner interview

 

M…. What MN fighters do you think have the greatest potential to make waves on the national level.

 

Jake….   Obviously Jason Litzau is already there.  I like Andy Kolle, but he needs to talk more and do more interviews—be more accessable.  I’m told by those that haveinterviewed him, that he only does them by email.  His team needs to market him outside of Duluth because he has a lot of potential.  I think Andy Kolle is one of the better southpaws in the land, but provided he makes it past Truax in the Fall, and then hopefully Kost, I would really like to see Andy in a nice fight on ESPN against a guy similar in talent.  In other words, he shouldn’t haveto fight killers like Ward and Paul Williams to be able to get a fight and a payday on ESPN.  He should be matched evenly and allowed to shine.  I like Caleb Truax’s athleticism and counter-punching, but I want to see him be more aggressive out there, and I think that certainly Phil Williams has the right stuff to shine on a national level.  Had Codrington showed up that night when he ended up fighting Echols, Phil just may have killed him.  He looked that good, and everyone that was there noticed the power and speed of his jab.  It had the force of a cross.  Joey Abell is in the right weight class, and definitely has the right skin color to get him televised fights, but I want Joey to see a hypnotist, Anthony Robbins, or whatever it takes to get his full confidence back, and then step up and fight some serious names in the Heavyweight division.  If Wilton Hilario beats Jason Litzau this Fall, then his name jumps to the moon automatically.  It’s a crime that a Light Heavyweight with Zach Walters’ record has not been invited over to Germany to face a European belt holder and get a career payday.  I can put him in touch with the right people overseas to make that happen if he’s interested. 

Fistic, we have a problem

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This was not to be our first piece of the new year, but we must come to the defence of our home town pros. Fistic Mystic has a nice article rapping up the old year and wishing big things for the new. As usual, it is a very well done piece, much better written than most of the musings of our crazy staff. Generaly speaking, a third grader’s writing is better than most here at MNBL. Also, before I go further, RJ Laase made it into the risers section, as he deserves. But below is where I have a few problems.

 

From Fistic Mystics web blog, Fallers, full article can be found here. Fistic Mystics Story

 

  • “Zach Waltershad some good moments in aught-eight.  His wins against faded veterans Carl Daniels and Aaron Norwood looked like nice steppingstones, and Shane Hammack was supposed to be a nice looking and useful win.  When Walters suddenly went lame and got TKO’d in the final round of a bout he had been dominating, it was a big setback.  The cancellation of his October meeting with Cory Phelps further stalled his career.  Walters is a gifted  fighter with many advantages who should yet make a dent in the light heavyweight division, but the dawn of 2009 finds him no closer to a title shot than he was a year ago.
  • Andy Kolle, who once told me that he would like to fight five or six times a year, has now fought just twice in the thirteen months since his decision win against Matt Vanda – one obscure win in Superior WI and one very well publicized 1st-round loss to welterweight titlist Paul Williams.  One good win would help Kolle to regain his stature as one of the top middleweights in the Upper Midwest, but 2008 has not been kind to Kaos.”

Our response to this goes as follows:

 

Zach Walters – I’m sure Fistic meant Shawn Hammack. Hammack is now ranked 9th according to boxrec.  Also, Zach took out Norwood in quicker fashion than Glen Johnson. And Glen fought Norwood after Zach had.

 

Andy Kolle – “ one obscure win in Superior WI ” So Jonathan Reid, (34, 9), at the time, is obscure? Jonathan had more TV time than any Minnesota fighter barring Anthony Bonsante. Now to the Verses fight. Paul Williams, (34, 1), at the time of their fight, is in most peoples conversations of pound for pound best.

 

OK, I feel better now.

Bear

2009, (MN vs MN) Fight Wish List

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Over these last few days of 2008, we are going to present our wish list of fights for the new year.  Now to those close to MNBL, it should come as no surprise that we would choose Andy “Kaos” Kolle as our first wish list subject. 2008 was somewhat of a mixed bag for our favorite Minnesota boxer. Only two fights, but they were really BIG fights. The build up for Kolle’s bout with Jonathan Reid “then (34, 9)” was well warranted, what a fight, and event.  His next and last fight of the year was with Paul Williams “then (34, 1)”.  I know I am in the minority here, but I think taking that fight and even losing it as he did, will only help Kolle’s future.  There is no way to learn the big stage like being on it. Its just my opinion, but I think the next time we see Kao’s, it will be a special show. Well before I continue down this endless love fest I better get to the job at hand. Here are the Minnesota fights we would love to see Kolle take in 2009.

 

ranked 1 to 3, with 1 being the fight we would most like to see

 

1. Andy Kolle (17, 2) vs Caleb Truax (9, 0) many MN boxing insiders see Caleb as best in class

2. Andy Kolle (17, 2) vs  Anthony Bonsante (32, 10) we see this as a changing of the guard fight

3. Andy Kolle (17, 2) vs Kenny Kost (14, 4) its been talked about for some time

 

MNBL