Caleb Plant Dominates Caleb Truax

(Photos from Sean Michael Ham/TGB Promotions)

Undefeated IBF super middleweight champion, Nashville, Tennessee's Caleb "Sweethands" Plant (21-0, 12 KOs) was dominant against former champion Caleb "Golden" Truax (31-5-2, 19 KOs) of Minnesota in winning a unanimous decision Saturday night at the Shrine Auditorium and Expo Hall in Los Angeles in headlining the first FOX PBC Fight Night of 2021.

Right from the start, Plant displayed flash and hand speed outworking Truax in the opening round. Truax stalked in the second as Plant utilized the jab and followed up with combinations as he finished the round strong. Fighting composed and poised, Plant connected Truax with combinations in the third. Plant teed off of Truax in the fourth as the former champion was bloodied.

Boxing away in the fifth, Plant circled the ring popping the jab continuing to have his way with Truax. It was all Plant at the halfway point in the sixth, Truax was bloodied and the champ continued to box behind the jab. Snapping the jab in the seventh, Plant snapped Truax's head as "Sweet Hands" was on point and in control. Truax had some moments in the eighth as he connected Plant with a hard right a few times but Plant continued to control the fight.

In the ninth round, Plan countered with hard shots as Truax was busted up and kept going forward. A right hand found its mark for Truax in closing the round. Truax continued to press and connected with the right but Plant countered effectively as he completely dominated. Late in the fight in the championship rounds, Plant attacked as he tried to put Truax away but the former champion fought to the end. All three judges scored the bout 120-108.

With the win, Plant successfully defends his IBF title as he looks towards a possible unification bout. Champions include WBC/WBA & Ring champion Canelo Alvarez, or WBO champion Billy Joe Saunders of England. Undefeated former world champion David Benavidez is also a potential candidate.

Undefeated heavyweights Michael Coffie (12-0, 9 KOs) of New York knocked out Philadelphia's previously undefeated Darmani Rock (17-1, 12 KOs) in the co-feature. Coffie sent Rock to the canvas with powerful lefts in the third as referee Jack Reiss waived it at 59 seconds.

Super welterweight sensation Joey Spencer (12-0, 9 KOs) of Linden, Michigan made quick work of Isiah Seldon (14-4-1, 5 KOs) from New Jersey. Spencer dropped Seldon with a nasty right hand as he got up and continued to fight hitting Spencer behind the head repeatedly as referee Jerry Cantu deducted two-points from Seldon. A right hand by Spencer sent Seldon to the canvas a second time as the referee immediately waived the bout at 2:15 of the first. Seldon was extremely upset at referee Jerry Cantu for stopping the fight as Cantu threatened to withhold Seldon's purse.

Former two-division champion Rances Barthelemy (27-1-1, 14 KOs) moved up to welterweight in dominating All Rivera (21-5, 18 KOs) and winning a unanimous decision. Scores were 100-90, 99-91, and 97-93.

Light heavyweight prospect Atif Oberlton (1-0, 1 KO) made his pro debut scored a third round stoppage over Nathan Sharp(4-3, 4 KOs).

Opening the telecast middleweights Brandyn Lynch (10-1-1, 8 KOs) and Mark Hernandez (14-3-2, 3 KOs) fought to a draw in going the distance eight rounds. The judges scored the bout 78-74 Hernandez, 77-75 Lynch, and 76-76. Lynch is the nephew of comedian Eddie Murphy.

Lightweight prospect Fernando Molina (4-0, 2 KOs) _ James De Herrera (4-5, 3 KOs) in a four-round match

In the opening bout from the Shrine, lightweight prospect Daniel Garcia of Denver, Colorado made his debut _ Joseph Quintana of Colorado.

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