Highlights
–Anthony Dirrell came out boxing behind his jab, landing his right hand over the top of Caleb Truax.
–Midway through the opening round, Dirrell landed a left-right-left hook combination that dropped Truax.
–Truax made it to his feet, but Dirrell quickly chased him to the ropes and rocked him yet again, this time with a heavy right hand. The shot sent Truax crumpling to the canvas, at which point referee Harvey Dock didn’t even bother to begin his count, waving an end to the fight at the 1:49 mark.
Anthony Dirrell entered Friday’s 169-pound clash with Caleb Truax two fights removed from being dethroned as a champion. It didn’t take long for the 31-year-old to prove he’s still worthy of wearing the crown—and prove it he did in a big way.
Dirrell (29-1-1, 23 KOs) floored Truax (26-3-2, 16 KOs) twice in the opening round on his way to a sensational first-round technical knockout at Taj Mahal Casino Resort in Atlantic City, New Jersey.
Fighting before several relatives from his native Flint, Michigan, Dirrell showed he’s still very much a factor in the ultra-competitive 168-pound class. He came out boxing behind his jab, then saw an opening midway through the opening round, pouncing on Truax with a three-punch combination. The final blow—a left hook—sent Truax to the canvas.
A native of Osseo, Minnesota, Truax made it to his feet, but he didn’t stay upright for long. This time, it was Dirrell’s vicious overhand right to the jaw that toppled his opponent. As Truax fell to the canvas on his back, referee Harvey Dock stepped in and waved an end to the bout at the 1:49 mark.
While Truax lost for the second time in three contests, Dirrell won his second in a row, following September’s unanimous-decision victory over former 160-pound title challenger Marco Antonio Rubio. That came on the heels of Dirrell’s majority-decision loss to Badou Jack in April 2016—a defeat that cost Dirrell his crown in his first title defense.
Anthony Dirrell throws and overhand counter right hand during his first-round destruction of Caleb Truax on Friday. (Dave Nadkarni/Premier Boxing Champions)
