Watch CBS News

Caleb Truax, world champion boxer, announces retirement

Former world champion boxer from Minnesota retires
Former world champion boxer from Minnesota retires 01:31

MINNEAPOLIS — The time has come. Osseo native Caleb Truax is hanging up the gloves. 

"I'm old and boxing is a young man's sport," said Minnesota boxer Caleb Truax. 

A moment in his last fight — a loss last June — made it clear.

"After about the second round of that fight I knew. I was slowing down a little bit and I knew I was gonna have a long night," said Truax. "It was just time to call it a day."

Truax is a former world champion. He pulled off an upset in a super middleweight title fight in 2017, against then-world champion James DeGale in London, England. It was a shining moment in a successful and surprising career.

Copper Box London Boxing
Caleb Truax celebrates beating James Degale in their IBF World Super-Middleweight championship bout at the Copper Box, London. Steven Paston/PA Images via Getty Images

Truax grew up a baseball and football player and didn't start boxing until he was 19.

"Thankfully I fell into boxing," said Truax. "It took me around the world and around the country. I met some of the friends I'll have for the rest of my life."

Truax retires with a 31-6-2 record. Many of his fights took place at the Armory, the convention center in Minneapolis or elsewhere in Minnesota.

"The fans in Minnesota have always supported me," said Truax. "That's the reason I was able to have the success that I did. Being supported and having sold out crowds at most of my fights. It was awesome to fight here at home."

At 40 years old, Truax has put 20 years into boxing. Now it's time for something else.

"Looking back it's been one heck of a ride, that's for sure," he said.

View CBS News In
CBS News App Open
Chrome Safari Continue
Be the first to know
Get browser notifications for breaking news, live events, and exclusive reporting.