Former super middleweight world titlist Caleb Truax tore his right Achilles tendon and on Wednesday withdrew from his rematch with “Kid Chocolate” Peter Quillin because of the injury.
Truax and former middleweight world titlist Quillin were due to meet in a super middleweight world title elimination bout in the Premier Boxing Champions co-feature at The Armory in Minneapolis, where Minnesota native Truax is a big draw. Former titlist Erislandy Lara and Ramon Alvarez (Canelo Alvarez’s older brother) will meet for the vacant interim junior middleweight title in the other co-feature.
“I’ve been training hard every day, and I’ve always prided myself on pushing through any injuries,” Truax said. “But I know my body, and I know when enough is enough. I’m disappointed because this was a huge opportunity to take a big step toward regaining my IBF super middleweight title.
“I’m disappointed for all my fans because I wanted to put on a great show for them at The Armory. But I didn’t want to go into this fight, not being able to perform at a level that people are used to seeing from me and also performing at a level so I can defeat a world-class fighter like Peter Quillin.”
Truax said he is considering surgery on his Achilles.
Dr. Paul Schaefer of Health Partners’ Stillwater Medical Group diagnosed Truax with a “high-grade, partial-thickness tear” of the Achilles, which Truax originally hurt in March.
Rather than have surgery then, Truax spent six weeks in a boot and tried physical therapy. However, the injury was not healed enough when it came time for him to spar.
“In my judgment, he will not be properly rehabbed and conditioned in time for the scheduled match,” Schaefer said. “I am concerned he would put his personal safety at risk engaging in this fight.”
Truax (30-4-2, 19 KOs), 35, of Osseo, Minnesota, and Quillin (34-1-1, 23 KOs), 36, of Brooklyn, New York, met in a title eliminator on April 13 at The Armory, but the fight ended in a second-round no-decision when Truax suffered a terrible cut from an accidental head butt and was unable to continue, setting the stage for an immediate rematch. The winner of the fight was due to become the mandatory challenger for 168-pound world titleholder Caleb Plant.
Premier Boxing Champions plans to add a new co-feature to the Fox-televised card.