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OPPONENTS ANNOUNCED FOR MINNESOTA BOXING STARS JAMAL JAMES AND CALEB TRUAX

PRO BOXING RETURNS TO HISTORIC MINNEAPOLIS ARMORY AUG. 24 IN A NATIONALLY TELEVISED EVENT

Minneapolis, MN ( July 26, 2018) – A “Minnesota versus Mexico” showdown is coming to the Twin Cities on Aug. 24 as world-ranked fighters Jamal James of Minneapolis and Caleb Truax of Osseo headline a nationally televised night of boxing at the historic Minneapolis Armory, the state’s premiere boxing venue.

The card, presented by Premier Boxing Champions with broadcast partners FS1 and FOX Deportes, features James in the main event against durable, battle-tested veteran Mahonry Montes (35-7-1) of Mexico.

James, ranked No. 3 in the world at welterweight by the World Boxing Association and winner of 23 of 24 professional fights, hopes to move a step closer to a world championship opportunity with a victory. The rangy boxer-puncher is on a mission to bring the title home to Minneapolis.

In the co-feature, Truax returns to the squared circle for the first time since April 7, when he lost his IBF Super Middleweight title in a close decision to former champion James DeGale of England. Truax, who stunned the boxing world in December by taking the championship from DeGale in London, hopes to become a two-time champion – and a win at the Armory would nudge him closer to that goal.

James welcomed boxing back to the Armory in style last April when he dug deep for a majority decision win over tough Abel Ramos of Arizona. Thousands of cheering fans packed the Armory, which hosted its first professional boxing card in 45 years.

“My debut at the Armory was exhilarating. What a fabulous hometown venue. Best night ever in the ring. My last bout served as a national wake-up call to the boxing world – Jamal James is a contender, ready to fight the next man up,” said James, who fights out of the Circle of Discipline gym in Minneapolis.

That next man up is Montes, who now stands in the way as James continues his ascent to the top. The Mexican warrior has held his own against world-class fighters such as former world champion Humberto Soto (67-9-2) of Mexico and rising star Egidijus Kavaliauskas (20-0) of Lithuania.

Adonis Frazier, James’ half brother and assistant coach, said James isn’t taking Montes lightly.

“Montes is coming to fight. You don’t get a record like that by not fighting. When you get to this level, everyone is coming to fight,” Frazier said.

Making his Armory debut, Truax will face the upset-minded Fabiano “Pit Bull” Pena (15-10-1). Like Montes, Pena hasn’t taken the easy way out. He has been in the ring with world-class boxers such as Blake Caparello (27-3-1), Jose Uzcategui (27-2), and Joe Smith Jr. (24-2).

Pena was born in Brazil but he lives and trains in Mexico.

“I am taking Pena very seriously because he stands in the way of my next title fight,” Truax said. “He’s a veteran who has been in with some top fighters, so he won’t be lacking in experience.

“My coach, Tom Halstad, and manager, Ron Lyke, will come up with a good game plan and I will execute it and get the Pit Bull out of there.”

Frazier gives a lot of credit to the Armory for putting on a great card last April – and for giving back to the community. In advance of that event, the Armory collaborated with the Circle of Discipline to donate tickets to deserving high school students in the Twin Cities, he said.

“It’s all about youth. A lot of venues won’t do that,” Frazier said.

“We want to keep coming to the Armory and put Minnesota on the boxing map,” he added. “They did a great job with the facility.”

Steeped in boxing tradition, the Armory has hosted fights featuring all-time greats that include Sugar Ray Robinson, Henry Armstrong and Fritzie Zivic, and local legends such as Glen Flanagan and Jack Gibbons.

The weigh in for the Aug. 24 card is set for Aug. 23, time to be determined, at the General’s Hall in the Armory.

Tickets for the Aug. 24 card are now on sale. Tickets can be purchased online at http://www.ArmoryMN.com or http://www.ticketmaster.com . For more information and to apply for a media credential – submit formal request to Robb Leer Armory publicist robbl@leercommunication.com 612.701.0608.

 

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