Premier Boxing Champions 2015: Dirrell vs. Jack and Jacobs vs. Truax Previews
Two championship bouts highlight the next Premier Boxing Champions card. WBC super middleweight champion Anthony "The Dog" Dirrell (27-0-1, 22 KO) will defend his title against Badou "The Ripper" Jack (18-1-1, 12 KO), while WBA regular middleweight champion Daniel "Miracle Man" Jacobs (28-1, 25 KO) faces Caleb "Golden" Truax (25-1-2, 15 KO).
The card takes place at the UIC Pavilion in Chicago on Friday, April 24. Here's the trailer for the event:
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The viewing information is below.
When: Friday at 9 p.m. ET
Where: UIC Pavilion in Chicago
TV: Spike
Live Stream: Spike TV Online
Jacobs vs. Truax
While Jacobs' title isn't an official world championship, when you consider he was diagnosed with a form of cancer called osteosarcoma in 2011, you have to respect his accomplishments all the more.
The 28-year-old was out of the ring 19 months and made his comeback in late 2012. He's had six fights since coming back and won all of them by stoppage. Most recently, he stopped Jarrod Fletcher to win the WBA title.
The bout on Friday will be Jacobs' first defense. Truax is no pushover. In every fight I've seen him in, he brings effort and energy.
The 31-year-old from Osseo, Minnesota, has become a bit of a mainstay in Chicago. He's had his last two fights at the Pavilion and won them both. In fact, Truax hasn't lost a fight since he dropped a competitive unanimous decision against Jermain Taylor in 2012. That was the only loss of Truax's career, but he did floor Taylor, as you can see in the video below.
Obviously, if Truax can pull off the win, it would be the biggest victory of his career. He'd have a secondary title, but more importantly, he'd have a win over a big-named fighter on a nationally televised card.
Jacobs wants to ultimately challenge for a world title. He must defend his current title before moving on to challenge one of the major champions at 160 pounds. Looking good on a PBC card would only help his cause. Truax has never been stopped, and Jacobs is a pure knockout fighter. He'll be looking to become the first to beat Truax inside the distance.
Dirrell vs. Jack
The Dog has had to overcome multiple obstacles in his career. Also a cancer survivor, Dirrell was in a serious motorcycle accident that cost him 18 months of his career in 2012.
He recovered, but has a steel rod in his leg. Despite all he's been through, Dirrell is still undefeated and a legit champion. He told Lem Satterfield of PBC: "I'm just blessed. I’m not saying that what has happened to me was supposed to happen, but I do believe that everything happens for a reason."
After a controversial split-decision draw against then-champion Sakio Bika, the 30-year-old Dirrell got an immediate rematch and won his first world title via unanimous decision in Aug. 2014.
Jack is just the next stumbling block in his way.
Along with Mickey Bey, Jack is the pride and joy of Floyd Mayweather Jr.'s Money Team stable. After shaking off his first professional loss, a TKO defeat at the hands of Derek Edwards in Feb. 2014, Jack has rebounded with two wins in a row.
The 31-year-old from Sweden will be looking to join Bey as the second member of The Money Team to win a world title.
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