Minnesota Fight Night

Element Gym hosted a media event Wednesday for Minnesota boxers Caleb Truax and Slink Proper, who have been sparring with each other to prepare for separate upcoming fights. Truax is a former world champion, Slink is an emerging, unbeaten prospect. Both are working hard to be at their best when they step into the ring for their next fights. Truax will be on the June 24 Showtime-televised card at The Armory in Minneapolis. For his part, Slink will headline a June 17 Big Q Promotions event at Element. The Minnesota Fight Night podcast caught up with both fighters Wednesday. This episode also features interviews with Minnesota boxers Tony Woods, Andree Reid Jr., and Jimmy Vang. Intro music: “Ali Shuffle,” by the Toler/Townsend Band. Special thanks to Deb Toler. The full instrumental is available for purchase: music.apple.com/us/album/ali-shuffle/334927560?i=334927635

Former world super middleweight champion Caleb Truax, one of Minnesota’s most popular and recognizable boxers, will make his long-awaited return to the ring on Saturday, June 24, as part of the PBC show at The Armory in Minneapolis. Truax (31-5-1, 19 KOs) will face Burley Brooks (6-2-1, 5 KOs) of Dallas on the undercard of the Showtime-televised event headlined by Carlos Adames and Julian “J-Rock” Williams. Truax will have to shake off some ring rust. The Minnesota boxer hasn’t fought since January 2021, when he challenged Caleb Plant for the IBF super middleweight title. In the following interview, Truax talks about the upcoming fight, the long layoff and more. He also analyzes the upcoming Terence Crawford-Errol Spence Jr. fight for all the marbles in the welterweight division. Intro music: “Ali Shuffle,” by the Toler/Townsend Band. Special thanks to Deb Toler. The full instrumental is available for purchase: music.apple.com/us/album/ali-shuffle/334927560?i=334927635

Quincy Caldwell talks about his journey to becoming a local boxing promoter and previews his big June 17 card at Element Gym in St. Paul. Intro music: “Ali Shuffle,” by the Toler/Townsend Band. Special thanks to Deb Toler. The full instrumental is available for purchase: music.apple.com/us/album/ali-shuffle/334927560?i=334927635

In this episode, the Minnesota Fight Night podcast recaps the Jack O'Brien Boxing Invitational at The Garden in Canal Park by Jungle Boy Boxing. Fans packed The Garden for what turned out to be an entertaining night of boxing. Tyler Nystrom and Jesse Wannemacher set the bar high with a bruising exhibition match. Also on the card, Danny Huffman pleased the hometown crowd and improved to 8-2-1 with a TKO win over veteran Brandon Baue. Rondale “Give ‘Em Hell” Hubbert got a stoppage win over a game Tony “2Sharp” Lee.  After the fights, we caught up with Hubbert, Wannemacher and Nystrom to get their thoughts on the night’s festivities. Intro music: “Ali Shuffle,” by the Toler/Townsend Band. Special thanks to Deb Toler. The full instrumental is available for purchase: music.apple.com/us/album/ali-shuffle/334927560?i=334927635

Minnesota boxer Tony Lee joins the podcast to talk about his upcoming fight against Rondale Hubbert at The Garden in Duluth. Lee (11-2-1 as a pro) returns to the ring after a nearly 6-year layoff. But this episode is about more than boxing. In a wide-ranging interview, Lee talks about trials and tribulations, family, and his deep and abiding faith in God. His opponent’s nickname is Give ‘em Hell, but Lee says that doesn’t faze him in the least. “I’ve already been there,” he explains. Intro music: “Ali Shuffle,” by the Toler/Townsend Band. Special thanks to Deb Toler. The full instrumental is available for purchase: music.apple.com/us/album/ali-shuffle/334927560?i=334927635

In this episode, the Minnesota Fight Night podcast is pleased to welcome Minnesota boxer Rondale “Give ‘em Hell” Hubbert. Fighting out of Duluth, Hubbert has more than 40 pro fights under his belt. Speaking of belts, he’s also a two-time state champion. Hubbert returns to the ring on March 10 at The Garden in Duluth. His opponent, fellow Minnesota boxer Tony Lee, is back in action after nearly six years away from the squared circle. In the following interview, Hubbert talks about his upcoming fight with Lee, his food truck venture, his life as a boxing road warrior and more. Intro music: “Ali Shuffle,” by the Toler/Townsend Band. Special thanks to Deb Toler. The full instrumental is available for purchase: music.apple.com/us/album/ali-shuffle/334927560?i=334927635

In this episode, the Minnesota Fight Night podcast catches up with Jesse Wannemacher, a pro boxer and mixed martial artist fighting out of the Port City of Duluth. On March 10, Wannemacher will step through the ropes for the second time as a pro boxer. His fight is part of a big card at The Garden in Duluth. In the following interview, Wannemacher talks about the upcoming fight, his combat sports background, and more. He even walks us through one of his favorite hobbies: surfing on Lake Superior. Intro music: “Ali Shuffle,” by the Toler/Townsend Band. Special thanks to Deb Toler. The full instrumental is available for purchase: music.apple.com/us/album/ali-shuffle/334927560?i=334927635

In this episode, the Minnesota Fight Night podcast recaps the February 25 Showtime-televised card at The Armory in Minneapolis. It was a big night for the hometown boxers, as Minneapolis welterweights Jamal “Shango” James and Ve Shawn Owens — fighting in front of a sellout crowd— won their respective fights in impressive fashion. In the main event, Subriel Matias stopped Jeremías Ponce for a vacant super lightweight title belt. The card also featured one of the most jaw-dropping knockouts of the year as Willie Jones, an underdog, stopped previously unbeaten Derrick Jackson with a well-placed left hook to the chin. The end came at 1:22 of the first round. This episode features post-fight interviews with Owens, James, trainer Sankara Frazier and Matias. Intro music: “Ali Shuffle,” by the Toler/Townsend Band. Special thanks to Deb Toler. The full instrumental is available for purchase: music.apple.com/us/album/ali-shuffle/334927560?i=334927635

This episode of the Minnesota Fight Night podcast features interviews with fighters participating in the February 25 Showtime-televised boxing card at the Armory in Minneapolis. Headlining the card are Subriel Matias and Jeremías Ponce, who square off for a vacant super lightweight title. This promises to be a highly entertaining matchup of two explosive fighters. In the co-feature, Minneapolis boxer and former world champion Jamal “Shango” James returns to the ring after a 16-month layoff. He takes on tough Alberto Palmetta, an accomplished pro and 2016 Olympian from Argentina. Also returning to action is Minneapolis boxer Ve Shawn Owens, who faces Kudratillo Abdukakhorav of Uzbekistan. With help from Showtime’s Brian Custer, we will hear from both fighters in the main event, as well as James and Palmetta. Custer also chats with Joseph Adorno and Elvis Rodríguez, who square off in a compelling junior welterweight fight. At Friday’s weigh-in, the Minnesota Fight Night Podcast also caught up with Owens and special guest David Morrell Jr., the reigning WBA Super Middleweight champion, who is in town to show his support for the local fighters. Intro music: “Ali Shuffle,” by the Toler/Townsend Band. Special thanks to Deb Toler. The full instrumental is available for purchase: music.apple.com/us/album/ali-shuffle/334927560?i=334927635

In this episode, the Minnesota Fight Night podcast previews the February 25 USA vs CANADA show in Wadena. Special guests are coach and former boxer Jeremy Umland and his sons, Matt and Adam. The younger Umlands are accomplished amateur boxers with a combined 160-plus fights. The Umlands talk about their boxing journey, upcoming events and more. Intro music: “Ali Shuffle,” by the Toler/Townsend Band. Special thanks to Deb Toler. The full instrumental is available for purchase: music.apple.com/us/album/ali-shuffle/334927560?i=334927635