By Dan Ambrose: Former WBC/WBO middleweight champion Jermain Taylor (29-4-1, 18 KO’s) will be taking an easy tune-up bout against little known 2nd tier fighter Caleb Truax (18-0, 10 KO’s) on April 20th on Showtime at the Beaux Rivage Resort & Casino in Biloxi, Mississippi, according to Dan Rafael. Taylor’s promoter Lou Dibella told ESPN that he wanted to get someone a little bit better than Taylor’s last opponent 5’9″ Jessie Nicklow, who Taylor beat by an 8th round TKO victory last December in Taylor’s first fight in over two years.

Taylor injured his right hand early in the bout and was forced to dominate Nicklow using his left hand mainly until stopping him in the 8th round.

Having seen a few of of the 28-year-old Truax’s fights, I think Nicklow is a lot better fighter than him and I see this as a big step backwards for Taylor. But whatever. If Dibella wants to waste time for Taylor then so be it. What he needs is more 2nd tier fighters like Nicklow to get him ready for the really good fighters at 160. Taylor is going to have a real tough time getting back to the top anyway because his chin is fragile and I can’t that as having been changed with his time off from the sport.

Taylor will do well against Truax, who looks shorter than his listed 6-foot height and who lacks hand speed and seems to be only able to throw right hands. It looks as if Truax has failed to develop his left hand like most good fighters do.