The best punch trackers on the market
4th February 2021
By: Michael Frank
Golden Boy Promotions may have found their new star in soon-to-be heavyweight Tristan Kalkreuth. The 6’4” prospect out of Duncanville, Texas started showing signs of stardom at an early age. At just 16, he became a two-time USA Boxing National Champion in the youth division. With an amateur record of 92-9, Kalkreuth had a tough decision to make as a young man. He wanted to participate in the Olympic Games, but at 17 he wasn’t eligible. Instead, Kalkrueth, with the aide of well-known manager Lester Bedford, decided going pro would be the best fit. It’s rare for an athlete to skip out on the opportunity to represent their county in the Olympics, but the timing and talent made for a quick decision.
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Tristan “Sweet T” Kalkreuth signed with Oscar De La Hoya and Golden Boy in June of 2019. The signing marked only the second time that GBP has signed a 17-year-old to a professional contract, with the other being rising superstar Vergil Ortiz Jr. Both fighters graduated from the same high school in Grand Prairie, Texas. Teamwork and support have always been important to Kalkreuth. His father, Sean Kalkreuth, has been right by his side for the whole journey, helping him throughout his entire amateur career. Tristan credits him by saying, “hats off to my pops, he’s my foundation, the reason why I’m where I’m at.”
Kalkreuth started his professional career on the right foot with a first round TKO victory over Kyndale Prather in August 2019. He impressed in front of hometown fans at the Verizon Theatre in Grand Prairie. The 4-round cruiserweight matchup was on the undercard of Ortiz Jr. vs Antonio Orozco, highlighting the connection between Kalkreuth and Ortiz Jr.
After a 3rd-round TKO victory over Aaron John Valentine, “Sweet T” made his debut at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas. He landed his third professional fight on the undercard of Canelo Alvarez vs. Sergey Kovalev. The Golden Boy event also showcased the popular lightweight fighter Ryan Garcia. Kalkreuth scored the unanimous decision win over Twon Smith, who helped Kovalev prepare for his title fight as his sparring partner. Tristan controlled the fight with his jab and easily outscored his opponent.
His fourth professional fight versus Blake LaCaze was expected to be his toughest test to date. LaCaze had a bare knuckle fighter back ground, and at 6’8”, had the height advantage. That turned out to be the only advantage he had as Kalkreuth finished him off with a first-round KO at the 1:50 mark. After scoring an early round knock down, he finished it off with a combination of an overhand right then devastating left hook. Already effected by the first knock down, the taller cruiserweight crumbled to the canvas when caught by the hook. Kalkreuth showed off his skill set while maintaining his composure in the victory. “I went out there and executed my game plan.”
In March of 2020, Kalkreuth delivered another first round KO in dramatic fashion. A wicked right hook sent Johnny Jackson to the mat with one second left in the first round. Referee Ruben Perez immediately waved his hands when the punch landed, putting a stop to the bout. Kalkrueth’s fifth victory gave him another signature win on the budding resume.
Due to COVID-19, the rising prospect had a seven month hiatus from the ring. Kalkreuth used the time off to focus on adding some muscle while maintaining his conditioning level. He divides his gym time between Elite Sports University and Irving PAL. At 6’4” it’s inevitable for the young fighter to slowly go up in weight, with the heavyweight division being his ultimate goal down the road.
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He weighed in at 198 lbs for his first fight since the pandemic. With no fans in attendance, “Sweet T” took Tyler Vogel the distance in his first career 6-round contest. He won by unanimous decision, with all three judges scoring the fight 59-55. This was only the second time one of his fights has gone the distance. Kalkreuth admitted that having no fans made an impact, stating “it felt like a glorified sparring session. The fans to me are really special in boxing, it gets me ready, they get me motivated.” A fighter with the personality and charisma of Kalkreuth feeds on the support of his fans.
He and his father have built a strong support system in his young career. His team includes manager Lester Bedford, who has 40 years of experience in boxing- managing and marketing over 700 sporting events and contributing to 180 World Championship boxing events specifically. Thanks to Bedford, boxing in the state of Texas has flourished in recent years. He helped promote Manny Pacquiao’s first fight at Cowboys’ Stadium in Arlington, now a common venue for some of the biggest boxing match-ups in the United States.
It was Bedford who introduced Kalkreuth to former boxer and well-established trainer Ronnie Shields. The World Boxing Hall of Fame Trainer of The Year in 2003 has trained some of the top names in the sport. Mike Tyson, Evander Holyfield, Pernell Whitaker, and Arturo Gatti are just a few on the long list. He currently trains Middleweight Champion Jermall Charlo and 2-weight World Champion Guillermo Rigondeaux. Bedford and Shields believe that Kalkreuth can become more than just a hometown star. Shields told the team that he was one of the best prospects he’s ever seen, and has the best left hook in the business. Considering all the superstars he’s worked with, Shield’s opinion has validity.
With the help from Shields, the transition from amateur to pro went smoothly for Kalkreuth. He told me that he’s “always had a pro style, but Ronnie helped me sharpen my tools. He really helped me focus on sitting on my punches, using my legs and really driving in that power.” A significant weapon for the 6’4” orthodox-style fighter. When I asked Kalkreuth what he’s looking to improve upon, he quickly responded, “Mentality, everyday I focus on improving my mentality, they say boxing is 80% mental, and it’s crazy what happens when you get your mind to cooperate with your body.” If Kalkreuth can get his mind and body to perfectly align, the sky’s the limit for the rising prospect.
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A key moment in the development of Kalkreuth’s career came when he fractured his right hand sparring in the amateurs. He hit his partner on the crown of the head with the side of his hand. He brushed it off and kept working for two more rounds before realizing it was most likely broken. Midway through rehab, he was itching to get back in the gym, so he went back to work sporting a cast. “All I could do was cardio and work on my left hand, so I focused on my jab and hook.” This blessing in disguise created the powerful left hook that has become the main tool in his arsenal.
He remains dedicated to getting better each day, and is currently focused on improving his jab and defense. He emphasized “to get to the next level, you have to have the full package.” He has the chance to get to that level, and at the age of 19 he has the time to develop slowly. Only time will tell how his body develops as he climbs the division ladder.
When asked about his expectations for 2021, Kalkreuth responded “I want to get better each month, and become prospect of the year. I know I have that capability.” A lofty, but obtainable goal for the confident young man. He also wants to improve to 10-0, which means he’s looking to have at least three more fights within the year.
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It would be of great interest for Golden Boy to get this explosive fighter on a national broadcast. In his most recent fight on the Ryan Garcia vs Luke Campbell undercard, Kalkreuth was scheduled to fight before the co-main events. Unfortunately, DAZN felt the timing wasn’t right and the swing-bout was moved to after the main event. When you have someone this special, you need to get him TV time for his exposure. Kalkreuth ended up scoring a vicious knockout within 50 seconds of the first round, followed by his signature celebratory back flip. Truly a missed opportunity for Golden Boy to showcase one of their rising stars.
Golden Boy will get their chance to showcase Kalkreuth on March 20th on the undercard of Vergil Ortiz Jr. vs. Maurice Hooker. The event will take place at the Dickies Arena in Ft. Worth, Texas and will be broadcasted on DAZN. The card is loaded with local talent, as fighters will look to impress in front of the hometown crowd. Kalkreuth’s opponent is still to be determined.
Kalkreuth now sits at 7-0, with 5 KO’s, and has the chance to rise to the next level. Look for manager Bedford, trainer Shields and all of Golden Boy Promotions to provide the strong foundation a young fighter needs. He will continue to learn how to use his height to his advantage, moving inside and out effortlessly. Pair that with power in both hands and you have a force to be reckoned with. Please help Boxing Guru introduce the rapidly rising prospect and Golden Boy’s next big star, Tristan “Sweet T” Kalkreuth.
Additional facts:
- Kalkreuth often gets compared to the great Muhmmad Ali. In his first professional fight, announcer Sergio Mora called him a young Ali. Kalkreuth said: “It’s an honor to be compared to him, but to be honest there will never be another Ali.”
- Kalkreuth is a bit of a sneaker head, with pairs of both 95 and 97 Jordans and a collection of Air Maxes.
- In the gym, his headphones will be playing the likes of Yella Beezy, Travis Scott, Drake, Gucci Mane, and even a little bit of Rock n Roll when he’s vibing.
