With the biggest fight of his career just one month away, WBA Super Welterweight World Champion Austin "No Doubt" Trout is relocating to higher elevation for the remainder of his training camp. A proud New Mexico native, he has remained close to his roots to prepare for December 1. Trout and trainer Louie Burke held the first half of their 10-week camp in his hometown of Las Cruces, but they will now head up I-70 to mountain destination, Ruidoso, N.M., for the final month of training. Trout is preparing for the fourth defense of his WBA title on December 1 against Miguel Cotto at Madison Square Garden on SHOWTIME.
"I'm really looking forward to finishing camp in Ruidoso, I'm excited to get into the mountains and fresh air, and getting acclimated to the air up there," Trout said. "The seclusion and altitude of Ruidoso are the main reasons that we are going back there during this camp. It's close enough that I can go home if I need to, but far enough that I won't be bothered with the hustle and bustle."
Team Trout is took the two-hour journey to Ruidoso this morning and will resume training at On the Rock Church boxing club this afternoon. Situated next to the Lincoln national forest, Ruidoso is a mountain resort town with an elevation of nearly 7000 feet. The 27-year-old and his team are holding camp in Ruidoso for the second time in his career.
With more than half of his training complete for December 1, Trout is pleased with the progress he and his team have made to this point. "It's been a great camp thus far; I have good chemistry with everyone," Trout said. "All my sparring partners, everyone's been helping out. I feel like I'm right on schedule if not ahead of it."
Trout enjoyed his debut as a boxing analyst two week ago, joining the SHOWTIME commentating team for the October 20 telecast from the Barclays Center in Brooklyn. Although he thoroughly enjoyed his first taste of the broadcast business, his focus is now squarely on Miguel Cotto and the fourth defense of his belt.
Prior to heading to Ruidoso, Trout enjoyed Halloween last night with his fiancée Taylor and three children in Las Cruces. He will be holding Trout Trivia for his fans this afternoon, giving the first person to correctly answer one of two questions an autographed glove.
A standout amateur and runner-up to the 2004 Olympic Team, Austin "No Doubt" Trout entered the professional ranks in September of 2005. Despite an undefeated record, the 27-year-old southpaw struggled to get meaningful fights through the first five years of his career. Yet he didn't mind taking his show on the round, and in 2011, he won the WBA Super Welterweight crown with a victory over Rigoberto Alvarez in Mexico. He has made three successful defenses of his title and will defend his belt for a fourth time against Miguel Cotto on December 1.