"Camp has been great, my weight is good, I'm in shape, I'm feeling strong. I'm peaking at the right time and I'm more than excited to go out there and show everybody that not only am I a live dog, but I'm championship material," stated former world champion Austin Trout, who recently spoke during a media conference call to promote his upcoming clash with current IBF champion Jarrett Hurd. Check it out!
Lou DiBella: Former WBA 154 pound champion Austin Trout made four defenses including a well-known unanimous decision win over Miguel Cotto in December 2012. Austin has a great record of 30-3 and 17 KOs fighting out of Las Cruces, New Mexico. Like I said this guy is a pro and this should be a real test for young stud champion Jarrett Hurd. Austin can you say a few words?
Austin Trout: I've given all honors and praises to the most high and I am blessed with this opportunity to not only be a part of a great card like this but to be in a great fight with a champion like Jarrett Hurd. I have the utmost respect for the guy. He didn't have to take this fight and I want to thank him for making a defense like this. Camp has been great, my weight is good, I'm in shape, I'm feeling strong. I'm peaking at the right time and I'm more than excited to go out there and show everybody that not only am I a live dog, but I'm championship material.
Q: Can you speak to the reason for your long layoff Austin? I don't know if you've had any injuries or there was some other issue?
AT: Actually no, there was no reason for the layoff, no injuries, no nothing. I really can't tell you why I've had such a layoff. I'm not happy about it but it is what it is but I thank God I've been in the gym and keeping in shape, call it vanity or not, trying not to get fat and trying to keep this beach bod so I'm still sharp, we've knocked all the ring rust out in camp. It's time to work.
I've been trying to get a fight, especially after Charlo dispatched Julian Williams I felt my stock grows and I should have been put right back in but things happen and things don't happen for reasons.
Q: Do you feel like you might have needed a single fight before you took this step up or are you satisfied to go back in the ring with what I think most people would perceive as a very dangerous fight?
AT: I did want - not to say a tune-up but a get back fight - but at the same time you can't pass up these opportunities because they don't come too often. I wasn't going to turn down this shot. I had to come and take what they gave me.
Q: So what are your general thoughts about the type of fighter that Jarrett is?
AT: Everybody knows that he's the undefeated champion for reasons so you can't smack on a kid like that. He is a big strong dude and it's crazy, because I don't know how these big dudes make 154 but I feel like I've been here before. My last fight was on a stacked card with Junior Middleweights and this guy was extremely big for the Junior Middleweight division, he was the undefeated champion of the IBF, former fight Deja vu. At the same time, him and Charlo are not the same person or the same guy. Again we see holes in his game. At the end of the day it's just going to end up being me and him and we have to punch through those holes.
Q: Do you feel like all your past experiences will help you go into this fight or is it like more of the same?
AT: This is not my first time being laid off and for no good reason. So I've been here before, luckily I stay in the gym, just looking on the bright side. Maybe they had me laid off for most of these times to keep me preserved. I don't have as much wear and tear as most guys my age an fighting as long as I have, I'm still fresh, my legs are still strong and I'm ready to take full advantage of my physical peak that I'm in right now.
Q: Are you doing your whole camp in Las Cruces, New Mexico?
AT: Yes, I have kept the whole camp here: we have good altitude, great running trails. Training from here is where I won my title and had success so we just brought it back to where we kind of started.
Q: Austin we know you have the in-ring experience and have fought top opposition, other than just the simple experience what do you see as your advantages over Jarrett?
AT: I feel like I have the superior footwork. I like my mental capacity as far as being able to adapt and figure him out, but beside experience, I can fight to. Not just box, I can fight so I think he feels he maybe the stronger guy but I'm going to go ahead and test that and see if he truly is.
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The Premier Boxing Champions event is headlined by Erislandy "The American Dream" Lara defending against undefeated Terrell Gausha in the main event of SHOWTIME CHAMPIONSHIP BOXING. Coverage on SHOWTIME begins live at 10 p.m. ET/7 p.m. PT and features hard-hitting unbeaten champion Jermell "Iron Man" Charlo taking on top contender Erickson "Hammer" Lubin and "Swift" Jarrett Hurd making his first title defense against tough former world champion Austin "No Doubt" Trout.
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