Former boxing titleholder Austin Trout continues to make his mark in the world of bare knuckle fighting as he prepares to defend his welterweight title against Ricardo Franco at Marbella Arena in Marbella, Spain. 

Trout, already considered one of the top modern bare knuckle fighters, is embarking on just his third bout on the circuit.

Trout, 39, began taking bare-knuckle fights in February 2023, citing difficulties in securing traditional boxing fights. His transition to glove-less fighting has been a success, and he is now striving to extend his career – and possibly add further achievements as he approaches his 40s.

“The cool thing about Austin is, we’ve really studied the bare knuckle game,” said Bobby Benton, Trout’s trainer. “Austin’s always been an IQ guy, so making the transition has been fun. Everyone thinks you just go in and box, but it’s totally different. You can grab hands, and there are little techniques that make it unique.”

Benton explained how bare knuckle fighting requires a different approach from traditional boxing. Given that Trout’s best trait is his fight intelligence, this new corner of combat sports is allowing him to show it at an enhanced age.

“He’s a smart fighter, and he’s adapted well to these nuances,” Benton said. 

Looking ahead, Benton believes Trout’s potential in the sport has no ceiling. 

“I don’t think there’s anyone out there who can beat him,” Benton said. “He could move up or down in weight and be champion. I think he could even beat Mike Perry at 178 pounds. Austin’s footwork alone makes him dangerous.”

Benton pointed to Trout’s dominant win in his most recent fight – a win over Luis Palomino – as evidence of his potential to become one of the modern legends of the newly cemented sport, on the outskirts of boxing. 

“Palomino was their pound-for-pound king, and Austin dismantled him,” Benton said. “He dropped him, made the fight look easy. If they let Austin be more active, I think he could beat anyone.”

Lucas Ketelle is a proud member of the Boxing Writers Association of America and author of “Inside The Ropes of Boxing” (available on Amazon). Contact him on X @LukieBoxing.