Austin Trout’s Transition to Bare Knuckle Fighting
Austin Trout, a former world champion in boxing, is at the forefront of a significant transformation in Bare Knuckle Fighting Championship (BKFC), an organization that has increasingly gained attention for its unfiltered and brutal style of combat. Under the leadership of David Feldman, BKFC has positioned itself as the second biggest name in combat sports, following the UFC, offering fans a raw, no-holds-barred fighting experience that many crave.
Upcoming Fight and Career Background
This Friday, December 5, Trout is set to headline BKFC 85, facing off against Luis Palomino. His entrance into the sport marks a notable shift, as he proves that elite boxing skills can be successfully translated into the world of bare-knuckle fighting. Trout’s expertise is a product of his extensive boxing career, where he has faced notable opponents such as Miguel Cotto and Canelo Alvarez, establishing himself as a renowned figure in the sport.
Feldman, before founding BKFC, promoted boxing events with matchmaker Nelson Lopez Jr. in Philadelphia, showcasing rising stars like Stephen Fulton and Caleb Plant. It was through this connection that Trout first learned about Feldman’s ventures, leading to Trout’s eventual recruitment into BKFC in 2023 following a robust boxing championship run.
Adapting to Bare Knuckle Fighting
Trout describes how he has adapted his boxing skills for bare-knuckle fights, emphasizing the importance of his footwork over head movement to maintain his defensive strategies against a variety of opponents.
“The transition was more challenging than I expected, and I focused heavily on clinch work and grappling tactics,”
he revealed, indicating that bare-knuckle fighting requires a different set of physical skills compared to boxing. He cites his ability to create openings for effective counters, allowing him to exploit opponents during exchanges as a crucial aspect of his success in this new format.
Passion for Bare Knuckle Boxing
Despite Trout’s recent debut in BKFC — where he dominated UFC veteran Diego Sanchez in his first fight in front of his hometown crowd — his passion for bare-knuckle boxing began long before. Reflecting on his initial exposure to the sport, he recalled being captivated by the fight between Paulie Malignaggi and Artem Lobov in 2019, which ignited his desire to compete in this fierce arena.
Within the BKFC community, Trout is well-respected by fellow fighters, including legends such as Lorenzo Hunt, the current light heavyweight champion. Trout’s decision to transition into bare-knuckle fighting was not taken lightly; he had to navigate reservations from family members, particularly his wife and mother, regarding the perception and safety of this gritty combat sport — a stark contrast to the traditional image of gloved boxing.
Future of BKFC and the Sport
Looking ahead, BKFC’s ambitions include attracting notable names from boxing, with Feldman hinting that fighters like Conor McGregor, Tyson Fury, and Anthony Joshua could potentially cross over into bare-knuckle. While some may view these possibilities as ambitious, Trout believes that external recognition from established fighters will continue to lend credibility to the sport, potentially encouraging more champions to follow in his footsteps.
Describing his experiences, Trout stated,
“The rush is akin to the thrill I first felt during my professional debut,”
indicating that his return to the ring, albeit in a new format, reignited his passion for combat sports. As Trout leads this less conventional revolution within BKFC, the sport seems likely to evolve further, creating a path for other boxers to join him in this untamed realm of fighting.
