"I'm back in the gym. I guess you can call it maintenance work. I'm working on staying on top of my feet, establishing a jab, and setting up the jab and some inside fighting. I'm just focusing on, you don't want no bad habits to appear. So I'm definitely trying to fix some bad habits I have. I'm trying to get back soon; August 1st if possible....I'm just trying to get back to a world title. I feel like the next couple of fights have to mean something to get in world title contention," stated former world champion Austin Trout, who talked about his return to the ring and much more. Check it out!
PC: You have back-to-back 7th round knockouts over guys named Luis. What a coincidence, huh?
AT: (Laughing) I never even thought about that, man, for real. That's crazy!
PC: Austin Trout, the knockout artist now, man. You have great boxing ability, but you have also showed the ability to stop guys now. What do you credit that to?
AT: Being out there in DC, I think they got me believing in my power. I always knew I could punch; maybe not a one-punch knockout artist, but everybody I fought, they couldn't just walk ya boy down. I knew I could punch, but sitting down and investing in some shots is paying off.
PC: Did you have history with Barry Hunter or did you just feel like he was your guy?
AT: I was able to meet and hang around Barry and the Peterson's in the amateurs. I was actually able to work with Mike Stafford, who works with Barry, as an amateur and looking back at that time, I feel like that was my sharpest moments. I was thinking, who could bring that out? And I thought about Barry Hunter and Mike Stafford. Mike Stafford comes to DC whenever Adrien Broner is in camp, so he'll be out there and Barry coaches some great fighters and they push you.
PC: What do you feel has been the biggest change in your game since making the move to DC?
AT: I wouldn't say it was a really big change; it just made my game more complete. Like I said, sitting down and investing in some of these shots. I still consider myself a slick boxer, but everybody who watched the Lara fight figures if they try to box me, that will keep me normal. So I have been working on my inside game and walking somebody down is just something that I'm going to have to complete to be a complete fighter.
PC: Talk us through your last performance as far as what you feel you did well and what you need to improve on?
AT: I wouldn't say it's nothing I need to work on, but I should have established the jab more. Once I hurt him, I let go of the jab. I forgot about the jab and just kept trying to hit him with the uppercuts and the hooks. I gotta remember to keep that jab setting things up. My jab is what got me here; to ever get rid of it would be like when De La Hoya abandoned his jab against Floyd. It's just not going to be good for me. So that, my distance, I was smothering myself a little bit getting over anxious. So just staying on top of my feet and keeping my distance and keeping my opponents at the end of my punches will benefit me.
PC: What do you feel you have to do to be fighting the top guys in the division again?
AT: Just keep winning. No matter who it is or when it is, if I keep winning, soon enough, there won't be anybody left. Obviously there is a process. I'll keep winning, but I have to take out some of these guys in the process. But as long as we keep winning, I think we'll be right back there.
PC: Do you want to stay busy or do you want every fight to mean something?
AT: A little bit of both. I'm going to have to sacrifice some for the other. But I definitely like to stay busy. The busier I am, the sharper I am and to truly get the best out of me is to keep me fighting.
PC: Have you permanently moved to Washington or just for camps?
AT: It's a training camp only thing right now, but I'm looking at some real estate because you don't wanna waste money with hotels and renting.
PC: Anything different in the climate from DC to New Mexico?
AT: Not so much the climate, but their regimen is different. They don't do rest. I have worked hard my whole career, but they definitely take it to another level. He always say, "You ain't like everybody else; you're something special. If you want to be like everybody else, do what everybody else is doing. If you want to be special, do some shit no one is doing." I think we do some shit that I don't think anybody is doing. Plus, he has all of that talent out that way, so you get some real good sparring. You get all kinds of looks. It's nothing for Barry to kick somebody out for not giving 100%. Not directed my way because I always go hard (laughing).
PC: To be able to or feel that you can capture something from a trainer that you knew from the amateurs is pretty cool stuff, but is it a reach or does it feel natural?
AT: It feels natural because that's when you really loved the game. Not to say that I don't love it as a pro because I do, but in the amateurs, that's when it was still fun. The money kind of took the fun out of it. I still love the sport, but going back to that type of amateur mentality, you have a team with you and that's something I haven't had in a long time. Guys come in the gym like, "When you fighting? Alright, bet. He moves a lot, huh? I got you." That right there is a huge reason why I like being in DC.
PC: You are married now with a family. Does that make going away for camp a little more difficult or is it an understanding that it's your job?
AT: They understand it and know it's a job, but at the same time, it's the hardest part of going to get that kind of work is being away from the family. The last couple of camps, I was back and fourth. I would be out there for a couple of weeks, go home for a few days, and then go right back for a couple of weeks. My kids understand. My daughter, who is my youngest, is 5, so it was hard for her to get through, but she knows now. It's like, "Daddy has a job. You want daddy to win? Alright, we'll let daddy do what he has to do to make sure he get that win."
PC: Are you taking a break from the gym right now or doing some maintenance work to stay sharp?
AT: I'm back in the gym. I guess you can call it maintenance work. I'm working on staying on top of my feet, establishing a jab, and setting up the jab and some inside fighting. I'm just focusing on, you don't want no bad habits to appear. So I'm definitely trying to fix some bad habits I have. I'm trying to get back soon; August 1st if possible.
PC: Any specific name you after?
AT: As long as I'm busy, I'm happy, but I would really like for this next fight to mean something. The cat that pulled out [Anthony Mundine] had the number one spot. I feel like that's easy pickings to get that number one ranking. I hear Anthony Mundine is going to retire soon, so put a little tournament in between and put a top 6 or top 5 and then for that belt. I'm just trying to get back to a world title. I feel like the next couple of fights have to mean something to get in world title contention.
PC: Always a pleasure talking with you. Congrats on the consecutive knockout wins. Is there anything else you would like to add before I let you go?
AT: I appreciate y'all bringing me on and I appreciate all the love you been showing me.
[ Follow Percy Crawford on Twitter @MrLouis1ana ]