Austin Trout wasn’t going to be satisfied with his BKFC 57 booking against Luis Palomino unless a title was on the line.
According to Trout, a boxing standout who moved to the world of bareknuckle with a debut with over “The Ultimate Fighter 1” winner Diego Sanchez in February 2023, the initial plans called for him to challenge Palomino for the BKFC welterweight title on the Feb. 2 card (TrillerTV)at Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino in Hollywood, Fla.
There was a brief plot twist after Palomino was allegedly stripped of his belt due to inactivity before being reinstated as the champ. That caused some confusion, but Trout said his bout with Palomino will have the belt on the line.
“Trying to make a long story not that long, Palomino was stripped of his belt,” Trout recently told MMA Junkie Radio. “Even though he never lost it, it was due to him not defending it, I guess. But they gave it back. They made the fight and told me it was for a title, they announced it not for a title, I raised my issue, they said, ‘It’s for a title, don’t worry.’ Contract says it’s for a title. As far as I’m concerned, it’s for a title.”
Trout, 38, said his goal is to capture the BKFC title and bring stability to the welterweight division. There have only been three title fights in the weight class since a championship was introduced in January 2022, and no one has successfully defended it to this date.
He plans to change all that and wants to be a fighting champion the promotion deserves.
“After getting this title, and not saying I’m going to be done with boxing, if the right opportunity comes I’ll absolutely take it, but my focus will be more on BKFC,” Trout said. “I’m champion. I’ve got to represent, you feel me? There’s a duty that champions, I feel, they have to the sport they’re champion of. I’m going to fulfill that duty. One of those things is taking on the mandatory (challenger) or the next in line, however you want to call it. I jumped the line to get this belt, so I’m going to get whoever is next.”
Trout said he’s fully aware beating Palomino is going to be no easy task, mainly because no one has done it before under this ruleset. Palomino, 43, is a remarkable 9-0 under the BKFC banner, and even though Trout respects that, he expects the run to end at BKFC 57.
“When someone asks me, ‘Who would be on your Mount Rushmore of BKFC?’ The four I had was ‘Juggernaut’ (Lorenzo Hunt), Christine Ferea, John Dodson and, of course, Luis Palomino,” Trout said. “You’ve got to give the man his flowers. Mike Perry soon. He hasn’t done more. I think I have a few different styles to neutralize him.”
