Austin "No Doubt" Trout: From Boxing World Champion to Bare Knuckle King
Quick Facts
| Detail | Info |
|---|---|
| Full Name | Austin Trout |
| Nickname | No Doubt |
| Born | September 18, 1985 |
| Hometown | Las Cruces, New Mexico, USA |
| Weight Class | Welterweight / Lightweight |
| Boxing Record | 32-5-1 (18 KOs) |
| BKFC Record | 5-0 |
| Current Title | BKFC Welterweight Champion |
| Ranking | BKFC P4P #1 |
| Notable Achievement | Former WBA Super Welterweight World Champion |
Overview
Austin "No Doubt" Trout stands as one of the most accomplished athletes to ever step into the Bare Knuckle Fighting Championship squared circle. A former WBA super welterweight world champion with a decorated 14-year professional boxing career, Trout has done what very few fighters in combat sports history have managed: he conquered one discipline at its highest level, then transitioned to another and conquered that too. At 40 years old, Trout holds an unblemished 5-0 record in BKFC, reigns as the welterweight champion, sits atop the promotion's pound-for-pound rankings, and is chasing a second divisional title at lightweight. His story is not one of a fading champion clinging to relevance. It is the story of a craftsman who found a second canvas on which to paint.
Career Before Bare Knuckle
Early Life and Amateur Career
Growing up in Las Cruces, New Mexico, Austin Trout discovered boxing almost by accident. At ten years old, already immersed in multiple sports, a drive past a local boxing gym was all it took to spark a lifelong obsession. Trout threw himself into the sport with the quiet discipline that would come to define his career, progressing rapidly through the amateur ranks. By 2004, he had captured the U.S. National Amateur Welterweight Championship, announcing himself as a serious talent on the domestic scene.
Professional Boxing Career
Trout turned professional just two days before his 20th birthday in September 2005, scoring a third-round TKO of Justo Almazan in Albuquerque. From the beginning, Trout was a stylist. A southpaw with sharp ring intelligence, an educated jab, and relentless body work, he was the kind of fighter who made opponents look worse than they were. He ran off 26 consecutive victories to open his career, fighting frequently in New Mexico and building a reputation as one of the most avoided fighters in the super welterweight division.
World Championship Reign
Trout's crowning moment came when he traveled to Guadalajara, Mexico, to challenge Rigoberto Alvarez for the WBA super welterweight title. Fighting in hostile territory, Trout dominated the champion, winning 11 of 12 rounds on all three scorecards. He successfully defended the belt with an 11th-round knockdown of David Lopez in another bout held on Mexican soil, further cementing his willingness to fight anyone, anywhere.
The defining performance of Trout's reign came on December 1, 2012, at Madison Square Garden, where he outworked and outboxed three-division world champion Miguel Cotto. Trout swept the decision with scores of 117-111 twice and 119-109, systematically breaking down one of the era's most decorated fighters in his own backyard. It was a masterclass in footwork, timing, and ring generalship.
Late Boxing Career
Trout's first professional loss came on April 20, 2013, when he faced Canelo Alvarez and dropped a 12-round unanimous decision, ending his 26-fight unbeaten streak. He later challenged Jermell Charlo for the WBC super welterweight title in February 2018, losing a majority decision in a competitive fight. Over the final stretch of his boxing career, Trout compiled a professional record of 32-5-1 with 18 knockouts, fighting at the highest level of the sport for over a decade and sharing the ring with some of the best fighters of his generation.
Bare Knuckle Career
BKFC Debut vs. Diego Sanchez
Austin Trout made his BKFC debut on February 17, 2023, at KnuckleMania III in Albuquerque, where he faced former UFC fan favorite Diego Sanchez. The transition from gloved boxing to bare knuckle is one that many boxers have found jarring, but Trout made it look effortless. He systematically broke Sanchez down over four rounds before the referee stepped in to halt the contest via TKO. The victory served notice to the entire BKFC roster: a genuine world-class boxer had arrived, and he was taking the sport seriously.
Winning the Welterweight Title
Just one fight into his bare knuckle career, Trout earned a shot at Luis Palomino's BKFC welterweight championship. On February 2, 2024, at BKFC 57 in Hollywood, Florida, Trout delivered a comprehensive boxing clinic. He out-landed Palomino by better than a 2-to-1 margin, connecting on an astonishing 64 percent of his total strikes -- 99 of 155 punches thrown. The judges had it 49-45 across all three scorecards. With the victory, Trout became the first professional boxer to win a BKFC world title, a milestone that underscored the growing crossover appeal of bare knuckle fighting.
First Title Defense: BKFC on DAZN Spain
Trout made his first title defense on one of the biggest stages in BKFC history. At BKFC on DAZN: Spain, held at the sold-out Marbella Arena in Marbella, Spain, in October 2024, Trout defended his crown against Rico Franco. Fighting in front of an international audience, Trout controlled the action and earned a unanimous decision to retain his belt.
Second Title Defense: BKFC 71 Dubai
On April 4, 2025, at BKFC 71 in Dubai, Trout made his second successful title defense against Carlos Trinidad-Snake. The fight went the full six rounds and extended into an extra round, with Trout surviving a knockdown before rallying to win a hard-fought split decision (57-56, 55-58, 58-55). It was the first time in his BKFC career that Trout had been visibly tested, and his ability to dig deep and come back showed the heart of a true champion.
Chasing Two-Division Glory
On December 5, 2025, at BKFC 85 in Hollywood, Florida, Trout dropped down to lightweight to face Luis Palomino in a rematch that served as a lightweight tournament semifinal. Trout stopped Palomino in the third round via TKO after a doctor's stoppage due to a severe cut over Palomino's left eye. With the victory, Trout improved to a perfect 5-0 in BKFC and advanced to the lightweight tournament final, where he is scheduled to face Franco Tenaglia for the vacant 155-pound title in 2026. Should he win, Trout would become a simultaneous two-division champion -- a feat that would further distinguish him as the greatest fighter in BKFC history.
Fighting Style
Austin Trout brings a level of technical sophistication to bare knuckle fighting that is virtually unmatched. His southpaw stance creates angles that most BKFC fighters have never had to navigate. His jab is a weapon unto itself -- sharp, accurate, and thrown from a distance that keeps opponents on the outside. Where many bare knuckle fighters rely on volume and aggression, Trout relies on precision and economy of motion.
His footwork is the foundation of everything he does. Trout uses lateral movement to create angles, steps offline to avoid exchanges, and controls distance with the patience of a man who has fought 12-round championship fights his entire career. His body work, a hallmark of his boxing days, translates particularly well to bare knuckle, where ungloved shots to the midsection carry devastating cumulative effect.
What separates Trout from other technically skilled fighters who have tried bare knuckle is his willingness to engage. He is not a runner or a pure counter-puncher. He presses forward with purpose, cuts off the ring, and makes opponents fight at his pace. The result is a style that is both beautiful and brutal -- a quiet revolution in a sport built on chaos.
Notable Fights
| Date | Opponent | Event | Result |
|---|---|---|---|
| Feb 17, 2023 | Diego Sanchez | BKFC KnuckleMania III | W - TKO (Rd 4) |
| Feb 2, 2024 | Luis Palomino | BKFC 57 | W - UD (Title Win) |
| Oct 2024 | Rico Franco | BKFC on DAZN: Spain | W - UD (Title Defense) |
| Apr 4, 2025 | Carlos Trinidad-Snake | BKFC 71 Dubai | W - SD (Title Defense) |
| Dec 5, 2025 | Luis Palomino | BKFC 85 | W - TKO Rd 3 (LW Tournament SF) |
Legacy
Austin Trout's legacy in combat sports is a two-chapter story, and the second chapter may prove to be the more remarkable of the two. In boxing, he was a world champion who defeated Miguel Cotto at Madison Square Garden and shared the ring with Canelo Alvarez and Jermell Charlo. That alone would be a career worth celebrating.
But Trout's transition to BKFC has elevated his standing in a way that few could have predicted. He has proven that elite boxing skill does not just survive in bare knuckle -- it thrives. His undefeated record, his welterweight championship, his P4P #1 ranking, and his pursuit of a second divisional title have made him the standard-bearer for the promotion. He has legitimized BKFC in the eyes of traditional boxing fans and demonstrated that bare knuckle fighting rewards technique every bit as much as toughness.
At 40, Trout is not merely holding on. He is getting better. His 2026 lightweight tournament final against Franco Tenaglia could cement his status as the greatest bare knuckle fighter of the modern era. Regardless of the outcome, Austin "No Doubt" Trout has already proven that the transition from world champion boxer to bare knuckle king is not a step down. It is a lateral move to a different kind of greatness.
FAQ
What is Austin Trout's BKFC record?
Austin Trout is 5-0 in BKFC, with victories over Diego Sanchez, Luis Palomino (twice), Rico Franco, and Carlos Trinidad-Snake.
Was Austin Trout a boxing world champion?
Yes. Trout held the WBA super welterweight (light middleweight) world title from 2011 to 2013 and successfully defended it multiple times, including a dominant victory over three-division champion Miguel Cotto.
Is Austin Trout the BKFC P4P #1?
Yes. As of early 2026, Trout is ranked #1 on the BKFC men's pound-for-pound rankings.
What weight class does Austin Trout fight at in BKFC?
Trout is the BKFC welterweight champion and has also competed at lightweight, where he has advanced to the tournament final for the vacant 155-pound title.
When is Austin Trout's next fight?
Trout is expected to face Franco Tenaglia in the BKFC lightweight tournament final in 2026 for the vacant lightweight championship.
How old is Austin Trout?
Austin Trout was born on September 18, 1985, making him 40 years old.