Trout: Lara Was Better Than Me, Canelo Was Not!

By Ben Jacobs

Austin Trout is eager to get back in the ring. On December 11th he returns against Mexico's Luis Grajeda in what he hopes will be another impressive performance so that 2015 can be as good as his 2012. Grajeda is a hard hitting Mexican who has never been stopped and gone the distance with talented Jermell Charlo.

"He's a winning fighter, I think he just fought Willie Nelson and he was the one to say, 'Yes.' We wanted to make this fight happen , I definitely wanted to get back in the ring and he was willing to oblige."

Trout was not surprised to see his former victim, Miguel Cotto, hand long time middleweight champion Sergio Martínez such a comprehensive loss in their clash in June of this year.

"I actually called that. When I saw 24/7 and saw how confident Miguel was looking and then saw Sergio Martínez, he seemed a bit shot to me. He put on a big metal brace on his knee and then something on his elbow and I thought he wasn't ready to fight. I didn't think he would knock him out to be honest, I thought Cotto would be able to dominate."

While Austin certainly proved himself against the future hall of famer from Puerto Rico, he looked a bit flat against Erislandy Lara and acknowledged his rival's superiority on that occasion.

"I was out of my game plan, out of my element, out of my realm. I didn’t fight my fight. It was nothing to do with my preparation, we prepared very well for that fight. Erislandy Lara is a tricky customer, I don't like when the fans aren't entertained, fighting Lara is going to be a boring fight. I do think if I fought my fight I would have been more effective, instead of trying to force the action, I should have sat back and let it happen. It was a learning experience. Lara did what he was supposed to do and I didn't. I would love to get another chance at him again. If I have to work my way back or if he gives me that chance, either way, I'll get back to him.

"I want both 'Canelo' and Lara again. I don't feel like 'Canelo' was the better man that night. I have to give it to Lara, he was definitely the better man. But I believe in myself and I believe I can be better than Lara. I have something to prove to both of those guys, both to myself and to the fans. I believe the judges were affected even before we stepped in the ring with 'Canelo'. If you look at the margins they had, it was just ridiculous. But I agreed to the terms which I knew were bogus. We won't do that again, we'll make sure it's on a level playing field. I already mentioned I'd rather fight 'Canelo' in Mexico than go back to Texas."

Assuming he is victorious against Grajeda, Trout is looking to launch himself back in with the biggest names and title holders at junior middleweight. Although he does not currently have a promoter, the card will be the second fight in which he has appeared on a Goossen Promotions show.

"Goossen Promotions treated me very well last time, and I expect the same again. I've had no complaints with them, but they are not my co-promoter. I actually don't have a promoter, I have Al Haymon and my manager, Bob Spagnola. Al Haymon doesn't have vendettas against anyone, except maybe one promoter out there, but other than that he works well with lots of different guys and that helps me get on different cards. He said I should be very busy in 2015.

"Anyone that has a belt is on my target list. That means Andrade, that means Lara, that means Bundrage. I'm very world title minded. I want my belt back. People say belts don't matter, but ever since I lost mine in 2013, all I've been thinking about is getting my title back."