Trout is Nervously Excited About Fighting Close To Home

By Jake Donovan

How long has it been since Austin Trout appeared before a hometown crowd?

His July ’09 fight with Marcos Primera – an eight-round shutout that upped his record to 18-0 (13KO) at the time – was the latest in a series of fights that suggested the talent was there, but that the jury was still out on the New Mexico-based prospect.

Two years and four wins later, Trout returns home – or close enough to it – next Friday when he makes the second defense of his alphabet 154 lb. title against Frank LoPorto in El Paso, Texas. The bout marks his debut on Showtime’s “Shobox” series, taking place less than an hour from his hometown of Las Cruces, New Mexico.

After having spent three of his last four fights beyond American borders, you’d think Trout was looking forward to an evening much closer to home. It’s not that he doesn’t appreciate the homecoming – just that he’s grown used to his recently developed role as a road warrior.

“It’s a pleasure to fight in the U.S. and on Showtime,” Trout (23-0, 13KO) states. “I’m a little nervous to know what it’s like to have a pro-Trout crowd. I’m going to do my thing regardless.”

The crowds for his last two fights have been anything but on his side. Both have taken place in Mexico, beginning with his title winning effort over Rigberto Alvarez - the older and far less accomplished brother of Saul “Canelo” Alvarez, who also currently holds a 154 lb. title.

Despite the elder Alvarez’ relatively thin credentials, the fight was still a step up in class for Trout. It was also a rare step into the ring at the time, as the fight was his first in more than a year. There were no signs of ring rust, as he cruised to a well-deserved landslide decision on the road.

Trout was every bit as dominant in his first defense, which came four months later in an equally wide decision win over still-dangerous fringe contender David Lopez in San Luis Posoti, Mexico.

The pair of showings helped Trout develop more of a name on the Televisa circuit, which does next to nothing for his marketability in the United States, save for those who bothered to stream either (or both) of the aforementioned fights.

That’s where November 11 comes into play, though even that date came with its share of hiccups.

Trout was originally scheduled to face Yuki Nonaka, until the Japanese southpaw was scratched due to an injury suffered in training camp. He now faces LoPorto (15-4-2, 7KO) a modest hitting Australian better known for his toughness to anyone who knows him at all.

The switch in opponents doesn’t bother Trout so much as the drastic change in styles.

“Frank is a tough guy, and takes a good shot. I know he’ll come in here giving the fight of his life, and  I will be trying to use my skills to neutralize all of that. I’m prepared for that. Yuki is more of a boxer, so we had to train for that and then switch camps once he pulled out.”

What Trout focuses on for this fight – and why he’s nervous about playing in front of room full of fans as opposed to a crowd wanting to see him lose – is more than just a win, but one that has fans wanting to see him more often on American airwaves.

“My performance will determine if I can pursue a fight with those guys. The public needs to believe in me, I need to perform to get them behind me. I have to bring it so everyone gets behind me. This is the door to my future.”

Sometimes, you just need to go home in order to figure out where you need to go next.

Jake Donovan is the Managing Editor of Boxingscene.com. Follow Jake on Twitter at twitter.com/JakeNDaBox or submit questions/comments to JakeNDaBox@gmail.com.