Former world champion Austin Trout (31-4, 17 KOs) is promising to do a real number on WBC junior middleweight king Jermell Charlo (30-0, 15 KOs).
Their Showtime televised fight takes place on June 9th, as the co-featured bout to the Leo Santa Cruz vs. Abner Mares rematch at the Staples Center in Los Angeles, California.
Trout fought twin brother Jermall Charlo in 2016 and lost twelve round unanimous decision. He returned the following October, and was stopped for the first time in his career at the hands of Jarrett Hurd, who captured the IBF belt when Jermall moved up to middleweight.
Trout returned to action in February and won an eight round decision over Juan De Angel.
The veteran Trout is a big underdog, but he's confident in his ability to upset the odds.
"We're going out there to steal the show. Which will be hard to do because the main event is a barnburner. But I just hope they're not sleeping on me, because they've awoken a sleeping giant. I've been busy and active so I feel like I'm very dangerous right now," Charlo said.
"I respect Charlo because he didn't have to take this fight. Now it's time to get it on. When I fought his brother, I remember people counted me out and said history had been made before I even stepped into the ring. I'm here again to try to stop the 'Charlo Show' and start the 'Trout Show.'"
After suffering the stoppage loss to Hurd, the former champion went back to the gym to work on his mistakes. He wants to use Charlo as a stepping stone to much bigger things in the future.
"We're going to be prepared for everything he has. It's going to add up to my victory. My skills are going to be sharper than fans are used to seeing in recent years. The dog in me is fully ready to go. I'm starving. I feel like I'm young and this is my opportunity to prove I'm still the king of this division," Trout said.
