By Ryan Burton

 

Undefeated junior middleweight prospect and #1 mandatory challenger Austin "No Doubt" Trout (21-0) has been patiently waiting on the sidelines for his chance at the WBA junior middleweight title.  On Saturday he gets his chance when he face's Rigoberto Alvarez (26-2) in the Mexican's backyard of Guadalara, Jalisco in a fight televised by Telefutura.  The fight is for the vacant WBA junior middleweight "regular" title.  Miguel Cotto holds the "super" version of the WBA junior middleweight strap.  Trout spoke to BoxingScene.com about facing Saul "Canelo" Alvarez's big brother and more in this exclusive interview.

 

BoxingScene.com:  Tell us about your upcoming fight versus Rigoberto Alvarez.

 

Austin Trout:  We are having a world champion fight for the WBA title.  It is what they like to call now the "regular" title.  I don't like them doing that because it kind of downplays my title so I am just going to call it the world title.  That is going on Saturday and I am so excited.  It is going 12 rounds or less with Rigoberto Alvarez who is also the brother of Canelo Alvarez.  It has been a long time waiting for this opportunity.

 

BoxingScene.com:  Talk about the waiting part.  You haven't fought for about 15 months.  Have you been out so long just because you have been waiting for your mandatory shot?

 

Austin Trout:  Yes it is just the political BS that comes associated with being the mandatory challenger.  That is pretty much it.  Also maybe fate was part of it.  Maybe God said I wasn't ready to be champion at the time.  I have been waiting and waiting for one of these guys to step up to the plate.  Due to certain promoter issues I was put to the side and had to wait a little bit longer but now the wait is over and I am ready to get in there.

 

BoxingScene.com:  Are you worried at all about ring rust with such a long layoff?

 

Austin Trout:  No not at all.  I have been training the whole time.  I have been in some great camps.  I have been in the ring with the likes of Kelly Pavlik, Sergio Martinez, and Antonio Margarito during the layoff.  My skills have been just as sharp as they have ever been if not sharper.

 

BoxingScene.com:  Have you seen Alvarez fight before?  What can you tell us about him?

 

Austin Trout:  I saw him fight before.  He is a strong guy who is basically one dimensional.  He is going to be there to be hit.  He does have power in both hands but I don't think he will catch me with a punch that matters.

 

BoxingScene.com:  If you come out with the victory do you want a shot at his brother Canelo?

 

Austin Trout:  I would love to get a shot at his brother.  That would be Golden Boy's nightmare (laughing).  I don't think they would ever let that happen but it would be great.  I will look for him out in the crowd after I take the belt and I will basically tell him "What's up?  You are next!" (laughing).  He is still considered a prospect but he has a lot of fights and I like his style and think it would be a good fight.

 

BoxingScene.com:  How do you approach a fight like this where you are going to Mexico and going to your opponent's hometown? Not just his country but really it is the area he is from.  Do you feel you have to knock him out or do you think you can get a fair shake from the judges?

 

Austin Trout:  I don't want to leave it in the judges hands.  I am not going to try and force a knockout because you know that is when it never comes.  I will definitely put out 110% to make sure it doesn't end up in the judges hands.  I have faith that God is bringing me to this point and to this place to fight and he won't leave me there stranded.  As long as God is in my corner I don't have anything to worry about.  I don't have to worry about the judges or the fans or anything.

 

BoxingScene.com:  If you get this version of the WBA title the only person above you in the WBA would be Miguel Cotto.  He faces Ricardo Mayorga next month.  Are you interested in the winner of that fight?

 

Austin Trout:  That is what they say about the titles (getting a shot at the Cotto/Mayorga winner).  I would like it but I am sure that would be another 2 or 3 year wait so I wouldn't hold my breath.

 

BoxingScene.com:  Does that mean you want to be more active after this fight and not wait around for the fights that don't seem very likely?

 

Austin Trout:  Most definitely.  I feel like after this fight it will be the beginning of my career.  I will feel like its my pro debut and I want to keep my momentum going and really represent the world as a world champion correctly and not like some of these other world champions have done.

 

BoxingScene.com:  Your division is loaded.  You mentioned sparring with Margarito and we talked about Cotto.  Shane Mosley can fight at that weight and their are so many others.  If you had your choice of opponents after Alvarez who would you want to face?

 

Austin Trout:  The best fight for me...you know I would like to have them all.  To say you are the best and that you are the champion of the world well then you would have to fight the best.  I know there would be a lot of doubters and I would love to get them all in the ring at some point and cement my legacy.  For my next fight I really don't know which one.  Line them all up and put them in the ring.

 

BoxingScene.com:  Do you have a message for the fans?

 

Austin Trout:  Tune in on Saturday night.  You are going to see world class boxing.  I am not the type of fighter who just runs and tries to get by with a decision.  I try to make it an exciting fight and I try to make sure that I take him out if I can.  I am very tactical and I can bang if you want.  You will see the many sides of Austin Trout.  The fans that have been with me and stuck with me I thank you and I love you all.  I promise you all that you will not be disappointed.  God has blessed me in so many different ways and he has blessed me with this opportunity and I am going to take full advantage of it.  You guys will understand why I am so confident in myself. 

 

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