It can’t all be the grind. While normally, Austin Trout is busy trying to climb to the top of the 154-pound division, the fighter found himself front and center of the action August 2 when he served as the ringside analyst for the Bounce TV broadcast of the Juan Carlos Payano-Rau’shee Warren brawl in Winter Park, Florida.
It was only Trout’s second experience with broadcasting—the first was the second Danny Garcia-Erik Morales fight on Showtime in 2012—and it was something Trout took on with an eye on the future.
“I had a great time doing it, working with Fran [Charles],” Trout said. “The first one was a bit intimidating, but they had great words of encouragement. I’m glad to be a part of this. I really feel like this is something I could do for a long time. I can’t box forever, but I can talk about boxing forever.”
The bout was a banger, an all-action, all-out slugfest that saw Payano prevail in a narrow split decision. It’s the kind of bout that gives an analyst plenty to work with.
Still, when Austin Trout returns to the broadcast booth September 18 for the next Bounce card, which features Caleb Truax taking on Fernando Guerrero, he expects to give a better showing.
“I was probably a little more timid than needed,” Trout said of his first Bounce broadcast. “But I tell them I’m a quick learner. It doesn’t take many tries for me to get it. The next one I promise is going to be 10 times better than the first time.”
In the meantime, there’s the little matter of his upcoming Fox Sports 1 bout against Joey Hernandez in Los Angeles on September 8. No talking the talk needed, just walking the walk.
For all coverage of Trout vs Hernandez, follow along at our fight page.