A number of professional boxers and former world champions in boxing have gone to bareknuckle boxing recently but this one did not work out.
Austin Trout is a former world champion at 154 pounds — super-weterweight — in professional boxing.
At the weekend he stepped into bareknuckle boxing and was knocked out cold with a right hand.
Ben Bonner of the UK cared little for the ring walk out of ‘Living in America’ from former world champion from the US, Austin Trout.
His quiet mentality and workman like efficiency was apparent in the bareknuckle bout straight away.
Bonner dropped Trout in round one with a big right hand to the body but Trout managed to get through the round.
Texas boxer Austin Trout from Houston was not able to compete with him at all.
The UK man was the underdog coming into the bout with 40 year old Trout but you would not have known.
He controlled the range and fight really in their bareknuckle boxing bout in the BKFC Liberty Brawl.
An event that took place at the Wells Fargo Center in Philadelphia at the weekend.
Trout came into the bout bitter with all of professional boxing’s success the sport is having at the moment and it showed in his bareknuckle boxing.
He was sluggish and on the back foot and his guard was very low.
His hands were down at his waist at times.
Not the case with Benn Bonner who pressed the action with a solid high guard and excellent boxing fundamentals exhibited in their sport.
Trout showed glimpses of his old boxing ability in pro boxing in their bareknuckle boxing sport — landing the left jab a few times.
But other than that he was outmatched.
Bonner ducked under as Trout came forward and nailed him with a huge overhand right straight on the button.
That was it for Trout in round 2.
It shows professional boxers are not always suited to the bareknukcle format.
It is a different sport but very close to professional boxing in some ways.
The defense is different.
In many cases bareknuckle fighters slap down a jab from their opponent.
The distance is a little bit closer as well in terms of more inside fighting.
It is a far more dangerous sport clearly in terms of knockouts happening faster.
They are tough as nails to their credit but at the same time many of them would struggle in professional boxing.
A sport that is more a science and a thinking man’s game.
Austin Trout’s legs had gone as well from that fight at the weekend.
You could tell.
He was plodding around in there on stiff legs and he got caught easy in the end with a solid punch that knocked him out cold.
Austin Trout has a professional boxing record of 37-5-18 KO.
His last fight came in 2023 against Omir Rodriguez where he won a unanimous points decision on the night in Germany.
He has not boxed since in professional boxing.
It should be noted however former world super-middleweight champion from the UK James DeGale did win a bout in bareknuckle boxing.
At BKFC last year in 2025 he won a points decision vs Matt Floyd in their sport in the UK.
That said, former world champion in pro boxing from the US, Paulie Malignaggi — when he competed in bareknuckle boxing — lost.
Paulie Malignaggi lost by brutal knockout in bareknuckle boxing at the age of 44 earlier this year in May 2026.
Knocked out by Rolando Dy earlier earlier this year.
Austin Trout looks like he will remain retired all in all from professional boxing as well after this.
Check out our latest boxing news.