The same night Omar Figueroa Jr. fought Abner Cotto at San Antonio’s Alamodome, Austin Trout was headlining the card with his tilt against Saul “Canelo” Alvarez in April 2013.
When Omar Figueroa Jr. steps in the ring against Ricky Burns on May 9, he'll be rooted on by Austin Trout, who is fighting on the undercard.
Figueroa told Trout to go knock out Alvarez. That’ll go a long way toward making a new friend. Now it’s Figueroa’s turn to headline with Trout on the undercard.
Austin Trout takes on Anthony Mundine at State Farm Arena in Hidalgo, Texas, before Omar Figueroa Jr. faces Ricky Burns in the Premier Boxing Champions main event May 9 airing live on CBS at 4 p.m. ET/1 p.m. PT.
“We were both working out at the same time and we happened to cross paths then,” Figueroa said. “He looked at me and I don’t know if he thought there was some sort of hostility or what, but I was like ‘Hey man, it’s cool. You’re a cool guy. I like the way you are. I respect you. I don’t care what color you are, what race you are or if you’re going against a Mexican. I’m actually rooting for you.’”
Turns out, there was something of a mutual admiration society brewing.
“[Trout] said, ‘No man, my mom and my wife love you; they love the way you fight.’”
Who’s going to argue with their mom’s expert eyes? In the two years since that meeting, Figueroa and Trout have stayed in touch. But it wasn’t until the PBC debut in Las Vegas on March 7 that they started thinking about getting on the same card again.
“We predicted it was going to happen,” Figueroa said. “We were both in Vegas and were talking. I’m like, ‘Man, it’d be awesome if you got to fight May 9 on the undercard or whatever.’ Then we find out a week later he is on it.”
Trout lost a decision that night to Alvarez in 2013, while Figueroa took care of business against Cotto. Come May 9, they have the chance to lock up wins together, to much high-fiving and a spirited tour of Hidalgo nightlife afterward.
