New Mexico combat sports legends Austin Trout, Diego Sanchez, set for Bare Knuckle debut
LAS CRUCES - A pair of New Mexico combat sports legends will be stepping outside of their comfort zone on Feb. 17 in Albquerque.
Former boxing world champion Austin Trout from Las Cruces will square off against UFC veteran and Albuquerque native Diego Sanchez in the Bare Knuckle Fighting Championship debut for both men in Knucklemania 3 at Tingley Coliseum.
"There has been adjustments that needed to be made and I have made those adjustments," said Trout, who will fight Sanchez at 165 pounds in the co-main event. "It's not the same game as boxing. ... Those adjustments have opened up a new era of combat for me.
"I've been doing the Sweet Science all my life and the little adjustments I have had to make have just made me more dangerous."
Trout appeared along with Sanchez and other headliners in a press conference on Thursday.
The 37-year-old Trout is 36-5-1 in the boxing ring and has won his previous five fights, defeating Jose Sanchez Charles in December.
Sanchez is 30-14 in mixed martial arts, where he has leaned into his wrestling prowess throughout his career.
“When this opportuity was presented to me, I looked at it as a way to express myself in the ring," Trout said. "There are things in boxing that I don't like. The BKFC is actually making a company that to me seems like they are for the fighters."
Sanchez, 41, still lives in Albuquerque. His last fight was a loss via unanimous decision in the Eagle Fighting Championships in March of 2022.
"Now you get two legends in each sport that are coming together in a new space," Sanchez said. "Be ready. It is going to be exciting."
Jason Groves can be reached at 575-541-5459 or jgroves@lcsun-news.com. Follow him on Twitter @jpgroves.
This article originally appeared on Las Cruces Sun-News: Austin Trout, Diego Sanchez, set for Bare Knuckle debut
