Four Warned: Austin Trout vs Delvin Rodriguez

Austin Trout winding down training camp.

By Randy De La O

Jeri and I drove over to the Torrance Marriott South Bay yesterday evening. My cousin Louie Burke, along with his fighter Austin Trout, and the rest of Team Trout, all from Las Cruces, are in town this weekend for Austin's title defense against Delvin Rodriguez. Austin's family are also in town and we had a chance to sit and talk with them for a while. Great people.

I've been a fan of Austin for a while now but yesterday was the first chance I had to meet him. To use the words of my old trainer Mel Epstein "He's a deserving guy". There was a certain humbleness and quiet confidence about him. Two qualities that I like in a fighter. We got to watch his final workout in his preparation for Saturday's fight with Rodriguez at the Home Depot Center. It was a light workout with a few rounds each of shadowboxing, hitting the mitts with Louie and skipping rope. Just enough to work up a good sweat and keep him sharp. Austin looks loose, relaxed but very sharp and ready.

Austin will be defending his WBA World Light Middleweight Title against Delvin Rodriguez as part of the "Four Warned" card at the Home Depot Center in Carson, California. Also headlining Saturday's card will be Antonio Tarver vs Lateef Kayode, Winky Wright vs Peter Quinlon and Vusi Malinga of South Africa vs Leo Santa Cruz from Lincoln Heights, California. The fights will be shown on Showtime Championship Boxing.

For me though, the real main event will be the Trout vs Rodriguez fight. Rodriguez, who has been an ESPN mainstay, is a proven contender. Since 1999 he has racked up 26 wins, with 14 KO's and 3 draws. He has lost five fights with all but one going the distance. His lone KO came at the hands of Jesse Feliciano back in 2007. Rodriguez has had  a total of 34 tights.

Austin is undefeated in 24 fights with 14 KO's to his credit. He won the vacant WBA Light Middleweight title by fighting tough Rigoberto Alvarez in Alvarez' home country, winning a hard fought 12 decision.. He returned to the lion's den a year later to defend his title against David Lopez, also of Mexico, again winning a 12 round decision.

Both Trout and Rodriguez have the potential.to produce a great fight and steal the show. Here's hoping for a controversy free fight with a straight forward and honest decision, or better yet a KO win by Austin Trout.

Austin Trout
Hometown Las Cruces, NM
Age 27
Height 70 in.
Weight N/A
Reach 72 in.
Record 24-0, 14 KOs

Delvin Rodriguez
Hometown Danbury, CT
Age 32
Height 72 in.
Weight N/A
Reach N/A
Record 26-5-3 (14 KO's)