The undercard for Deontay Wilder`s upcoming fight this Friday will feature another fighter known for his devastating knockout power. This Cuban athlete is pursuing a rare achievement in heavyweight history.
Historically, only John L. Sullivan has held heavyweight titles in both gloved and bare-knuckle boxing. Gustavo Trujillo, known as `The Cuban Assassin`, is looking to etch his name alongside the `Boston Strong Boy` by conquering both arenas.
Trujillo has already dominated the demanding world of bare-knuckle boxing. He holds the BYB Extreme heavyweight championship and successfully defended it last December against Richie Leak.
While Leak was recognized for his toughness in previous bare-knuckle fights, including a notable win to claim his title, he lasted only 49 seconds against the power of Trujillo.
Leak himself commented on Trujillo`s abilities, stating, “He was very quick, very sharp… and he knows which shots to land. He’s a good size and he has the skills.”
The imposing 6ft 4ins, 240 lbs Trujillo boasts a perfect 7-0 record in bare-knuckle boxing, with every single one of his bouts ending inside the first round.
He also maintains an undefeated 7-0 record with 6 knockouts in his professional gloved boxing career, primarily built quietly in Florida. This Friday in Wichita, he gains significant exposure fighting on the Deontay Wilder undercard against Lateef Kayode.
This will be a step up for Trujillo, who has never fought beyond four rounds in a gloved contest before. His scheduled bout against the 42-year-old Kayode (22-5) is set for 10 rounds.
Although Kayode has been inactive and holds a recent losing record, fighting him over a longer distance should provide valuable insight into Trujillo`s potential and how far he might go in the gloved ranks.
Unlike the regulations in some countries, such as Britain, fighters in the United States are permitted to compete in both bare-knuckle and gloved boxing. Trujillo feels confident in his ability to do so, stating, “I can combine both, I feel confident and I’m still young.”
Trujillo also brings a unique background to the sport. He claims he never boxed in Cuba but was an Olympic-level Greco-Roman wrestler before moving to the US and starting his professional boxing career. He has displayed solid skills and fast hands against the opponents he`s faced in both the boxing ring and the bare-knuckle “Trigon”.
In gloved boxing, the only opponent to take Trujillo beyond the second round was the durable journeyman Terrell Jamal Woods. Woods completed their four-round fight last March, testing Trujillo`s chin at times.
Following that fight, Trujillo took an 11-month break from gloved boxing, securing three first-round wins in the bare-knuckle Trigon. He returned to the boxing ring in February, quickly dispatching Matthew McKinney (18-9-3) in just 55 seconds.
Trujillo has stated that while bare-knuckle boxing holds a special place for him, his ultimate goals in the sport are to “have fun” and “become a millionaire.”
