Austin Trout said he'll be back in the ring sooner rather than later despite not having any fights set up for him at the moment.
The former world champion spoke to Boxingscene.com and said he hopes to fight again in early 2018. Trout's last fight against Jarrett Hurd back in October helped shake off the ring rust he had.
"I am hoping (to be back) early next year. I don't have anything lined up. I am already back in the gym. I will be sharp and ready now that I knocked off the rust from a 17 month layoff - and now that is out of the way I will be as sharp as ever," Trout said.
As for who Trout has in mind for an opponent, he doesn't have anybody in particular, but said he would like to fight someone that is his own size. Trout's last two opponents, Hurd and Jermall Charlo, each had at least a three-and-a-half inch size advantage over Trout, and he hopes to be able to fight a 154-pound boxer where he can have success dealing damage. Trout lost both of those fights, which were for the IBF junior middleweight world title.
"It would be nice to fight somebody my own size one of these days," Trout said. "(Hurd) was a big dude but I took both those guys shots very well. I just noticed that when I would hit them they wouldn't go nowhere. When I fight somebody my own size I think you guys will see that I do have power but these guys are big."
Trout's latest loss to Hurd opened a Showtime Championship Boxing card live from the Barclays Center in Brooklyn, New York. Trout is a former junior middleweight world champion and has fought the likes of Miguel Cotto, Erislandy Lara and Canelo Alvarez.
