According to Dan Rafael of espn.com, former Jr. Middleweight champion Austin Trout will take on Luis Grajeda on December 11 at the Pachanga Resort in Casino in Temecula, California. The show is a special tribute to the late Dan Goossen.
“Pechanga Resort & Casino had always been one of Dan’s favorite places to put on a show,” said Goossen Promotions matchmaker Tom Brown, Goossen’s brother-in-law, who is now running the company. “(ESPN’s) Brian Kweder came to me with the idea, which I thought was great, and when I went to Pechanga. They were so accommodating they actually moved an event to help us make this special night happen.”
Although the other bouts are not finalized, former two-time heavyweight title challenger Chris Arreola (35-4, 31 KOs), 33, of Riverside, California, is slated to be on the card in his first bout since Bermane Stiverne stopped him in the sixth round of their rematch to win a vacant world title in May. The leading candidate to face Arreola is Joe Hanks (21-2, 14 KOs), 31, of Newark, New Jersey, who has lost back-to-back fights.
A third fight also is likely to be added to the telecast, the rescheduled bout between heavyweights Johnathon Banks (29-2-1, 19 KOs) and Antonio Tarver (30-6, 21 KOs), the former light heavyweight world champion.
“The worst thing is when you’re off for so long and then you have to go back in the gym and learn everything again,” Trout told ESPN.com. “This is what I asked for. I’m glad they got me in before the year is over.”
“Things are going good and I am definitely excited to fighting again,” Trout said. “It’s a blessing. Now I don’t have to worry about rust. I can work on getting better instead of having to re-learn some things.”
“In that fight (against Dawson) we had to knock some rust off and he showed us what we need to improve on, so we are working on some things,” Trout said. “I’m working hard to get my base stronger.”
“I have yet to even look him up,” Trout said. “Now that he signed the contract I will check him out. I know he gave Willie a good fight so he’s a good gauge for me to see where I’m at. I’m not far away (from another title fight). After this one we should be ready to jump in head first next year.”
