But things happen.

“It’s funny how paths get crossed,” Trout said this week by phone. “I was sold on Rob and was in contact with him, and he’s like, ‘Listen, I’m a package deal. Me and Floyd together.’”

Floyd, of course, is Floyd Mayweather Sr., the legendary 66-year-old trainer best known for his work with son, Floyd Jr.

Now, big Floyd is focused on Trout.

“I knew Floyd would be a great fit because he’s a great defensive coach,” Trout says. “Although, honestly, he’s very much an offensive coach. He has a great defensive mind, he loves to talk about hit and not get hit, you know, the sweet science, but great defense is a strong offense as well.”

The stroke of serendipity has brought Trout (31-5, 17 KOs), Mayweather and Garcia, a highly respected strength coach, together in Las Vegas, where they have been training for the last month. On May 25, Trout takes on former U.S. Olympian Gausha (21-1, 10 KOs) in a 10-round super welterweight fight at the Beau Rivage Resort and Casino in Biloxi, Mississippi, live on PBC on FS1 (8:00p.m. ET/5:00p.m. PT).

It will be Trout’s first fight in nearly a year.

While it’s not easy shaking the rust off after such a long hiatus, it has not been that much more difficult for Trout to train for a fight in his 14th year as a pro than it was five or 10 years ago.

“The recovery takes a little longer than I’d like, but I feel good. I’m still beating up the young boys, I’m smarter and faster than the young boys; I don’t feel old at all at 33,” Trout explained.

That’s a big reason the Mayweather-Garcia team was eager to take on Trout as a client. Everyone wants a young up-and-comer who’s going to last for the next 10 years, Garcia says, but, “I think this is a match made in heaven because you already have a guy that has the experience, has been in with all the best, he’s at a perfect age where he’s not too young but not too old.

“I think when (Gennadiy Golovkin) went on his run he was about 32 or 33. So (Austin) was available; he’s coming off a few losses, so he’s looking to change things up. He’s not under a promoter right now so that means if we knock (Gausha) out and look really good against him, we can conceivably go and challenge a Terence Crawford because Austin’s not stuck under any one promoter. The only thing we had to adjust to was that he was a left-hander, and Floyd hasn’t trained many left-handers. But he can, so that’s a learning curve for both of them.”

Garcia says you can expect to see a new and improved Trout on the 25th.

“I think you’re going to see a great offense, you’re going to see a clever, crafty Austin Trout, and you’re going to see a definite elevation in his punching power because that’s my expertise — being able to generate an amount of force you’re going to need if you want to be a dynamic puncher.”

The southpaw from Las Cruces, New Mexico, is coming off a majority decision loss to then-WBC 154-pound champion Jermell Charlo last June, his latest shot at regaining the title belt he won from Rigoberto Alvarez in 2011. He defended his title four times then lost it to Rigoberto’s more famous younger brother, Canelo Alvarez, in 2013.

“ I’m smarter and faster than the young boys; I don’t feel old at all at 33. ”Former World Super Welterweight Champion – Austin Trout

Trout has since failed four times to get the belt – any belt – back.

What sticks in his craw more than anything are the long, involuntary layoffs he has had to endure over the last five years; three layoffs that lasted eight months, 17 months and 12 months.

Trout wasn’t just sitting at home waiting for a call. He has spent his time, as always, in the gym. “I started a Parkinson’s boxing therapy class and I have a few clients who keep me busy, I’m in the gym training, which is great, and I have a few personal training clients, and my kids keep me busy,” he says. He and his wife had their third daughter this year (“I’m a girl-making machine,” he says).

Ending those layoffs to fight champions makes it that much more mind-numbing for Trout.

“That’s why it’s so hard to see it because I’ve taken losses to guys I feel like I’m better than, and that’s hard to swallow,” Trout admitted. “I’m not saying I was cheated in all these fights (but) maybe one or two I should have won. Internally I know that on a good day, I’m better than these guys. Coming off these layoffs and having to fight these killers hasn’t been the best thing for my record.”

The fighter nicknamed “No Doubt” has, well, no doubt about how he will fare against Gausha, 31, whose only shot at a title came in a unanimous decision loss to champion Lara in 2017.

“He’s got a good name, good record, good background, he’s gonna make me look really good,” Trout said. “He’s stronger than his knockout percentage says, he’s determined. Other than that, I’m not really worried about him. He’s not a bum by any means, but I’m really feeling myself so I’m not concerned about anything he’s going to bring to the table. Because I’ve seen it all. I’ve been there, I’ve done it.”

So, how much longer can he do it?

“Until the wheels fall off,” he said with a chuckle. “I love boxing and I love to fight. In the last five years, I’ve had three long layoffs . . . and I feel that’s the part that held me back from hitting that ceiling, breaking through that ceiling and beating these guys I know I should have beat, to be the champion I know I should be right now.

“I just need activity. I got this great camp, with Rob Garcia and Floyd Mayweather Sr. (plus longtime coach Louie Burke, who will be in his corner as his cutman) and even if we have to make our own way, we’re going to get the best out of me if we stay active . . . We’re going to show up on the 25th and work, and we’re going to just build after that.”

Trout knows what he’d like to build toward in the next chapter of his career. He has his eyes on some big prizes.

“I’d love a rematch (with Canelo); I’ll take on Gennadiy Golovkin, he’s looking slow and old,” said Trout. “It’s the perfect time to step in. But first things first. I have to get through Gausha in good fashion. Can’t let him suck me into a boring fight. I’m just going to impose my will and show you guys I’m still here.

“I’m not going anywhere until I feel like going somewhere.”

Article Courtesy of Bob Velin & PBC