Austin Trout knocked out after Apollo Creed BKFC walkout

Former WBA boxing champion Austin Trout walked out as Apollo Creed at BKFC Liberty Brawl on Friday night and met the same fate as his fictional inspiration.

Trout, who had strung together five straight wins since moving to bare-knuckle in 2023, lost his BKFC welterweight title when Ben Bonner flattened him with a right hand in the second round at Xfinity Mobile Arena in Philadelphia. The stoppage came after Trout made his entrance wearing star-spangled Apollo Creed trunks and a matching robe while a live musical act performed James Brown's version of Living in America, recreating one of the most iconic scenes from Rocky IV.

Bonner claims lightweight title with knockout win

The irony was not lost on observers that Trout chose to emulate a character who gets killed in the ring by Ivan Drago in the 1985 film. Bonner landed a thudding right hand that ended the fight and crowned a new champion.

MMA Fighting reported that Trout "never actually watched Rocky IV" given how the tribute ended. The 40-year-old Trout saw his BKFC run come to a violent halt, while Bonner claimed the promotion's lightweight title in the Fourth of July main event.

Reported via:

• MMA Fighting — Austin Trout does ‘Rocky’ themed walkout as Apollo Creed, gets violently knocked out at BKFC event