At just 31, BYB Heavyweight Champion Gustavo Trujillo is on the verge of bare knuckle stardom.
The journey of Gustavo Trujillo (6-0, 6 KO) to the mountaintop of BYB Extreme has hardly been linear. After all, success rarely is. The “Cuban Assassin” has compiled a resume that spans across multiple disciplines and promotions, which include MMA, boxing, and now the brutal game of bare knuckle. However, at just 31 years of age, Trujillo has quietly emerged as a bare knuckle veteran who continues to show why he belongs in conversations about the best in the world. In fact, he just might be the most underrated bare knuckler today.
Much like many who find themselves in the treacherous waters of bare knuckle fighting, combat is second nature to Trujillo who began his foray into the ungloved ranks over five years ago. At that point in his professional fighting career, the “Cuban Assassin” had accrued three pro MMA bouts to go along with his amateur experience. Although Trujillo struggled to find his footing, he showed flashes of immense talent prior to pursuing bare knuckle. As a former member of the Cuban National Wrestling Team, he earned a head kick knockout during his amateur days while also triangle choking his opponent in his last MMA bout before going gloveless.
Obviously, neither of those methods are legal in bare knuckle. However, what stood out about Trujillo’s style was his aggression, sheer strength, and his youth. Trujillo was just 26 years old when BKFC hit him up for an opportunity to fight on just their eighth event ever. Although expectations may have been hampered by the fact that both Trujillo and his brave opponent Rob Morrow were making their debuts that night, it was clear who had the most potential out of the two fighters.
Trujillo imposed his will instantly, knocking down Morrow once before finishing him off with a devastating straight right for the knockout win. All in 35 seconds. However, at that point in time bare knuckle was still very much in a state proving itself to the masses. A massive win at any part of the card was likely met with skepticism due to the reluctance of accepting such a barbaric sport. It didn’t matter how impressive someone looked, sometimes the audience would already have their mind made up.
Was Trujillo a victim of this? It’s hard to say. But what’s damning is Trujillo’s next win would go on to become arguably the biggest of his career, even though it took place in 2020. In just his second bare knuckle bout ever, Trujillo would be matched up with eventual pound for pound number one Lorenzo Hunt at BKFC 10. Now, Lorenzo Hunt apologists will likely say this was before we saw his final form. Whether or not that form includes his steroid usage is another conversation, but regardless, Trujillo didn’t just beat Hunt, he knocked him out. Just over a minute into the bout, Trujillo caught Hunt coming in with a crisp right hook, putting down the soon-to-be two division world champion face first into the canvas.
Photo Courtesy of BYB Extreme.
In just over 90 seconds, Trujilllo had earned a 2-0 record with two emphatic knockouts. It’s no question that his win over Hunt has aged like fine wine. Only one other person has “defeated” Hunt but that was a freak accident to say the least. In terms of timing, if these performances took place in the current landscape of bare knuckle, I believe the narrative around Gustavo Trujillo’s position in the sport would be drastically different. Just look at how the likes of Alberto Blas and Leonardo Perdomo are being received in their careers today (sidenote, Cuba might own bare knuckle).
Perhaps Trujillo was unsure about further pursuing a relatively new sport, which could very well have been a flash in the pan. As soon after, he would return to MMA for two more bouts before pivoting back to the squared circle in November of 2021. It was much of the same from the “Cuban Assassin” who won his third career bare knuckle bout thanks to another 35-second knockout, this time against Mike Kyle. Unfortunately for bare knuckle fans who may not have had the chance yet to witness Trujillo’s brilliance in the ring, his appearances would dwindle following his third bout for BKFC. Trujillo earned his fourth first round KO against Stephen Townsel in February 2022 before transitioning to boxing for the next two years.
The move, although unlucky for bare knuckle fans, would end up turning out quite well for the Cuban power puncher who went 6-0 with five knockouts. Even if it was against lesser opposition, Trujillo maintained the momentum he built in bare knuckle, proving his power wasn’t just a product of bare fisted fury. He was even able to land a spot on a Guillermo Rigondeaux undercard. His handiwork wouldn’t go unnoticed either, as eventually BYB Extreme would lure him back to the ungloved ranks and sign the rising heavyweight contender in April 2024.
Photo Courtesy of BYB Extreme.
Hindsight is 20/20. It’s easy to look back now and say Trujillo should have always been considered one of the best and most dangerous bare knucklers on the planet, which he is. However, through no fault of his own, Trujillo initially broke through during a very tumultuous time in the sport’s history. For starters, his debut took place just one year after BKFC’s first event. The fan base was still developing while the sport was trying to shed its “too-violent” snakeskin. Then, as soon as he knocked out Lorenzo Hunt, the pandemic hit, leaving the entire industry in flux. Can’t blame the guy for looking elsewhere. In addition, the Hunt win happened during a time when people still viewed most bare knucklers as journeymen. He was never going to get credit for that win until Hunt went on to win championships, and by that point, Trujillo already had one foot out the door.
It seems as though bad luck and timing are key contributors to why Gustavo Trujillo is left out of conversations about the best bare knucklers in the world. But make no mistake about it, the “Cuban Assassin” is no stranger to the vigors of bare knuckle fighting. From the moment he stepped into a bare knuckle ring, Trujillo has showcased a skillset and mean streak reserved for only the best. Which is precisely why BYB rewarded him with a title shot after his first round destruction of Levi da Costa in April.
His BYB Heavyweight title fight against Ike Villanueva in July followed suit in yet another first round stoppage, leading to Trujillo’s crowning moment. In six career fights, Trujillo has compiled six first round knockouts with a heavyweight championship to top it all off. There isn’t a soul in bare knuckle with that resume, one that includes a knockout victory over Lorenzo Hunt. Regardless of timing, that’s a win that trumps the best win of some who seem to get more love than Trujillo.
Up next for the champion is British-based brawler Richie Leak, who’s set to square off with the “Cuban Assassin” on December 6th. In what will be Trujillo’s first defense of his world title, he’ll get another chance to stake his claim among the pound for pound best bare knucklers in the world. With 2025 shaping up to be another pivotal year for the sport, the timing is now perfect for Trujillo to show the masses just how dangerous he really is.
Top Photo Courtesy of BYB Extreme.
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