Gustavo “The Cuban Assassin” Trujillo (9-0, 9 KOs) successfully defended his BKB bare knuckles heavyweight title with a punishing second-round stoppage of Mick “The Butcher of Shields” Terrill (11-3, 11 KOs) on Saturday, August 29th at the James L. Knight Center in Miami, Florida. The event was broadcast live on Vice TV in the United States and Canada, as well as Telemundo for Spanish-language audiences throughout the United States. Terrill entered the contest on late notice, but his reputation and perfect knockout percentage made him an opponent Trujillo knew he couldn't afford to overlook. The champion remained composed, picked his moments and ended matters in the second round. Trujillo connected with a left hand to the body that sent Terrill to the canvas. Terrill was unable to continue, bringing the bout to an end and keeping Trujillo's BKB heavyweight championship firmly in his possession.
Adding to the moment, Trujillo had his belt placed over his shoulder by “The Gypsy King” Tyson Fury following the victory. For Trujillo, however, Saturday night's celebration won't last long. The unbeaten Cuban heavyweight is now ready to turn his attention back to traditional boxing, where he owns a perfect 12-0 record with eleven victories coming by knockout.
Taking on a dangerous opponent with little time to prepare for him presented Trujillo with a different kind of challenge. Terrill's late arrival meant adjustments had to be made quickly, but Trujillo believes his preparation and experience allowed him to remain calm rather than become distracted by the change. “Mick Terrill came in on late notice, but when you are a champion, you have to be prepared for situations like that,” said Trujillo. “There are no excuses at this level. He was a very dangerous opponent, and his record showed that. He came with power, experience and the belief that he could take my title , but I trusted my preparation and stayed disciplined. When I saw the opening to the body, I didn't hesitate. I placed the shot exactly where I wanted it, and the fight was over.”
Trujillo was particularly pleased with the composure he showed before delivering the finishing blow. “Power is important, but power without intelligence can be wasted,” Trujillo continued. “I take pride in studying what is happening in front of me and choosing the right moment. I didn't need to be reckless. I remained patient, found the opening and executed. To defend my championship in Miami in that fashion was very satisfying.”
While Trujillo has established himself as a force in BKB, his ambitions in traditional boxing remain just as strong. “Being ranked No. 12 by the WBO is an honor, but I don't look at a ranking as an accomplishment by itself,” Trujillo said. “I look at it as a position that I've earned and now have to build upon. I want to move into the top 10, then toward a world title opportunity. To do that, I need meaningful fights against quality heavyweights. I'm ready for that step.”
Trujillo believes his experience competing at the highest level of BKB has only strengthened the tools he brings into a traditional boxing ring. “I know what I possess as a fighter,” Trujillo added. “I have power, but there is much more to my boxing than power. I have patience, timing, discipline and the ability to think under pressure. I want the opportunity to demonstrate those qualities against a highly regarded heavyweight. Give me a name. Give me someone ranked ahead of me. I'm prepared to earn my way toward a world championship.”
Making Trujillo's situation particularly interesting is his status as a promotional free agent. “I am a promotional free agent, and I'm open for business,” Trujillo stated. “That doesn't mean I'm looking for just any agreement. I'm looking for the right relationship with people who understand my vision and believe they can help me reach the highest level in boxing.”
For Trujillo, finding the right promotional home is about building something substantial rather than chasing immediate attention. “I believe a fighter and promoter should share the same ambition,” he continued. “I want significant fights. I want to continue advancing in the rankings, and ultimately, I want to fight for a heavyweight world championship. I'm willing to sit down with anyone who has a serious plan and believes in what I bring to the table. My team and I are ready to have those conversations.”
Trujillo doesn't intend to spend the remainder of the year celebrating Saturday's victory. After taking the necessary time to recover, his plan is to return to training with a traditional boxing match firmly in his sights before the end of 2026. “The BKB championship means a great deal to me, and I'm proud to represent the sport as its heavyweight champion,” Trujillo said. “But I have unfinished business in boxing. My goal is to be back in the boxing ring before the end of the year. I don't want to sit around and lose momentum. I feel healthy, motivated and mentally ready to continue working.”
His perfect professional boxing record is something Trujillo wants to build into a world championship run. “I'm 12-0 with eleven knockouts,” Trujillo continued. “Now is the time to move forward. I respect everyone in the heavyweight division, but I also believe in myself. I don't need unnecessary talk or disrespect to create attention. Put the right opponent across the ring from me, and I'll let my performance speak for me.”
Trujillo's manager, Abe Swidan of Visionary Sports Group, believes his fighter's ability to excel in both BKB and traditional boxing makes him a rare talent in today's heavyweight landscape. What impresses Swidan most isn't simply Trujillo's punching power, but the intelligence and composure behind it. “What he did against Terrill showed his maturity,” Swidan continued. “He didn't panic because the opponent changed. He didn't go out there recklessly looking for a knockout. He stayed composed, found the opening and finished the fight with a beautiful body shot. That's what elite fighters do. Gustavo has already established himself at the highest level in BKB, and now we're focused on showing what he can do against the upper level of the heavyweight division in boxing. We're open for business, and we're ready to talk to promoters about the right opportunity.”
“I appreciate every opportunity I've been given, and I never take any victory for granted,” Trujillo concluded. “Having Tyson Fury put that championship over my shoulder was a memorable moment, especially because of what he has accomplished in the heavyweight division. But my journey is not finished. I have bigger goals in boxing, and I'm prepared to work for them. I'm ready for the next challenge.”
