Gustavo Trujillo has notched yet another opening-round knockout, and the BKB heavyweight titleholder has maintained his spotless record across multiple combat sports. ‘Havoc at the Hilton 3’ saw Gustavo ‘The Cuban Assassin’ Trujillo improve his gloved boxing record to 10-0 with 9 KOs after the bare knuckle behemoth toppled Phillip Penson in the first stanza of their contest in Altamonte Springs, Florida.
Heavy pressure from the jump had Penson failing to establish his real estate in the ring, and a torrent of body shots spelled defeat for him early on. The Cuban combatant continues to show why he is one of the most hotly discussed heavyweights across a pair of combat disciplines. As Gustavo Trujillo described his mentality going into this Phillip Penson bout, Trujillo said,
“I came into this fight ready to send another message to the heavyweight division. When I step into the ring, I want people to feel my energy and see the power that I bring. I trained hard for this moment, and I knew if I stayed aggressive and applied pressure, the knockout would come. The heavyweight division is about excitement and action. Fans want to see fighters who are willing to go after it, and that’s exactly what I did. I’m grateful for the support and I’m just getting started.”
There is a rich tradition of Cuban fighters who have laid the groundwork for fighters like Trujillo, and as he spoke about the motivating force of his partisan pugilists throughout history, Trujillo stated,
“I grew up watching great fighters from Cuba, and they inspired me to chase this dream. Every time I step in the ring, I’m fighting for my country and my people. I want the world to see how strong Cuban fighters are, especially in the heavyweight division. My goal is simple… I’m fighting to make Cuba the home of the first heavyweight world champion in our history.”
Gustavo Trujillo: “I’m ready for bigger challenges”
As he continues to ascend the hierarchy of his weight category under Queensberry Rules, Trujillo quipped,
“Every fight is about proving that I belong among the best heavyweights in the world. This win keeps my momentum going and shows that I’m ready for bigger challenges. I’m building my name one fight at a time. Victories like this help open doors, and I’m focused on continuing to climb the rankings until I’m competing for a world title.”
Going forward here, a strong rate of in-ring activity in 2026 is desired, as Trujillo said,
“I want to get back in the ring as soon as possible. I feel strong, confident, and I want to stay busy this year. The more I fight, the sharper I become. I’m hungry for more opportunities and ready to keep showing fans what ‘The Cuban Assassin’ is all about.”
The Bare Knuckle Boxing champ’s last win in gloveless combat saw Gustavo Trujillo defend the BKB heavyweight crown against a former gloved boxing heavyweight champion in Lucas Browne.