BoxRec

Evander Holyfield Replaces Oscar De La Hoya, To Fight Vitor Belfort 9/11 In Florida On Triller PPV

The show must go on.

Oscar De La Hoya had to scrap his comeback fight after he was hospitalized due to contracting Covid on Friday. The 48-year-old De La Hoya was due to face former UFC champion Vitor Belfort on Sept. 11 at the Staples Center in Los Angeles. The fight was set to headline a Triller pay-per-view.

The upstart boxing producer, however, has apparently salvaged the show, calling on yet another Hall of Fame fighter in Evander Holyfield to step in to face Belfort on Sept. 11 in a professional boxing match at the Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino in Hollywood, Fla, Triller owner Ryan Kavanaugh told BS.com on Saturday.

Holyfield vs. Belfort is contracted to take place for a maximum of eight rounds at two minutes each. The entire undercard, including boxing matches between UFC legends Tito Ortiz and Anderson Silva, an exhibition between David Haye and Joe Fournier, and a bout between Andy Vences and Jono Carroll, will all move to Florida as well. The show’s PPV pricing of $49.99 will remain the same as well.

The California State Athletic Commission refused to sanction the 58-year-old Holyfield to fight, CSAC head Andy Foster told Boxing Scene, and therefore, Triller had to come up with an alternative strategy.

The four-time heavyweight champion Holyfield has not fought since 2011, but he’d been intending to make his return to the ring this year under the Triller banner.

After negotiations around a fight with Mike Tyson fell apart, Holyfield moved on determined to face former Tyson-conqueror Kevin McBride in an eight-round exhibition that was announced back in April for June 5 to provide chief support for the Teofimo Lopez Jr. vs. George Kambosos Jr. fight.

That lightweight bout, however, has been rescheduled several times, much to the dismay of Holyfield.

The Hall of Fame fighter filed an arbitration against Triller with the California-based Judicial Arbitration and Mediation Services earlier this week seeking more than $5 million that he was owed for the McBride fight.

That case appears to be a moot point for now, as Holyfield is one week away from returning to the ring.

It wasn’t for the exhibition he originally signed up for, however. Holyfield now has a real fight on his hands that will count on his professional record.

Holyfield, a cruiserweight king till the late 80s, finished his career with 44 wins (29 KOs), 10 losses and 2 draws.

Tickets go on sale today.

These fights are such bullsh1t. From guaranteed winner to guaranteed victim Vitor doesn't stand a chance here. Why didn't they just match ODLH with Holyfield to begin with if they are all on the same level?

I kinda doubt that Oscar has covid. He probably realized the error of his ways in making this fight and found the perfect way to withdraw from it. If ODLH was to embarrass himself by losing this fight by ko it would have consequences for his promotional company.

Poor Belfort, the easy walk is changed for whooping.

You can have an official pro fight with two minute rounds?

squiggy wrote: ↑06 Sep 2021, 15:13 You can have an official pro fight with two minute rounds?

Ladies do it all the time..

Ladies do a lot of things. They take long baths and talk about how cute pumpkins and snowmen are.
Boxing ought to have told two hundred and fifty year old Evander to just stay his old ass at home.

squiggy wrote: ↑07 Sep 2021, 13:22 Ladies do a lot of things. They take long baths and talk about how cute pumpkins and snowmen are.
Boxing ought to have told two hundred and fifty year old Evander to just stay his old ass at home.

pumpkins and snowmen?
That's pretty bloody specific

And I agree, the only time I want to see my childhood hero, is well dressed and smiling.

Just to reinforce what a gigantic turd this 'event' is, Trumpie is talking about turning up

I genuinely thought Holyfield replacing Oscar was a joke on what was already a joke.

KiwiRider wrote: ↑07 Sep 2021, 20:18 Just to reinforce what a gigantic turd this 'event' is, Trumpie is talking about turning up

Trump is actually going to do commentary for the event the way I hear it. Which isn't really out of his wheelhouse considering he was involved in many major boxing and wrestling promotional events in the 1980s and 1990s.

what's the over/under on how many references don makes to questionable election outcomes

Oh god, that's probably the most awful idea I've ever heard. I wouldn't voluntarily listen to him talk about anything.

This fight annoys the hell out of me.

Holyfield will be facing Belfort a month prior to his 59th birthday and he’s fighting a UFC Hall-of-Famer, in decent condition and also 14½ years younger than himself.

More than a decade has transpired since Holyfield last fought, whereas Belforts’ most recent outing happened as recently as three years ago

Regardless as to whether Evander wins or loses, I can’t believe the commission is allowing this fight to happen! It's a disgrace!

Why did De La Hoya pull out?

gilgamesh wrote: ↑08 Sep 2021, 05:18 Why did De La Hoya pull out?

COVID!

Triller are paying millions for Trump..

Ruthless-RKO wrote: ↑09 Sep 2021, 03:45

I thought fully-regulated boxing matches for male competitors had to be three minute rounds, not two, which is what applies to bouts involving females?

Ruthless-RKO wrote: ↑09 Sep 2021, 05:39 Triller are paying millions for Trump..

This is such a bizarre bill

Anderson Silva vs Tito Ortiz, in a Boxing Match, is definately interesting.

I’ve watched quite a few Vitor Belfort fights, but I haven’t viewed many interviews…. but I must admit (based on what I’ve viewed over the last few days), he’s an incredibly respectful likeable guy.

Evander Holyfield is one of my all-time favourite fighters, but I also now really like Vitor Belfort.

I feel that Belfort is physically capable of battering the near 60 year old Evander Holyfield into submission, but I think the Brazilian will be very respectful and hold back.

I ultimately feel the so-called “fight” will ultimately be a very gentle exhibition sparring session, whereby neither fighter gets hurt… or at least I really hope that’s the case.