Former champion Evander Holyfield is coming out of retirement to fight Vitor Belfort as the Triller Fight Club main event. Here’s who has the edge.
The Sept. 11 Triller Fight Club event was supposed to feature boxing great Oscar De La Hoya’s return to the ring against former MMA champion Vitor Belfort at the Staples Center in L.A. A little over one week later, Belfort is fighting Evander Holyfield in Florida.
It’s a sudden change that’s raising a lot of eyebrows. The entire fight card was moved suddenly across the country to the Seminole Hard Rock Hotel and Casino because the California State Athletic Commission (CSAC) wouldn’t approve the aged Holyfield for a professional boxing bout.
Florida apparently didn’t have a problem with it. Holyfield and Belfort are both old, but Holyfield has more wear. Their contest will count as a professional contest, but it isn’t following standard rules.
Holyfield and Belfort will fight eight two-minute rounds, according to multiple reports. The standard round length is three minutes. The rest will fall in line with typical professional boxing rules.
Here’s our preview and prediction for Holyfield vs. Belfort.
Preview
Holyfield (44-10-2, 29 KOs) reigned as heavyweight champion from 1990-92, 93, and 1996-1999. He also was the best cruiserweight in the world before that and is one of the best boxers of all time.
However, he’s 58 years old today and hasn’t fought since 2011. Holyfield has been out of the ring for 10 years, and making a return at this age is dangerous, which is why CSAC wouldn’t approve Holyfield to fight professionally.
Holyfield retired with a win but lost six times in the 2000s. Towards the end of his career, Holyfield’s boxing abilities were seriously diminished. He’s far from the champion he once was. Age conquers us all.
Belfort isn’t young, but at 44 years old, he’s 14 years younger than Holyfield, which is a serious youth advantage. He lost his final MMA bout to Lyoto Machida in 2018 by second-round knockout.
Belfort has an MMA record of 26-14, along with 18 knockouts. He was always a gifted striker with his hands and possessed tremendous KO power. He briefly held the UFC light heavyweight title in 2004 before losing it in a rematch with Randy Couture.
Belfort has one professional boxing bout under his belt. He knocked out Josemario Neves in 2006.
Prediction
Holyfield has a size advantage over Belfort. At 6-foot-2, he has a 2-inch height advantage and loads more experience. Throughout his 17-year boxing career, Holyfield boxed 443 total rounds. Belfort has boxed 1 professional round.
That’s an insane experience discrepancy and should spell certain defeat for Belfort, except that Holyfield is so old.
Belfort lacks the boxing skills of Holyfield, but he’s a combat sports athlete that packs a powerful punch. He has the power to hurt Holyfield but lacks the footwork to contend with elite boxers.
Holyfield is no longer an elite boxer, but the skills are hardwired, and the power is the last thing to go in a fighter. Expect Belfort to try to use his speed, reflexes, and mobility to outbox the slower Holyfield.
Even at 58 years old, Holyfield has much more boxing knowledge than Belfort and a strong punch. He can score while Belfort retreats, and that will catch the eye of the judges. Holyfield should win an eight-round unanimous decision.
Holyfield’s experience is the deciding factor, but he will lack the speed to trap Belfort along the ropes for a knockout. He should notch one more win on his record but expect it to be a lethargic, sloppy affair.