The rules for Evander Holyfield vs. Vitor Belfort have been set for the Triller Fight Club event in Hollywood, Fla. on Saturday.
The professional boxing match between Belfort and Holyfield will be contested over eight two-minute rounds in the heavyweight division, which is over 200 pounds. Triller’s Ryan Kavanaugh told MMA Fighting that all professional rules will apply to the bout.
The Triller event takes place at Seminole Hard Rock Casino in Hollywood, Fla., and is regulated by the Florida State Boxing Commission. Unfortunately as of Wednesday, the commission has not received the finalized rules from Triller for the upcoming fight.
“The Florida Athletic Commission has not received the finalized rules and regulations from the promotor,” a spokesperson from the commission said in an email to MMA Fighting.
Many of the details surrounding Belfort vs. Holyfield came together very last minute after Belfort’s original opponent, Oscar De La Hoya, tested positive for COVID-19, knocking him out of the event. Holyfield was then secured as a replacement, but the California State Athletic Commission would not sanction the 58-year-old former heavyweight champion on such short notice.
That resulted in Triller ultimately moving the show from the Staples Center in Los Angeles to the Seminole Hard Rock Casino under the direction of the FSBC. The commission did not immediately respond to questions about any additional licensing requirements Holyfield was required to complete before being licensed.
When he fights Saturday, Holyfield will step into the ring for the first time in over a decade. His previous fight took place in May 2011 when he finished opponent Brian Nielsen by TKO in the 10th round. Since that time, he has participated in reality shows, charity boxing matches and made personal appearances. He recently touted his interest in returning to the ring.
Originally, Holyfield was connected to a potential exhibition bout against former opponent Mike Tyson, who returned from retirement this past year when he faced off with Roy Jones Jr. at a Triller Fight Club event. Unfortunately, the two sides never came to an agreement, and the bout between Holyfield and Tyson failed to materialize.
Holyfield has been recognized as one of the greatest heavyweight boxers of all time with a long list of championship fights on his resume. As for Belfort, he makes his return to boxing after his first pro boxing match in 2006.
The Brazilian legend was originally scheduled to take on Mike Holston, better known as “The Real Tarzann, under the Triller banner back in June, but that entire card was scrapped after headliner Teofimo Lopez contracted COVID-19. Belfort was then booked for the main event on Sept. 11 for the fight against De La Hoya before the latest hiccup.
The co-main event for Saturday’s fight card features former UFC champions Anderson Silva and Tito Ortiz and will also be contested as a professional fight. Silva looks to build on his impressive win over Julio Cesar Chavez Jr. in June, while Ortiz makes his professional boxing debut.