Tito Ortiz’s first foray into professional boxing on Saturday night is not off to a good start after he missed weight for his Triller Fight Club bout against Anderson Silva by five pounds.
The former Ultimate Fighting Championship light heavyweight great is set to make his boxing debut tomorrow night at Triller Fight Club: Legends II. His matchup with fellow UFC alum and legend Silva was set for a contracted weight of 195. A number the 46-year-old Brazilian was actually under by more than two pounds. However, his American counterpart blew right past the designated weight by five pounds.
Ortiz competed at 205 pounds for the majority of his fighting career. The weight was never an easy number to reach for the now 44-year-old MMA fighter turned boxer.
Tito Ortiz misses weight for Anderson Silva boxing fight by 5 pounds
When the fight was originally booked, the 195-pound contracted weight seemed a peculiar number to compete at for “The Huntington Beach Badboy.” Especially, when you consider that he took the fight on only a few week’s notice and wasn’t in an active fight camp up until that time.
In the lead-up press conference for the pair’s bout, Ortiz questioned his opponent’s integrity for not taking the bout at 200 pounds. Although he competed twice in the UFC at light heavyweight, Silva became an MMA legend competing 20 pounds lower at 185. A weight of 195 pounds seemed a fair middle ground to make the fight happen, and not force Silva into a weight he was uncomfortable with.
In the end, Ortiz’s integrity will be called into question for signing a contract for a weight he probably knew he could not make.
However, the fight will still go ahead as planned and is part of the September 11 card that starts at 7 pm ET and airs exclusively on FITE TV pay-per-view for US $49.99. Triller Fight Club: Legends II is headlined by a heavyweight bout between boxing legend Evander Holyfield — coming in on a week’s notice — and UFC great Vitor Belfort.
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