Vitor Belfort Decimates Evander Holyfield With Round One TKO
Vitor Belfort did what most expected him to and took out a 58-year-old Evander Holyfield in a controversial matchup.
A former MMA champion, Belfort only needed one round to take down the former heavyweight champion in Holyfield. After, Triller and Belfort called out Jake Paul, offering him $25-$30 million for a fight on Thanksgiving Day.
.@vitorbelfort calling out @jakepaul!!
$25million WINNER TAKES ALL!#TRILLERFIGHTCLUB LIVE RIGHT NOW ON #FITE!
[ #HolyfieldBelfort https://t.co/jpCvXLI1j3 ] pic.twitter.com/6UyoKnpIIF— FITE (@FiteTV) September 12, 2021
“I wasn’t hurt. … There wasn’t no shot that hurt me real bad,” Holyfield stated after the fight. “He hit me with a shot and I was off balance. No, I’m not hurt.”
The atmosphere was tense inside the Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino in Florida, as many didn’t know how Holyfield would do after years away from the ring. Filling in for Oscar De La Hoya who tested positive for COVID-19, Holyfield gave fans hope by starting off as the aggressor. That was the only advantage he had, however.
Belfort hit Holyfield in the head with a shot and landed a hook. He would hit a right and Holyfield fell, but it was called a trip. His next shot was an uppercut that actually put Holyfield down. After, Belfort unloaded on Holyfield with rights and lefts. The referee had no choice but to stop the fight in the middle of the round.
IT IS ALL OVER! @vitorbelfort STOPS EVANDER IN THE FIRST!!!
Catch the replay!#TRILLERFIGHTCLUB LIVE RIGHT NOW ON #FITE!
[ #HolyfieldBelfort https://t.co/jpCvXLI1j3 ] pic.twitter.com/IwQgJUqQBB— FITE (@FiteTV) September 12, 2021
According to CompuBox, Belfort landed eleven punches, while Holyfield only landed one. The last boxing fight Holyfield lost was back in 2008, when he was 48. The California State Athletic Commission would not allow Holyfield to fight, which forced the event to move to Florida.
Belfort started his pro fighting career in 1996 in MMA. His only boxing fight before this was a KO win over Josemario Neves back in 2006.
There was debate whether this would be contested as a sanctioned, real fight or not, but the Florida Athletic Commission let this go as if it was legitimate.
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