Paul-Tyson: A Reality Check?

The event between social media influencer turned aspiring boxer Jake Paul and International Boxing Hall of Famer and two-time World Heavyweight champion Mike Tyson was one that stirred much opinion, criticism, and worry for Tyson’s health given that he would be getting back into the ring at fifty-eight years of age, more than twenty years removed from his last competitive fight in 2005 and four years removed from a charity exhibition, which had been the only time he had entered a Boxing ring since retirement. It was also a circumstance that as most events featuring those labeled as “Influencers” going against an athlete or a celebrity in a Boxing ring drew significant interest, particularly among those who are casual sports observers. For better or worse, that was the target demographic of the promotion and not those for whom Boxing is a regular passion.

Part of the draw was of course the appeal of Mike Tyson, a fighter whom in his prime was the primary drawing card of his time in the sport where no matter who he fought, drew significant interest. The interest, which was rooted in the fact that he would often destroy his opponents with a mix of hand speed and punching power that had not been seen before. It was and is this appeal where even many years removed from that athletic prime, there are those who still have the images implanted in their minds of the great fighter Tyson was as well as what he meant to the sport. Perhaps this is the reason why so many people were willing to overlook the logical aspects of what was going to take place when Tyson climbed back into the ring against Paul. Logical aspects such as advanced age and the things that naturally occur in all of us as we get older. In the context of combat sports athletes, this means eroded skills and slowed reflexes as well as more often than not, not being able to have as much flexibility or reaction time as they had in their younger days.

In Tyson’s case, his appeal was and will likely remain strong simply because of what he meant to the sport and the fact that thanks to the advent of streaming, access to his fights where he was in his prime and scoring devastating knockouts is more accessible than ever, which makes it easier for those who were not around during that time to see what he was all about. As one who grew up recording fights and still watches as much Boxing from decades prior to when I came along, and as someone who was around during Tyson’s prime and one who got to cover him from the mid-1990s when I began my career covering combat sports, through his retirement, I concede that technology has certainly evolved and access to fight films both from many years gone by as well as current bouts, has come a long way since the days when I recorded all I could on VHS tapes. Having said that, what access to those classic bouts can do for those who are casual fans is at times provide a false sense of belief that what they might be watching, which can be decades old, would be similar to what they would see if a fighter from that time got back into the ring in the present day, neglecting the passage of time and what happens to someone as they age.

Fighters too often fall into this belief as there is always the mentality among fighters that even years after retirement, they always have one more fight in them. While there will always be debates among Boxing lifers such as this observer as to what might have happened if a great fighter from one era faced a fighter from a more recent time where both were in their prime form, the belief that fighters tend to have about always having one more in them regardless of those logical factors is something that worries yours truly.

In this case, there was evidence that had me voicing concern as many others had for Tyson’s health. As some will recall in previewing this event, I brought up a similar circumstance that occurred three years ago when former Tyson opponent and fellow Hall of Famer Evander Holyfield got back into the ring at the same age Tyson did against Paul fifty-eight, to compete in a bout against former MMA world champion Vitor Belfort. Out of respect for the reader and the fact that discussing what occurred that night in September 2021 still stirs feelings of disgust for what was allowed to go occur that evening and keeping in mind that I already discussed it prior to this event, I will surmise it by saying though Holyfield visually looked to be in immaculate condition for someone approaching sixty years old prior to getting into the ring, the effects of age as well as the punishment he had suffered throughout his long career were impossible to ignore as Holyfield could not maintain his balance or protect himself in what ended up being one of the many black eyes in the Boxing history.

In the lead-up to this fight, frankly, I had feelings similar to those I had in the days before Holyfield-Belfort. A sincere concern and worry for Tyson’s well-being given his age, despite the visual evidence that he looked to be in great condition for a former fighter at an advanced age. Unlike the circumstances with Holyfield, however, I did not get any information prior to this event that suggested to me that Tyson would be compromised as Holyfield was. Nevertheless, as one who has seen an endless number of fighters getting back into the ring at advanced ages with that belief of having at least one more fight in them, often leading to scenes that are difficult to watch, my concern remained. It is, however, important to keep in mind that Tyson was getting into a ring with someone, who was thirty-one years younger, but one who does not have the level of experience of a seasoned boxer, having built his career on facing MMA fighters, with little to no Boxing experience, a former NBA basketball player, fellow influencers, and having a 2-1, with 2 Knockouts record against those with strictly Boxing backgrounds. Based on this, there was at least some question as to what might happen if Tyson were able to land punches effectively, despite the age difference and facing someone who is a good athlete though limited in terms of Boxing experience.

Although the encounter, which took place at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, TX on November 15th had slight modifications in the rules including two minute rounds and the use of sixteen ounce gloves and not the standard ten ounce gloves, which are used in standard Heavyweight fights, which seemed to at least on the surface benefit Tyson, it did not take long for reality to set in. Tyson appeared to show some flashes of what he once was early, applying pressure on Paul and landing a few hooks to the head. The obvious effects of advanced age appeared almost simultaneously as Tyson quickly found it difficult to use his legs to execute his lateral movement and had some trouble using his head movement to evade Paul’s longer reach and get on the inside where he could do damage. Paul was also able to clip Tyson with a few good punches throughout the scheduled eight round bout that seemed to stagger his legs. 

As the bout progressed, Tyson showed less and less movement, less and less ability to land punches, and the only question I had in my mind was whether he would be allowed to finish the contest. Although Jake Paul has been the subject of much criticism including from this observer for seemingly thinking that one can build a legitimate Boxing career and get into position to fight for world championships by facing the types of opposition he has, none of which has come against a serious contender in any division, he did show some class and humility in this encounter by clearly not pressing the issue where he likely would have stopped Tyson and allowing the legend to go the distance in what was an uneventful contest, which though classified as an official fight, which Paul won by margins of eight rounds to zero on one scorecard and seven rounds to one on the other two, should have been designated as an exhibition.

Despite the criticisms of many, including yours truly of Paul for the aforementioned reasons, there is no disputing he has established himself as one of the sport’s rising promoters and he has done good for the sport in giving a platform for young fighters through his Most Valuable Promotions promotional company as well as being a strong advocate for Women’s Boxing, which I do respect. It was his promotional savvy that likely inspired digital streaming subscription entertainment network Netflix to get involved in the sport as the Tyson-Paul event was the first Boxing event ever to be shown by the network. While that also led to significant issues throughout the live broadcast due to the network having issues with their servers, which caused significant outages and buffering issues throughout the world for many trying to access the event, the accomplishment of bringing Boxing to such a massive platform is something that cannot be denied even though it should prepare the network for future live programming in wanting to ensure that their subscribers have as seamless an experience streaming live content as possible. Although by all accounts the event also succeeded in terms of a live gate attraction in reportedly drawing 70,000 spectators to AT&T Stadium, something that also deserves credit where it is due, the question that needs to be asked coming out of this event is should Paul-Tyson be a reality check?

A reality check in the sense that even though it clearly drew a lot of interest, it was still a scenario where an aspiring boxer shared the ring with someone who was many years removed from active competition and one who probably should not have been in the ring at fifty-eight years old. Though such events for better or worse do draw interest, for one who insists he wants to be taken seriously as a professional boxer, who says he wants to be a world champion as Paul does, taking part in events like this does not help his argument. As far as the interest this particular event drew, while nothing can be taken away from it in terms of a successful promotion, the reality is, events like this will only succeed so far as it becomes more and more clear that it is not a competitive situation and while the aim of such events is strictly to draw the interest of the casual observer, such interest will only last so long where it will succeed and if Paul as well as others who have come into Boxing from outside realms, who all want to be taken seriously, do not start facing serious boxers, who are working towards fighting for a world championship, the “Curiosity” factor, which seems to be the aim to draw casual observers, will not be there. 

For now, this observer will congratulate Paul on another successful promotion. More importantly, yours truly is thankful that Mike Tyson did not get seriously hurt and that those of us who cover the sport are not talking about a tragedy or near tragedy occurring as was the case with Holyfield-Belfort. However, I believe that state athletic commissions need to implement common sense where such bouts are not green-lit and allowed to go on. Not only due to the significant age differences, but more importantly due to the obvious dangers that exist as well as what was, and will likely continue to be a significant difference in competition. At some point, those who regulate and sanction the sport need to step up to ensure the integrity of the sport is a priority. 

“And That’s The Boxing Truth.”

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Paul-Tyson: Good Or Bad For Boxing?

For a significant portion of 2024, the Boxing world has been buzzing over the announced bout between social media influencer, turned professional boxer Jake Paul and International Boxing Hall of Famer and former two-time World Heavyweight champion Mike Tyson. An encounter that just mentions of it has stirred a range of opinions and criticism. The primary reason for the criticism is obvious.

Tyson, who has not fought professionally in over twenty years will be stepping back into the ring at age fifty-eight to face the twenty-seven year old Paul. While it needs to be pointed out for the purposes of factual accuracy that Tyson did participate in a charity exhibition in November 2020 at age fifty-four with fellow Hall of Famer Roy Jones, who was fifty-one during the global COVID-19 epidemic. While some may view an exhibition as something that might have helped Tyson work off theoretical “Ring Rust," there is a significant difference between an endeavor, which is designed to be an exhibition in a charitable effort between two participants of similar age and fight designed to be an official competition where the age difference will be thirty-one years, where one of the combatants has not officially competed in over twenty years. To add further context to the criticism, when Tyson retired in 2005 after retiring on his stool in his fight against Kevin McBride, there were many who felt Tyson was what is often referred to as a “Shot Fighter." Another and perhaps more polite way to put it, his best days were behind him. 

The encounter between Paul and Tyson, originally scheduled for July 20th at AT&T Stadium was postponed when Tyson became ill with what was said to be an inflamed ulcer on a flight from Miami, FL to Los Angeles, CA, which forced him to pull out of the bout and thus cast doubt as to whether it would happen. As most know, Paul, chose to keep the July 20th date, but found himself competing in Tampa, FL in scoring a dominant sixth round knockout of Mike Perry, a fighter known for his time competing in the sport of Mixed Martial Arts (MMA) and in Boxing matches fought under Bareknuckle rules and formats.

Paul, who has a professional record of 10-1, with 7 Knockouts, has faced his share of criticism as well for having fought against either fellow social media influencers, fighters who come from an MMA background with little or no Boxing experience, one former NBA player, and two traditional professional boxers, yet has said that he wants to be taken seriously as a boxer and stating his desire to be a world champion. Although the debate of whether someone can actually work themselves into position to fight for a world championship, fighting almost exclusively against non-boxers is still ongoing, what is not in dispute is Paul has dedicated himself to the sport and in the process has become a significant presence in Boxing as a promoter. If one factors the knockout of Mike Perry, who did compete in one traditional Boxing bout several years prior to facing Paul, into the equation, Paul does have a record of 2-1, with 2 Knockouts against opponents with Boxing backgrounds. Nevertheless, the question of whether one can work their way into world title contention with a limited resume such as Paul’s as well as now facing a long-retired legend of the sport is one that many are likely asking. 

Despite several voicing concerns for Tyson's health, the bout between Paul and Tyson will take place at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, TX. The event will also signal the entry into the sport of Netflix, long considered to be the pioneer of digital subscription-based streaming networks. It is also something that will be available as part of a Netflix subscription.

Frankly, this observer is hesitant to use the term “Fight" when discussing this encounter. Not out of any hostility towards either Paul or Tyson, but because not only do I not know what we will see, but I share some of the same concerns many have expressed for Tyson's health. It may be tempting for some to say such concern is a way to hype and be negative, but my concern comes from a place as someone who has covered many older fighters who probably should not have been allowed to get in a ring at advanced ages between their forties and fifties. In this case, I am one who grew up watching Mike Tyson compete and who covered him from 1995 until his last fight in 2005. I also took the time to cover the exhibition between Tyson and Jones in 2020 as I supported the effort to support the first responders of the horrible epidemic we all lived through. An effort that Tyson himself described as a humanitarian effort.

This is also a similar scenario to another fight I covered, which unfortunately turned into a black eye for Boxing, which I will be honest with the reader has stirred similar feelings for yours truly. I am referring to the September 2021 debacle that saw Hall of Famer and former Tyson opponent Evander Holyfield at fifty-eight years old, return to the ring to face former MMA world champion Vitor Belfort in Hollywood, FL. A situation where the event was moved from its original location in California to Florida due to the California State Athletic Commission (CSAC) refusing to license Holyfield citing not only his age, but also the punishment he had sustained throughout his career as contributing reasons.

Despite still looking to be in immaculate shape at fifty-eight years old, it was clear that Holyfield was compromised as he couldn't not keep his balance and was unable to effectively defend himself, being knocked down by Belfort and rescued by Referee Sam Burgos who quickly stopped the sad scene in the first round. The encounter, which was pushed as an official professional fight, was changed to an exhibition by the Florida State Athletic Commission (FSAC) in response to the backlash that followed, which was justified, as was the CSAC’s refusal to license Holyfield. The similarities between that debacle and potentially this event may not end there. 

Much like Holyfield, Tyson looks to be in great shape for a retired fighter at an advanced age, but photographs and videos shared across social media often do not tell the full story. Tyson is now the same age as Holyfield was in 2021, but a difference that may not be in Tyson’s favor is twenty years between official fights compared to ten years for Holyfield, who last competed in 2011. Furthermore, Vitor Belfort was forty-four years old when he got in the ring with the then fifty-eight year old Holyfield. A fourteen year age difference and not the thirty-one year difference between Tyson and Paul.

Although it is important to keep in mind that one aging fighter's condition may not exactly be the same as another from the same era, these facts do not necessarily paint a good picture. What could work in Tyson’s favor, however, is Paul though a good athlete is limited in overall Boxing experience and has fought all his fights as a Cruiserweight and not a Heavyweight where this encounter will take place. 

There are two things that could come with that. One, Paul has never fought as a Heavyweight and if Tyson can land a punch solidly on the much younger man, it will be interesting to see how Paul takes a punch from a natural Heavyweight. Two, while it is unrealistic to expect anything resembling Tyson in his prime in the 1980’s and 1990’s, a fighter who often won fights before they even began through intimidating his opponents as one of Boxing’s feared “Knockout Artists," who also had significant hand speed to go with it, the last attribute a fighter has is punching power and if it turns out that Tyson neurologically has his reflexes and is not in a similar circumstance as Holyfield was, if he still has some of that punching power, it could be interesting. On the other hand, Paul's primary weapon throughout his career to this point has been a right hand that has proven to have knockout power in it, Tyson's punch resistance at this age will be a focal point to focus on here if Paul can land his right hand.

Regardless of whether or not this event turns out to be a start of a long-term investment in Boxing for Netflix, this observer still has the concerns he had in 2021 and the nerves probably won't subside until I see that everyone comes out of this with their health intact. As someone who over the last three decades has covered his share of fights that should not have been allowed to take place and unfortunately more deaths related to fights inside the ring, as someone who is a Boxing lifer and truly cares about the sport and wants to see it succeed in all areas, I hope the Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation, who will be overseeing this bout are paying attention and it won't be up to the referee in the ring to do the right thing because the commission overseeing things would not and Boxing will not be forced to suffer another black eye and debacle. Will Paul-Tyson be good or bad for Boxing? I wish I could give the reader an answer.

“And That's The Boxing Truth." 

Paul vs. Tyson takes place on Friday, November 15th at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, TX. The fight as well as it's main undercard can be seen worldwide on digital subscription entertainment network Netflix beginning at 8PM ET/5PM PT (*U.S. Times Only*) a portion of undercard bouts will be streamed for free on the Most Valuable Promotions YouTube channel beginning at 5:30PM ET/2:30PM PT before the main card begins. For more information about Netflix including local start times where you are in the world please visit: www.Netflix.com. 

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DAZN & MISFITS BOXING ANNOUNCE MF & DAZN: X SERIES 002 For October 15TH In Sheffield, England

 

Press Release: August 30, 2022 By DAZN – Following a series premiere this past weekend that saw tremendous viewership around the globe, DAZN Group, the global sports entertainment company, today unveils the second installment of its groundbreaking crossover MF & DAZN: X SERIES in partnership with social media megastar KSI and his promotional company Misfits Boxing, and in association with the Sauerland brothers, Wasserman Boxing and Proper Loud.

Credit: DAZN

 

 

 

MF & DAZN: X SERIES 002, powered by Misfits Boxing, will take place on 15 October at Utilita Arena in Sheffield, England, and feature a thrilling main event between Hasim Rahman and Vitor Belfort with the co-main event freaturing British YouTuber Jamie Michael “Jay” Swingler and American actor and YouTuber Cherdleys. 

 

 

 

The 15 October fight night will be available both live and on demand to all subscribers around the world on DAZN. Tickets details will be released soon. Visit MisfitsBoxing.com for more info. 

 

 

 

Rahman Jr. started his professional debut in 2017. Hasim Rahman Jr has gone on to compete in over 100 amateur fights. After a blistering start to his professional career, producing TKO’s and not losing for four straight years, he set his eyes on Jake Paul. Now, he takes on a proven dangerman in combat sports and will look to produce a statement win. The son of the former two-time heavyweight champion, Hasim Rahman, who unified the IBF, IBO, WBC and lineal titles before reclaiming his WBC World Heavyweight title five years later. After the disappointment from not being able to compete on a previous card, there will be no doubt that “Gold Blooded” Rahman Jr will be coming to shock the world and show his worth in the fight game.

 

Belfort is the former Brazilian MMA star who held the UFC Light Heavyweight Championship whilst producing stunning highlight-reel finishes throughout 20 years in the organisation. Alongside his reputation as a finisher, that saw 18 out of 26 wins come via stoppage, he is also undefeated as a professional boxer. He returned to the ring in September 2021 when he stopped Evander Holyfield in the first round of their exhibition fight. Having fought at both Light Heavyweight and Heavyweight, Belfort has beaten some of MMA’s greatest athletes including Randy Couture, Michael Bisping, Wanderlei Silva, Dan Henderson and Luke Rockhold. He sits amongst some of the greatest finishers the UFC has seen with his 12 knockout wins. 

 

 

Swingler first made his boxing debut on the undercard of KSI vs. Logal Paul in 2018, where he battled against AnEsonGib inside a sold-out Manchester Arena. On 15 October, he is determined to walk away with his first pro win and proof that his future in boxing remains bright. Outside of the ring, Swingler is known for making challenge, comedy, and prank videos on the channel TGFbro with Uncle Romell, as well as his own eponymous channel, collectively reaching 8 million subscribers worldwide across the two. He began his YouTube career when he was just 12-years-old, and while he briefly attended Halesowen College to study photography and film, he ultimately quit to pursue his cretaor career full-time.

 

 

 

Cherdleys is a professional funny-man who has worked with the likes of Comedy Central, Funny Or Die, and Adult swim. In his own words, “His own mother might be ashamed of him, but Cherdleys doesn’t care” – no topic is off limits, and he’s had success bringing the comedy heat. Now, he’s ready to put it all on the line to stand up for two things: America and Mustaches. When he steps into the ring against Jay Swingler, he’s going to bring the heat in another way. He thinks Swingler doesn’t stand a chance against Cherdley’s A-game.  And even if he did, Cherdleys is going to bring his A, B, C and D …but mostly his C game…because he’s Cherdleys.

 

“We are thrilled to announce the second installment in the MF & DAZN: X Series; this series has spectacular growth potential in a thriving new category in the sport, and has already kicked off with a premiere event this past weekend featuring KSI in a doubleheader that well exceeded live worldwide viewership expectations on DAZN,” said Joseph Markowski, EVP at DAZN Group. “We are ready to further excite and entice a growing new generation of fight fans with the premium live sports action and best-in-class production synonymous with DAZN. This is a long-term and limitless endeavor with our partners that’s only just begun.”

 

 

 

Rahman said: “I’m really looking forward to fighting Mr.Belfort on Oct 15th. I’m extremely grateful to Misfits Boxing for giving me the opportunity and I look to make the most of it. I’m 100% focused on making a lasting impression on all the fans in England and those watching at home. Now the world gets to see why Fake Paul and his sister want absolutely nothing to do with getting in a ring with me!”

 

 

 

Belfort said: “I’m excited to showcase my skills on October 15 in Sheffield, live on DAZN! I have been waiting for a fight for a while, and now is my time. I’m always in the gym staying ready. Rahman is a perfect opponent for me, so expect fireworks in the return of the Phenom.”

 

 

 

President of Misfits Boxing and CEO of Proper Loud, Mams Taylor said: “We couldn’t have dreamed of a better start to proceedings than that huge event in the capital. It sets us up for another massive night, where the world will be watching Vitor Belfort and Hasim Rahman go at it. Misfits Boxing has landed, and we’re here to keep giving the fans what they deserve.”

 

 

 

“I’ve had the pleasure of promoting some huge fight nights, but our premiere event at the for Misfits Boxing was absolutely mind-blowing at the sold out O2,” said Kalle Sauerland, Head of Global Boxing at Wasserman Boxing. “We’re not standing still, we’re not stopping, we go again. We have a former UFC champion going up against a man who has boxing running through his veins. Belfort vs. Rahman Jr, plus another unbelievably stacked card heading your way; expect fireworks in Sheffield people!” 

 

 

Material and Photo Courtesy of DAZN Used with permission.

 

For more information about DAZN including schedules, list of compatible streaming devices, platforms, Smart TVs, availability around the world, local start times in your area, and to subscribe please visit: www.DAZN.com.

 

The Boxing Truth® is a registered trademark of Beau Denison All Rights Reserved.

 

 

 

 

Holyfield-Belfort: What's Wrong With Boxing?

It would not be appropriate for this observer not to begin this column without being honest with the reader when I say that I took several days to write this column. Not in the sense that I have been grinding away in the writing process, a process that all writers regardless of genre truly appreciate whether all of us will admit it or not, but in the sense that I needed time to compose myself mentally due to feeling something I have not felt in the two and a half decades that I have been writing about and covering Boxing in addition to other combat sports. The feeling of absolute utter disgust and embarrassment for the sport that I have loved since I was a little kid. A feeling that hit me when I watched the recent pay-per-view event promoted by Triller headlined by an eight round Heavyweight bout between two-division world champion and Boxing Hall of Famer Evander Holyfield and former UFC world champion Vitor Belfort. An event and bout that left not only the feelings I have described, but also made me sick to my stomach.

Why is that? Out of respect for the reader, I won’t rehash the circumstances that led to the Holyfield-Belfort bout as I already covered that in a preview that was released here on The Boxing Truth® leading up to the September 11^th event. In short, the event consisted of Holyfield, a man whose health and well-being have been of significant concern for yours truly over the years that had been cited frequently in my various writings through the years, now a month away from his fifty-ninth birthday, stepping into a fight on a little more than one week’s notice and having not competed professionally in well over a decade to face Belfort. A fight that was rejected by the California State Athletic Commission (CSAC) both due to Holyfield’s age as well as the physical punishment that he had sustained over a long career.  This resulted in Triller moving the event headlined by this bout from Los Angeles, which was to be the original location to Hollywood, FL. While I will not do a full rehash, readers who read the preview for this bout saw me speculate in reference that the move to Florida was licensing motivated.

Although at the time I was merely making a suggestion, it turns out I was very close to being spot on. In the days leading up to the event, I deliberately made the decision to stay away from aspects of a promotion that is normally a fixture for any significant Boxing event during what is often referred to as “Fight Week.” While such things as fighter workouts, press conferences, and weigh-ins are aspects that have frankly become easier to observe for those of us who cover the sport, but cannot travel to events to cover Boxing cards in person, I really had no interest in observing much of this particular card’s “Fight Week” events. Perhaps it was a premonition, but I knew it would likely be better for me as someone who truly cares for the sport and the fighters that risk their lives every single time they get in the ring, to provide the coverage that I did as well as the normal weigh-in report that came the day before the event and to stay away from the aspects that I just did not have a good feeling about. I will not go into the various aspects of the event that surrounded politics as I avoided that as well, but the primary reason I avoided watching things like fighter workouts and press conferences was being I felt if I had watched them, it would have prevented me from doing my duty in covering the bout because those concerns for Holyfield’s well-being that I had written extensively on during the latter stages of his career would surface and I probably would not have been able to cover the bout with a clear mind.

Of course, I would be lying if I said that even with my decision to avoid “Fight Week” events that it removed all concern. Obviously, it was still in the back of my mind, but at least by making that decision, I was able to keep a somewhat “Wait and See” approach as I have made reference to in regard to other fights, I have covered that were subject to criticism and ridicule.  It was not surprising to me however, to see and hear the day before the fight as well as prior to the event on the day of, increased concern for Holyfield. While my concern never ceased, I did feel encouraged that at least I was not the only one who felt this way in hearing various people throughout the sport echo the same sentiment that I had. Perhaps the most telling among them came from various reports from various media outlets including noted Boxing journalist Dan Rafael that Jim Lampley, longtime former lead announcer for HBO’s Boxing broadcasts for decades prior to the network’s decision in 2018 to exit Boxing after forty-five years, who had recently signed with Triller to return to broadcasting Boxing, reportedly opted out of calling this event after seeing Holyfield participate in a workout. While only Lampley himself can say why he chose to opt out of what had been an anticipated debut for him on Triller’s platform, much like myself, I feel he likely did not want to see Holyfield get hurt and did not want to be a party to what might have been a tragedy.

Further adding to my concern prior to the event was learning that the Florida State Athletic Commission (FSAC) did not require a CT scan or any other neurological screening for fighters prior to granting licensing. Something that is normally standard in most states that regularly stage and regulate Boxing and other combat sports events. As much as I wanted to give this the benefit of doubt and have that “Wait and See” mentality, as the event neared, I became increasingly angry. More so, because of the appearance that this gave that this was something that was financially driven as opposed to ensuring the safety of not just Holyfield, but all fighters that compete. Despite the anger and uneasy feelings I had, I did what I normally do and prepared to cover the bout.

When the time finally came for Holyfield and Belfort to get in the ring at the Seminole Hard Rock Hotel and Casino, I will be honest in saying that at least visually before the fight started Holyfield appeared to be in great condition especially given his age and the toll a long career in the sport of Boxing takes on one’s body. Obviously, I know that the way a fighter’s body might appear rarely if ever means anything once punches are being thrown, but giving credit where it is due, Holyfield did look like he had been in training. As the bell rang to begin the fight however, my concerns quickly proved to be valid as Holyfield immediately showed an inability to maintain his balance and after being dropped with the first punch he was struck with in the first round, I immediately wanted to see the fight stopped. Evander Holyfield will always be remembered for being a true warrior in the sport. Someone who no matter what always gave it everything he had and never quit. Unfortunately, that mentality that boxers and other combat athletes have can lead to dangerous situations. I was not surprised to see Holyfield get up from the knockdown, but my concern was that I was about to see something tragic. Referee Sam Burgos allowed Holyfield to continue, but as Belfort unleashed a barrage of unanswered punches as Holyfield tried desperately to cover up and block the punches with no balance, Burgos stepped in and stopped the fight.

In the interest of honesty with the reader, I was relieved when the fight was stopped. What had all the appearance of an event that was strictly financially driven and subsequently greenlit by what by all accounts seems to be an inept state athletic commission that appeared to turn a blind eye to not only the preventive actions of the CSAC in refusing to sanction Holyfield, but also a deaf ear to those voicing their concerns throughout the sport, at least Referee Sam Burgos did what the Florida State Athletic Commission wouldn’t. Protect Holyfield against himself and make sure that at least Holyfield could leave the ring under his own power from a fight that should not have been allowed to begin with.

If this point of view appears harsh, I sincerely apologize to anyone who may feel that way including, but not limited to those who work for the Florida State Athletic Commission who may be reading this column. As I have said before, this observer has no agenda beyond giving the reader an honest and objective point of view. As much as Holyfield has meant to the sport, as much as I enjoyed covering his fights from the mid-1990’s through till his retirement in 2011, as much as I was a fan of his prior to my covering Boxing, the man had no business getting in a ring to compete at fifty-nine years of age and there is no bigger picture that one whether they be fans, Triller, or even the state athletic commission could use as a viable argument as justification for what happened here.

Some will make the argument that “Well, it was Holyfield’s choice and he knows the risks.” This may be true however, state regulation of combat sports exists for a reason and it is a state’s athletic commission’s responsibility to ensure not only that rules and regulations are followed, but also that the safety of those who compete is always the first priority even if staging an event might have some economic incentives for a given state. In this case, the state of Florida failed and if it were not for Sam Burgos, this event may have had a more tragic outcome.

As often happens when things like this are allowed to occur, there is always repercussions that occur either through the public, within the sport, or with state athletic commissions that do not want the bad publicity that comes with bad decisions that are made. While as of this writing the FSAC has not issued any statements regarding what frankly is an embarrassment both for the state and the sport of Boxing, I knew despite sharing my own thoughts in the immediate aftermath through my social media platforms that this was the first time in my career covering the sport that I felt utterly embarrassed for the sport I have loved my whole life, I also knew that there would be more that would come out of this in terms of fallout, which was one reason in addition to wanting to give myself time to digest things, I knew in the back of my mind that there would be some fallout from the event.

Earlier this week, an email was sent to yours truly from Denise White who is the CEO of EAG Sports Management, who during the week prior to the event had sent out promotional material on behalf of Triller related to the Holyfield-Belfort event. The subject of this email read simply “ EAG Sports Management is NO LONGER Working with Triller Fight Club or Triller EFFECTIVE IMMEDIATELY!” Upon seeing this in my inbox, I opened the email to read a one sentence statement Quote “ Feel free to print that!” After reading this email I reached out and asked for a statement further clarifying why EAG Sports Management was no longer involved with Triller. In response, Mrs. White responded to this observer’s request for a statement by answering simply Quote “We had a difference of professional opinion.”

Although this could be wider in scope as simply the fallout of an event that got people talking for all the wrong reasons, the timing of such communication does give the appearance that it does have something to do with the Holyfield-Belfort fallout. This was followed by news earlier this week that Peter Khan, a longtime Boxing manager and advisor among other roles he has had through the years, who was Triller’s Chief Boxing Officer was stepping down from his role. While this was reported by several Boxing media outlets outside of this one including Boxing Scene and NY Fights as citing the reason for Khan’s departure from Triller as wanting to focus on non-Boxing related projects, the timing of it does seem at minimum to be curious if not outright coincidence.

Perhaps not surprisingly, news has also circulated through various outlets including Fight Sports that the Holyfield-Belfort pay-per-view attraction did not perform well in terms of pay-per-view buys. While this observer does not have a solid figure to share with the reader, the reported figure could be anywhere from 100,000 to 150,000 total buys. It should be noted that this event like all Boxing events that are staged on the pay-per-view medium in the year 2021 comes at a time where the sport is in a period of transition from the pay-per-view/ pay-per-event model to the digital subscription based model where events are offered as part of a full slate of content through networks like ESPN+ and DAZN, this in addition to price points that unfortunately have become a standard of between $70-$80 in the United States for most pay-per-view Boxing cards has resulted in a consistent decline in overall buys for those events that are not offered as part of a subscription model.

Although Triller offers it’s pay-per-view Boxing cards at a $50 price point, the price is likely too much for some Boxing fans in addition to what has thus far been a general lack of competitive bouts offered by the promotional banner. In fairness, Triller’s involvement in the sport has only been under one year in existence and it does take time to build the type of quality Boxing cards that will draw eyes to your events. This is perhaps one reason why the promoter has relied on a mix of former fighters competing in either exhibitions or bouts that could be deemed semi-professional, celebrity bouts, and mixing musical performances into each card it has offered since it’s inception. The package however, does not appear to be resonating with Boxing fans who frankly may expect more competitive Boxing for the price they are asked to pay than what has been offered by Triller thus far.

It is also worth noting that Triller does offer subscription-based options for those that do not want to pay on a per-event basis TrillerPass, which is offered either as a $29.99 monthly subscription or $299 yearly subscription and Trillerverz, which is the recently launched monthly Boxing series from the promoter for $2.99 monthly or $29.99 per year. Both subscription options are offered through Triller’s website as well as their recently acquired FITE TV digital combat sports network and pay-per-view platform.  While this is solely the view of yours truly, I believe that if Triller wants to get more traction they should first focus on putting on competitive bouts, but also to focus on one subscription option that is for lack of a better term an all-in-one offering, but it needs to be reasonably priced in order to succeed and they need to be able to stage cards regularly.  Of course, the latter is easier said than done in present day due to the ongoing global COVID-19 epidemic, which has caused problems for many promoters through the entire sport and some of the struggles Triller has faced should not be viewed as exclusive to them under the circumstances of the ongoing crisis.

The truth unfortunately for Triller and other promoters that continue to insist on the overpriced and outdated pay-per-view model is that consumers will tend to want more for what they are paying and unfortunately for Triller, staging cards such as Holyfield-Belfort with the hope that it will attract curiosity is not a successful strategy, especially when it is painfully obvious to all that one fighter should have never been allowed to compete. Even though being a promoter in the sport of Boxing is far from an easy task, sometimes common sense is a better approach instead of staging an event that shows everything that is wrong with the sport from inept state athletic commission regulation, to what frankly is an unprofessional presentation in terms of commentary including the use of explicit language from those on the broadcast team, to non-competitive almost novelty bouts to finally the harsh reality that fighters sometimes are forced back into the ring long after their competitive primes if for nothing else, financial reasons, despite the serious risk to their health.

In the days following this event, and quite frankly since the Holyfield-Belfort fight was stopped. I began thinking of one fight in Boxing’s past that could describe what I was feeling in terms of the embarrassment for the sport I love and disgust over what I saw. I thought of the November 1982 WBC World Heavyweight championship bout between Larry Holmes and Randall “Tex” Cobb. Holmes, who was in the midst of a dominant reign as Heavyweight world champion was simply too skilled and overmatched the always “Game” brawler Cobb over fifteen one-sided rounds to retain his crown via unanimous decision. Although this fight was slightly before my time, as a Boxing historian, I have seen the fight more than once via tape and the technology that is available to all of us today. One thing about the utter mismatch that stood out to me was the legendary Howard Cosell, who broadcast this fight as well as many others for many years for ABC Sports here in the United States. Cosell at times rubbed some the wrong way due to his frankness, perceived arrogance, and among other things his vocabulary.

Cosell was however, a man of principle and if one takes the time to go back and listen to his broadcast of that fight, as it went on and as Cobb continued to take an increasingly horrible beating, Cosell became increasingly disgusted so much to the point that when the fight was over, he announced quote “There will be no interviews, not for this fight.” Cosell would never broadcast a professional bout again for the remainder of his career, despite still broadcasting the amateur side of Boxing from time to time.

 

Quite frankly, I felt and still feel as disgusted as Cosell was that night in 1982 after watching the Holyfield-Belfort bout. My disgust, however, will not result in me stepping away from covering Boxing because in one sense where I disagree with Cosell, who I am proud to cite as one of my many influences is you cannot really effect change in a sport if you step away. While I will always have the utmost respect for Cosell, his integrity, his willingness to stand up for what he believed in regardless of whether it was popular or not, including, but not limited to his frequent calls for Boxing reform in the remaining years of his life before he passed away in 1995, I will continue to bang the drum as loud as I can and much like Cosell, bring to public attention that of which I feel does not benefit the sport of Boxing, the fans that support it, and most importantly, the fighters that risk their lives every time they enter the ring to compete. While it remains to be seen what the future will hold for Triller as a promotional entity in the sport, I hope they are able to adapt and use this experience as a learning one that will help them in the long-term.

 

For The Good of Boxing, Something Needs To Change.

 

“And That’s The Boxing Truth.”

 

UPDATE: As this column was being prepared for release, it was reported that the Florida State Athletic Commission ruled on Thursday, September 16, 2021, that it has medically suspended Evander Holyfield for a period of 30-days. If further action from the commission surrounding this fight is taken, we will keep readers updated on any developments as they become available.

 

 

The Boxing Truth® is a registered trademark of Beau Denison All Rights Reserved.

 

Follow Beau Denison on Twitter: www.twitter.com/Beau_Denison

 

Update

 We would like to let our readers know that we will be resuming the normal schedule on Friday, September 17^th with a column discussing the recent controversial event that took place in Hollywood, FL, which was headlined by a Heavyweight bout between Evander Holyfield and Vitor Belfort. Stay tuned.

 

“And That’s The Boxing Truth.”

 

The Boxing Truth® is a registered trademark of  Beau Denison All Rights Reserved.

 

Follow Beau Denison on Twitter: www.twitter.com/Beau_Denison

Holyfield-Belfort Weights From Hollywood, FL

 The official weigh-in for Saturday’s pay-per-view card featuring an eight round Heavyweight bout between Hall of Famer/former five-time two-division world champion Evander Holyfield and former UFC champion and MMA legend Vitor Belfort took place earlier today in Hollywood, FL. Below are the official weights for the entire card, which will be streamed worldwide via FITE TV and also available in the United States through cable/satellite providers are as follows.

 

 

Main Event: Heavyweight – 8Rds (Two Minute Rounds) *Result will count on each fighter’s record.*

 

Evander Holyfield 225 1/2lbs. vs. Vitor Belfort 206 1/2lbs.

 

Jr. Lightweight – 10Rds.  

 

Jono Carrol 130lbs. vs. Andy Vences 129 1/4lbs.

 

Cruiserweight – 8Rds.

 

Anderson Silva 192 1/4lbs. vs. Tito Ortiz 200lbs.

 

Heavyweight – 8Rds.

 

David Haye 211 1/2lbs. vs. Joe Fournier 195 1/2lbs.

 

Jr. Lightweight – 6Rds.

 

Anthony Chavez 129 1/2lbs. vs. Diuhl Olguin 128lbs.

 

Holyfield vs. Belfort takes place on Saturday, September 11^th at the Seminole Hard Rock Hotel and Casino in Hollywood, FL. The bout as well as it’s undercard can be seen worldwide on digital combat sports streaming network and pay-per-view platform FITE beginning at 7PM ET/4PM PT for $49.99. There will also be a free portion of preliminary bouts that will be streamed on FITE beginning at 6PM ET/3PM PT (U.S. Times). The pay-per-view card will also be available throughout the United States through cable/satellite providers. Contact your cable/satellite provider for ordering information.

 

To order Holyfield vs. Belfort on FITE click the following link: ▷ Triller Fight Club: Evander Holyfield vs Vitor Belfort - Official PPV Live Stream - FITE.  For more information about FITE including schedules, local start times in your area, list of compatible streaming devices/platforms/Smart TVs, and for instructions on how to download the FITE app please visit: www.FITE.TV.

 

The Boxing Truth® is a registered trademark of Beau Denison All Rights Reserved.

 

Follow Beau Denison on Twitter: www.twitter.com/Beau_Denison

 

 

 

Holyfield-Belfort Preview

One might argue that recent times in the sport of Boxing have evolved into one of the oddest eras in the history of the sport. From YouTube stars/social media influencers embarking on forays in the sport whether serious or not, to retired fighters venturing on an exhibition circuit of sorts, to bouts featuring stars from differing combat sports disciplines, it has certainly not been the norm.  The latest on this odyssey will be the September 11^th bout. Originally, this bout was to feature the return of former six-division world champion Oscar De La Hoya, who last competed in 2008, to the Boxing ring to face former UFC champion and MMA legend Vitor Belfort in an eight round Boxing match that unlike some recent events in recent times would be an official fight on both fighter’s Boxing records.  As some know however, De La Hoya was forced to withdraw from the bout, which was to headline a pay-per-view card promoted by Triller and streamed worldwide on FITE as well as carried on traditional cable/satellite providers in the United States, due to contracting the COVID-19 virus.

While Triller’s brief time as a promoter in the sport of Boxing has been marked with several bumps in the road due largely to the ongoing global COVID-19 epidemic, they have carried on and will move forward with the event with former five-time world champion in two divisions and Hall of Famer Evander Holyfield stepping in to replace De La Hoya. Holyfield, who will turn fifty-nine years old on October 19^th, has not fought since a 2011 stoppage of Brian Nielsen in Copenhagen, Denmark will be stepping in on a little more than a week’s notice. Although Holyfield was at one point penciled in to fight an exhibition with Kevin McBride, best known as the man who stopped former Heavyweight world champion Mike Tyson in Tyson’s last official fight in 2005 earlier this year, which was to take place on the undercard of the often postponed Lightweight world championship clash between undefeated champion Teofimo Lopez and undefeated mandatory challenger George Kambosos, which was to take place also under the Triller promotional banner, the fact that Holyfield has been inactive for a lengthy period in addition to his age was likely the reason why the California State Athletic Commission (CSAC) declined to license him for the scheduled bout against Belfort.

This resulted in Triller moving the event, which was originally slated to take place at the Staples Center in Los Angeles, CA when De La Hoya was still on the card facing Belfort, to the Seminole Hard Rock Hotel and Casino in Hollywood, FL. While the decision to move the card and not postpone the event was likely due to wanting to get a promoted card actually staged after the plethora of problems Triller has had in recent months due largely to the Lopez-Kambosos postponements as well as the ongoing COVID-19 crisis, the Seminole Hard Rock in Hollywood, FL has been a hotspot for Boxing events staged in the state of Florida for many years and with the issue of licensing Holyfield likely resolved with the move to Florida, the task of staging an event that is mostly free of complications outside of the circumstances of De La Hoya’s withdrawing also seems likely.

As for what we are likely to see in the fight between Holyfield and Belfort, no one can really say with certainty. This is both due to the age of the respective combatants as well as the limited time both men will have had to prepare. The bout will be scheduled for eight two minute rounds, but will be an officially sanctioned bout, which means the result will go on each fighter’s record. Although Belfort is primarily known as a mixed martial artist (MMA) fighter with a record of 26-14, with 18 Knockouts (Excluding bouts that ended via submission), the forty-four year old Brazilian native has had one official professional Boxing bout and that bout came in 2006, which he won by first round knockout over a fighter named Josemario Neves, which took place in Brazil.

Belfort however, is a fighter who in his prime was known for having extremely quick hands for an MMA fighter and scored knockouts of 69% of his opponents. While not all of those knockouts came as a result of hand strikes (Punches), Belfort was one of the quickest-handed fighters in the sport of MMA and was an excellent counter puncher when given the opportunity.

Even though some may look at this fight as something that is not serious and may have also viewed it with that opinion when it was Oscar De La Hoya competing against Belfort, it is always interesting to see MMA fighters who are or have been known as great strikers with their hands attempt to step into the Boxing ring. Despite Belfort’s lack of overall Boxing experience compared to Holyfield, it will be interesting to see if Belfort is able to land more than occasionally on a fighter of Holyfield’s caliber.

As for what Holyfield will bring into this fight, everyone who has ever seen Evander Holyfield compete knows his reputation for being willing to mix it up and go to war with whomever his opposition was regardless of size or whether or not he may have been outmatched in the opinion of fans and experts alike. Those who have followed the work of this observer over the two decades and a half that I have covered Boxing and other combat sports know that towards the latter stages of Holyfield’s career I was very vocal both in my work both through various online outlets, in print,  as well as in various radio interviews about my concerns for Holyfield’s health because as is the case with many fighters, as he got older, he began to show the signs of a fighter who had been in one too many fights including, but not limited to slowed reflexes and eroding skills. This resulted in Holyfield taking significant punishment and appearing to be too brave for his own good at times.

Some may recall the decision of the former New York State Athletic Commission chairman Ron Scott Stevens, who after Holyfield lost a badly one-sided twelve round unanimous decision to Larry Donald in Madison Square Garden in November 2004, took a bold step in medically suspending Holyfield out of concern for the legend’s well-being. Although seen as overstepping by some especially given that in the United States rules and regulations, including, but not limited to the licensing of fighters vary by state, as someone who covered that fight and had already been expressing concern for Holyfield long before that fight against Donald, I applauded Stevens for at least trying to prevent what may have been a tragedy if it wasn’t addressed by those who regulate the sport, in this case the athletic commissions.

As most know due to the fact that there is no national regulatory board in the United States to oversee and regulate Boxing when it comes to licensing and regulation, the move by Stevens out of concern for Holyfield, did not last long and by 2006, Holyfield was given the green light medically to return to competition only with the provision that the initial medical suspension stand in the state of New York. While Holyfield went on to incredibly challenge for a World Heavyweight championship twice more in unsuccessful fights against former WBO world champion Sultan Ibragimov in 2007 and a highly controversial fight against former WBA world champion Nickoli Valuev in 2008, a fight that many, including yours truly felt Holyfield had won, he was not able to regain a Heavyweight world championship for what would have been a record setting fifth time in breaking his own record as the only man in Boxing history to win a World Heavyweight championship on four separate occasions before retiring.

Holyfield’s legacy has long been cemented as a former Undisputed Cruiserweight world champion, and his vast achievements that followed as a Heavyweight. Although Holyfield has always looked in great condition visually, the obvious question here is what could he possibly have left in terms of Boxing skill. Will the lengthy period he has been inactive help rejuvenate what were seen as eroding reflexes and diminishing skills in his latter career, despite still being able to perform well from time to time?  Obviously, I cannot answer that question, but if Vitor Belfort is able to land offense on Holyfield, the answer will likely come quickly.

As for what this might lead to long-term for both fighters, I cannot say either. My guess however, would be since this influx of exhibitions, and others coming from the outside of the sport appears to be something that will be continuing for the foreseeable future that if neither man here is seriously hurt, other opportunities will likely be available to both men.  We will have to wait and see what is in store when Holyfield and Belfort meet on Saturday night.

 

“And That’s The Boxing Truth.”

Holyfield vs. Belfort takes place on Saturday, September 11^th at the Seminole Hard Rock Hotel and Casino in Hollywood, FL. The bout as well as it’s undercard can be seen worldwide on digital combat sports streaming network and pay-per-view platform FITE beginning at 7PM ET/4PM PT for $49.99. There will also be a free portion of preliminary bouts that will be streamed on FITE beginning at 6PM ET/3PM PT (U.S. Times). The pay-per-view card will also be available throughout the United States through cable/satellite providers. Contact your cable/satellite provider for ordering information.

To order Holyfield vs. Belfort on FITE click the following link: ▷ Triller Fight Club: Evander Holyfield vs Vitor Belfort - Official PPV Live Stream - FITE.  For more information about FITE including schedules, local start times in your area, list of compatible streaming devices/platforms/Smart TVs, and for instructions on how to download the FITE app please visit: www.FITE.TV.

 

The Boxing Truth® is a registered trademark of Beau Denison All Rights Reserved.

Follow Beau Denison on Twitter: www.twitter.com/Beau_Denison

EVANDER HOLYFIELD TO FIGHT ‘THE PHENOM’, UFC LEGEND VITOR BELFORT ON TRILLER FIGHT CLUB ON FITE PAY-PER-VIEW

 

CREDIT: FITE 

THE MOST ANTICIPATED COMEBACK FIGHT CONFIRMED

EVANDER HOLYFIELD RETURNS TO THE RING ON SEPT. 11, LIVE FROM HARD ROCK LIVE AT SEMINOLE HARD ROCK HOTEL & CASINO HOLLYWOOD

 

EVANDER HOLYFIELD TO FIGHT ‘THE PHENOM’, UFC LEGEND VITOR BELFORT

 

PLUS, POST-FIGHT FULL LIVE CONCERT FEATURING 6IX9INE

 

Press Release: By FITE - Hollywood, FL (September 5, 2021) - TRILLER FIGHT CLUB has announced the LEGENDS II EVANDER HOLYFIELD COMEBACK FIGHT set for SATURDAY, SEPT. 11, at 6 p.m. from Hard Rock Live at Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Hollywood and on Pay-Per-View. 

 

Tickets cost $506, $256, $156, $106, $81 and $66. Tickets are on sale now. Tickets are available at www.ticketmaster.com. Doors open one hour prior to show time. Additional fees may apply.

 

Former Cruiserweight and Heavyweight Undisputed World Champion, EVANDER ‘THE REAL DEAL’ HOLYFIELD will battle Former UFC Heavyweight World Champion VITOR ‘THE PHENOM’ BELFORT in an eight-round clash. Holyfield considered to be the best Pound-for-Pound Heavyweight Champion alive today, squares off against Former Heavyweight UFC Champion Belfort who still holds the record for most knockouts in UFC history.

 

After record breaking events with the return of MIKE TYSON last year, which shattered PPV records and set the platform for JAKE PAUL, who knocked out NATE ROBINSON; TRILLER FIGHT CLUB followed up with another record breaking PPV which ended with JAKE PAUL knocking out BEN ASKREN in the first round.

 

With one of the most exciting cards in the history of Combat Sports, also featured is ANDERSON ‘SPIDER’ SILVA fighting ‘THE HUNTINGTON BEACH BAD BOY TITO ORTIZ in a professional boxing bout, DAVID ‘THE HAYMAKER’ HAYE also making a pro comeback versus JOE ‘THE BILLIONAIRE’ FOURNIER followed by ANDY VENCES vs. JONO CARROLL.

 

“TRILLER breaks the mold plain and simple. This event brings together the worlds of boxing, MMA, music, hip hop and four quadrants. Boys, girls, ladies and gentlemen; this is not your father’s Oldsmobile,” said Triller’s RYAN KAVANAUGH.

 

“Evander Holyfield is in better shape today than when he last fought and this heavyweight bout is sure to be something for the history books,” continued Kavanaugh.

 

“To make sure the whole world has a chance to watch we’ve implemented a program where viewers can also get the PPV for free. Text “Fight” to 75303 for info on how to get the fight for free,” said MAHI DE SILVA, CEO of TRILLER.

 

The FREEVIEW window starts on Saturday, Sept. 11 at 6:00 p.m. ET / 3:00 p.m. PT with the Triller Fight Club Pay-Per-View commencing at 7:00 p.m. ET / 4:00 p.m. PT. The Pay-Per-View is priced at $49.99 in North America and £9.99 ($13.99) in the UK. Purchasers can use this Direct Link  through FITE.TV.

 

Additionally, performing LIVE between fights will be Brazilian Pop-Superstar ANITTA, Cuban super-group GENTE DE ZONA and Latino superstar LUNAY along with a fantastic post-fight event featuring an amazing VERZUZ BATTLE to be announced this weekend.

 

“Sept. 11 will be an extraordinary, once-in-a-lifetime event of world class professional boxing and outstanding music,” said NIGEL LYTHGOE the visionary and producer of LEGENDS II.

 

One of the most successful boxers in history, Holyfield is the only fighter to reign as the Undisputed Cruiserweight World Champion and Undisputed Heavyweight World Champion in the three-belt era and was the first boxer to hold world titles in three different decades.

 

The Three-Time Heavyweight World Champion who was inducted into the International Boxing Hall of Fame in 2015 was victorious over numerous other champions in his career including Mike Tyson (twice), Riddick Bowe, George Foreman, Larry Holmes, Buster Douglas, Hasim Rahman, Michael Moorer, John Ruiz, Francois Botha and Dwight Muhammad Qawi (twice).

 

​​​​------------------------------------------

 

Co-featured at LEGENDS II, UFC Legends, ANDERSON ‘THE SPIDER’ SILVA from Sao Paolo, Brazil and ‘THE HUNTINGTON BEACH BAD BOY’ TITO ORTIZ will clash in an eight-round cruiserweight boxing match for combat sports supremacy.

 

Also, at LEGENDS II, Former Heavyweight and Cruiserweight World Champion DAVID ‘THE HAYEMAKER’ HAYE will face off against JOE FOURNIER in a scheduled eight-round heavyweight battle.

 

Additionally, in a highly anticipated super featherweight 10-rounder, ANDY ‘El TIBURON’ VENCES, (23-2-1, 12 KOs), of San Jose, CA will challenge Ireland’s JONO ‘KING KONG’ CARROLL, (19-2-1, 5 KOs).

 

How to Order: For worldwide live PPV streaming, go to TRILLERFIGHTCLUB.com or FITE or any FITE OTT/Smart TV/mobile apps, or order the event from your local cable/satellite and iNDEMAND partner throughout the USA and Canada.

 

                                                ------------------------------------------------

 

iNDemand, the leading transactional video-on-demand and PPV programming provider in North America, will serve as the exclusive U.S. and Canadian cable, satellite, and telco PPV provider for the De La Hoya vs. Belfort fight. Fans will be able to order the event on PPV through their existing cable, satellite, and telco PPV providers across the U.S., including Xfinity, Spectrum, Contour, Fios, and Optimum, among others and from leading operators in Canada.

 

LEGENDS II will be broadcast globally on FITE, iNDemand and through all leading Cable, Satellite and Telco Providers in the U.S. and Canada. The suggested PPV retail price is $49.99.

 

**HOW TO WATCH THE SEPT. 11, 2021, TRILLER PPV EVENT**

TV: Cable, satellite & telco PPV providers, including Xfinity, Spectrum, Contour, Fios, and Optimum (U.S.), among others, as well as leading operators in Canada.

Worldwide Streaming: FITE.TV and all FITE mobile, Smart TV, IPTV, game controller and OTT apps as well as the event microsite hub: TrillerFightClub

 

 

FITE, the world’s premier streaming PPV platform for sports and entertainment recently acquired by TrillerNet, will handle worldwide live pay-per-view streaming distribution online for the September 11 event, and via FITE mobile and Smart TV apps, game controllers and all major OTT devices as well as power TrillerFightClub.com.

 

About TrillerNet:

FITE and Triller Fight Club are owned by TrillerNet, a first-of-its-kind company consolidating technology and content platforms to lead the move to Internet 3.0. TrillerNet pairs the culture of music with sports, fashion, entertainment and influencers through a 360-degree view of content and technology. TrillerNet—which owns the globally popular Triller app used by musicians, celebrities, athletes, and overall culture setters—has more than 300 million users worldwide. The Triller app—unlike other popular short-video apps it is often compared to, encourages its users to post the content created on the app across other social media platforms and websites. The app uses proprietary AI and Machine Learning technology which is uniquely tied to the content rather than the user. By tracking the content, Triller empowers its tastemakers and users to push their content virally to affiliated and non-affiliated sites and networks reaching hundreds of millions of additional users. Data and insights gleaned from the Triller network, its creators, artists and users (from the app and off network) are used to program longer-form content, connect users across the web with the content, and provide unprecedented opportunities for engagement and monetization. TrillerNet has developed highly successful campaigns that begin with the app and continue throughout the entire content and technology ecosystem with some of the biggest brands in the world, including Pepsi, McDonalds, Weedmaps, DraftKings, L’Oreal, and many others. TrillerNet offers brands a unique content and technology solution, including direct deals with the influencers and celebrities. This branded content journey starts with short-form video and can easily expand into valuable long-form content distributed through the Triller Network, such as live-event boxing and music PPVs, fashion shows, and episodic reality content on TrillerTV. Some of the more than 65 original half-hour TrillerTV shows include The D’Amelios Family’s “Ask a DAM Question,” Jennifer Lopez In The Morning, Jake Paul: Staying On Top, 2 Chainz Let’s Do It, DJ Khaled’s Spreading Love, Hype House's Thomas Petrou's Coffee Talks, Josh Richards’ Josh Pong, Ur Lov’d: the Noah Beck Show, Fat Joe’s Masterclass, The Perez Hilton Show, and Violet Benson’s Too Tired To Be Crazy, among others. TrillerNet additionally owns Verzuz, the massive live-stream music platform launched by Swizz Beatz and Timbaland, and Triller Fight Club (www.TrillerFightClub.com), which launched last year with the highly successful Tyson-Jones Fight which shattered digital PPV records. Other holdings include leading AI-powered customer engagement platform Amplify.ai, and FITE, the premier live event and PPV, AVOD, SVOD streaming platform.

 

This marks the third time that FITE, iNDemand and Triller will have partnered to bring value-packed, world-class PPV events to boxing, music, and entertainment fans. iNDemand also served as the cable, satellite, and telco PPV distributor for Triller Fight Club’s November 2020 Mike Tyson vs. Roy Jones Jr. event (which landed as the 8th best PPV event of all time), as well as the April 17, 2021 Jake Paul vs. Ben Askren event. FITE handled global digital sales for both events and powered the TysononTriller and TrillerFightClub sites.

 

Fans outside North America can check the FITE link at https://www.fite.tv/watch/evander-holyfield-vs-vitor-belfort/2p9su/

 

About Hard Rock Live:
Hard Rock Live at Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Hollywood is South Florida’s premier entertainment venue. An investment of more than $125 million, the 7,000-person capacity indoor venue features clamshell-style seating, offering guests an intimate experience. Designed by Scéno Plus, the 225,000 square-foot facility is equipped with state-of-the-art, in-house sound and lighting, large HD viewing screens and mobile-stage technology. With its advanced capabilities, Hard Rock Live can support some of the entertainment industry’s biggest performers, as well as nationally and internationally televised awards shows, sporting events and more.

 

About FITE:

FITE is the premium global platform for live sports and entertainment offering many of the industry's marquee PPV events and SVOD packages with over 5MM registered users. FITE is available worldwide through its iOS, Android and Huawei mobile apps, as well as via Apple TV, Android TV, ROKU, and Amazon Fire TV OTT streaming apps. In addition, FITE supports Shaw Communications’ Blue Curve IPTV, LG, Samsung, Vizio SmartCast™, Cox Contour and the Contour Streaming Player, Foxxum, Chromecast, PS4, XBOX, ZEASN, Comcast’s Xfinity X1 and Xfinity Flex, Netrange, Vidaa/Hisense, VEWD, Netgem TV, Virgin Media, as well as over 7,000 models of Smart TVs. Available online at www.FITE.tv. FITE is owned by TrillerNet.

 FITE: It’s ON. Follow us on Twitter, Instagram, YouTube, LinkedIN, and Facebook. 

 

About iNDemand:

iNDemand is an innovative partnership between three of the leading cable companies in the U.S.—Charter Communications, Comcast Cable, and Cox Communications. iNDemand is a company of trusted content aggregators and licensing experts, with unparalleled technical expertise and long-standing relationships with MVPDs, major sports leagues, Hollywood studios, and other entertainment and sports companies across North America. iNDemand delivers great content to more than 80 million homes and has distribution deals with more than 150 companies. For more information, go to indemand.com.

 

FOLLOW TRILLER FIGHT CLUB AND VERZUZ

 

Triller Fight Club

Instagram: @Triller, @TrillerFightClub

Twitter: @Triller, @TrillerFight

Facebook: @TrillerFightClub

Website www.Triller.co

 

Verzuz

Instagram: @VerzuzTV

Twitter: @VerzuzOnline

Facebook: @Verzuz

 

Material and Photo Courtesy of FITE Used with permission.

 

For more information about FITE including schedules, list of compatible streaming devices/platorms/Smart TVs, and for instructions on how to download the FITE app please visit: http://www.FITE.TV.

The Boxing Truth® is a registered trademark of Beau Denison All Rights Reserved.