Vitor Belfort immediately demonstrated Saturday night exactly why a retired, 58-year-old former heavyweight champion had no business whatsoever entering the ring for another official fight.
Belfort floored Holyfield in the first round of their eight-round heavyweight fight and stopped him soon thereafter at Hard Rock Hotel & Casino in Hollywood, Florida. Referee Samuel Burgos understandably erred on the side of caution and stopped the bout at 1:49 of the opening round because Belfort was unloading answered shots on Holyfield, who will turn 59 on October 19.
The legendary Holyfield took a misstep as Belfort attempted a left hand with just over a minute to go in the first round. Less than 20 seconds later, Holyfield fell through the ropes after missing wildly with a left hook.
He told Burgos he was OK after he got up, but he was far from OK when Belfort’s flush left uppercut knocked him down with 37 seconds to go in the opening round.
Belfort, a former UFC star, attacked Holyfield as soon as the action continued. Burgos watched closely and jumped in to stop the action because Holyfield simply covered up and didn’t throw any punches back at Belfort.
Holyfield, a four-time heavyweight champion, hadn’t boxed in 10 years before Saturday night. He replaced an ill Oscar De La Hoya as Belfort’s foe on barely one week’s notice because De La Hoya contracted COVID-19.
The 44-year-old Belfort improved to 2-0 in professional boxing and recorded his second knockout. Atlanta’s Holyfield fell to 44-11-2, including 29 knockouts and one no-contest.
Holyfield hadn’t fought since he stopped Danish veteran Brian Nielsen in the 10th round of their May 2011 bout in Copenhagen, Denmark.
Because Holyfield replaced De La Hoya, this Triller Fight Club Pay-Per-View main event was changed to a heavyweight bout that was scheduled for eight two-minute rounds. De La Hoya and Belfort were supposed to fight at a contracted catch weight of 180 pounds.
The venue was also switched from Staples Center in Los Angeles to Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino, reportedly because the California State Athletic Commission refused to license the aged Holyfield for a professional boxing match.
Keith Idec is a senior writer/columnist for BoxingScene.com. He can be reached on Twitter @Idecboxing.