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Daily Mirror
Daily Mirror
Sport
Ben Davies

Evander Holyfield vs Vitor Belfort fight rules as legend returns to ring

Evander Holyfield's ring return against Vitor Belfort will be an eight two-minute round contest.

Holyfield has stepped in after Oscar De La Hoya was forced to pull out of his bout with former UFC star Belfort after being hospitalised with Covid-19.

Holyfield has not fought since his victory over Brian Nielsen in Copenhagen to round off his illustrious career during which he won cruiserweight and a heavyweight world titles.

And the fight between Holyfield and Belfort has now been confirmed as taking place over eight two-minute rounds with organisers Triller hoping the Florida commission will sanction the bout as a professional contest.

The whole fight card, including David Haye's return against Joe Fournier, will now take place at the Hard Rock Seminole in Hollywood, after the California State Athletic Commission refused to sanction the headline fight.

Evander Holyfield looks all but set to make his ring return against Oscar Belfort in Florida (Getty Images)

Triller plotted a packed card underneath with former UFC legend Anderson Silva making his latest outing in the boxing ring against Tito Ortiz, while Haye also makes his ring return for the first time since retiring against Fournier which will not be a professional contest.

The 58-year-old was set to fight Kevin McBride on the undercard of Teofimo Lopez's mandatory defence against George Kambosos previously in June, but the contest was postponed after Lopez tested positive for coronavirus.

Holyfield signed for Triller on the promise that he could fight legendary heavyweight Mike Tyson to renew their professional rivalry, but the 55-year-old walked away from the label after his exhibition with Roy Jones Jr.

But the American believes that a future third fight between the pair could generate up to $200 million and believes it is "the biggest fight there is".

"My views are you always help people. I try to pass on the goodness that was passed onto me," Holyfield told The Sun. Where an opportunity is available, I like to make the best out of what I have. I believe if I fought Mike the fight will generate $200million.

"It will be the biggest fight there is. That’s the honest truth. I think Mike has my message already. If he is going to do it he is, if not then he’s not.

"It’s a decision he has to make now and we both have to be in an agreement.

Many have questioned the return of Holyfield to the boxing ring at the age of 59, but he remains confident that he is in great condition to return in further fights.

And Holyfield has already promised to fight YouTube star Jake Paul upon his return to action, and plans to "show people what would happen".

"If he believes he can beat me," he said. "And he gave me enough money, oh, yes, I’d get in the ring with him, and I’d show people what would happen."

"Jake Paul being a guy who didn’t come through amateurs, he is someone who fights now and does it as a hobby.

"He has a little bit more weight behind how to do things because people like him are doing it for the fun of it.

"They are not fighting in an association which is being operated by a union such as the WBC or the IBF".

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