Holyfield vs Belfort

Late replacement: Following his COVID-19 diagnosis, fight legend Oscar De La Hoya, 48, has been forced to pull out of his September 11th boxing match with UFC legend Vitor Belfort, 44. As a result, Evander Holyfield, 58, will take his place on one week's notice.

Records:
Holyfield - 44 -10 -2, 29 KO
Belfort: - 1-0, 1 KO (in boxing); 26-14-0-1NC (in MMA)

Ages: Belfort will be 44 while Evander, at 58, will be just 13 months shy of 60.

Activity: Evander will enter the ring not having fought professionally since May 2011, over 10 years. Belfort was fairly active during the previous decade, fighting 13 times since Evander last stepped into the ring. The latter most recently fought in May 2018, over 3 years ago.

Commission sanctioning: The card headlined by Holyfield vs Belford was initially stated to take place in California. However, because the state commission there wouldn't allow it (as an exhibition or pro fight) the card was moved to Miami, FL.

Pro fight or exhibition: As of 9/7, we don't know if the bout will an exhibition or a real professional fight.  Exhibitions aren't like real boxing matches. Not only are they not included in a fighter’s win/loss record, but such contests are also usually glorified sparring sessions where neither guy aims to unleash a lot of hurt. And in the end, no winner is announced or the contest is ruled a draw a la Mike Tyson vs Roy Jones last year.

Rules: Triller's Ryan Kavanaugh told ESPN the fighters' contracts call for pro-fight rules contested over eight two-minute rounds but, again, exhibitions are usually cordial contests where unwritten agreements of non-violence are par for the course.

Southpaw: Belfort is a southpaw. As we know, lefties do everything backwards in comparison to fighters who employ a conventional stance. We know of four times when Evander has faced southpaws and he's 1-3 in that instance. He's lost to lefties Michael Moorer, Chris Byrd, and Sultan Ibragimov, with his lone win coming against Moorer in their rematch.

No Ben Askren: Unlike former mixed martial artist Ben Askren, who was KO'd in less than one round by a novice boxer a few months ago, Belfort is known as an excellent striker and, with one pro boxing fight under his belt, isn't coming into the sport raw. Moreover, Belfort is tied for third for the most stoppages in UFC history,

Not totally rusty: Holyffield took the fight on a week's notice but had been training for a bout in November or December.

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Holyfield vs Belfort Odds
Holyfield opened as a -140 favorite. Belfort is the +110 underdog according to BetOnline.ag.

We think Belfort should be a slight favorite. Not having fought in 10 years, being 13 months shy of 60 and taking the fight on a week's notice won't help Holyfield's cause.
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Holyfield Career Stats / Facts
 

commission Florida Athletic Commission
promoter Ryan Kavanaugh (Triller)
matchmaker Eric Bottjer
TV  Triller, USA Fite

 “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,” Triller mouthpiece Ryan Kavanaugh said in a recent press release.

FightSaga: That's unlikely