Evander Holyfield’s return to the ring against Vitor Belfort headlines Triller Fight Club’s card in the early hours of Sunday morning.
Holyfield has stepped in as a last-minute replacement for Oscar De La Hoya after Golden Boy tested positive for Covid and the card will now take place at the Hard Rock Seminole, Hollywood.
The California State Athletic Commission refused to sanction the bout, but the organisers are hoping that their Florida counterparts will tag the fight as a professional contest.
The Real Deal last got in the ring in 2011, but he was in training for a planned return on June 5 and the Alabama slammer is a former undisputed champion at both cruiserweight and heavyweight.
Belfort was last seen in the UFC octagon in 2018 and he is the younger man by 15 years. The betting initially had the Phenom as the favourite, but Holyfield is now the 20/27 market leader for the eight two-minute round clash.
Another Old Face Returns
David Haye also returns to the ring against good friend Joe Fournier and in terms of betting, it’s another difficult fight to weigh up.
Haye should destroy the Westbourne Park puncher, but given the relationship between the two performers and the fact it is not a professional contest, it’s difficult to know how things will play out.
This isn’t a comeback, this is about teaching there are levels in boxing. One must stay in their lane or risk getting flattened.
Joe ‘The Billionaire’ Fournier needs to learn that you can’t buy everything. Champions are born not bought.
Full release
https://t.co/NZA94Kr3cL pic.twitter.com/Ipp7XSFasT
— David Haye (@davidhaye) August 12, 2021
UFC legend Anderson Silva is also in boxing action against Tito Ortiz and there’s another good clash for the vacant WBC International Silver super-featherweight title between Andy Vences and Jono Carroll. King Kong has lost just twice in his pro career, once to Tevin Farmer and to the newly-crowned IBO lightweight champion Maxi Hughes.
However, Vences has the physicality to deal with Carroll’s whirlwind style and at 10/11, he looks decent value at the prices.
Expect Something Quick from Eggington
Before the Hollywood show starts there’s a good betting opportunity in Coventry.
Sam Eggington defends his WBC Silver middleweight title against Bilel Jkitou and the Savage can get the challenger out of the ring before the final bell.
Eggington has been defeated at British level by Ted Cheesman and Bradley Skeete and the Savage was also fortunate to beat Dale Evans back in 2015. However, the Birmingham bruiser is only 27 and he got his career back on the right track with wins over Ashley Theophan and veteran Carlos Molina.
Jkitou is yet to mix it at this level, and although he brings an unbeaten record to Coventry, the 29-year-old has managed just 15 professional contests.
The Nanterre puncher has little to no head movement, he is pretty static in the ring and that should suit Eggington’s rugged style perfectly. The Savage isn’t going to find the Frenchman a difficult target to hit and at just 3/10 in the bout betting, he can win this fight by stoppage.
*All odds correct at time of writing.