Tag: Evander Holyfield

Donald Trump (mostly) stuck to sports during Triller boxing commentary stint

Donald Trump (mostly) stuck to sports during Triller boxing commentary stint.

Editor’s note: This column originally published at USA TODAY Sports.

***

Former President Donald Trump began his debut as a boxing commentator Saturday night just as you might have expected.

With a verbal jab.

Trump agreed to provide commentary during a four-fight card featuring Evander Holyfield, the former heavyweight champion who was making his return to the boxing ring at 58 years old. And at the outset of the pay-per-view livestream, the lead commentator noted it was the 20th anniversary of 9/11 and deferred to the former president.

Calling the anniversary of 9/11 “one of the most important days,’’ Trump added, “and we had a very bad week because of some very bad decisions that were made… We should have never allowed to happen what happened in Afghanistan with 13 great warriors and many injured and many people killed in these final few days and it was just a shame.’’

Later, while waiting for the results from the three judges after the first fight, Trump noted he has seen a lot of bad boxing decisions over the years.

“It’s like the elections,’’ he said. “It could be rigged.’’

(Editor’s Note: The Justice Department has found no evidence of widespread voter fraud in the 2020 presidential election.)

However, on a night when Holyfield got stopped before the end of the first round at the Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino in Hollywood, Florida, perhaps the most surprising thing of all is this: Trump mostly stuck to boxing.

Having hosted memorable fights at his casinos, Trump exhibited an enthusiasm for the sport, a decent knowledge of boxing and stamina. Which is to say he continued to mix it up with his son Donald Trump Jr. and guest commentators during the pay-per-view event that stretched almost 3½ hours long.

What he seemed to enjoy most was the adoring crowd, which broke out into chants of “We want Trump! We want Trump!’’ He rose to his feet and with a broad smile shook his fist.

Former President Donald Trump salutes cheering fans as he prepares to provide commentary for the Triller Fight Club event in Hollywood, Fla. (AP Photo/Rebecca Blackwell)

But for most of the night, he did his agreed-upon guest commentary duties, offering insights and opinions. Some of the most notable came after Holyfield lost by TKO in the first round when the referee waved off the fight.

“Right from the beginning you could see it, he was not the same fighter,’’ Trump said. “He lost a lot. That left jab was very slow.’’

Holyfield did not leave quietly.

“So Evander’s complaining a little about it stopping. I think you probably had to, right?’’ Trump asked.

The commentators agreed but noted it would be hard for a one-time champion to accept defeat.

As Holyfield left the makeshift area, Trump said, “That’s probably the last time you will be seeing the great legend of Evander Holyfield, right? Probably the last time, in this capacity. I hope so, I hope so.’’

Trump seemed to be most familiar with fighters of the past – such as Sugar Ray Leonard, Roberto Duran and Mike Tyson. He he also talked about more obscure fighters, like Iran Barkley and James Toney. Yet despite his reminiscing about old fighters, he was familiar with two relative newcomers: Jake Paul and Logan Paul, the YouTube celebrity brothers who have energized the boxing scene.

Toward the end of the night, Trump was sitting next to UFC star Jorge Masvidal, who has traded barbs with Jake Paul and said he’d like to fight both brothers. Said Trump: “So the Paul brothers, we have Jorge and he wants to fight you and I think it would be an incredible fight.’’

The first two fights were mostly dull, and at times Trump’s commentary was lackluster, too. But he spiced it up with opinions. Such as being in favor of championship fights going 15 rounds rather than 12 rounds.

“I think it’s really hurt boxing,’’ Trump said, bemoaning the lost “championship rounds,’’ previously the 13th, 14th and 15th rounds before the change in format.

The fights were shortened after Kim Duk-koo died following a championship fight against Ray Mancini in 1982. Duk-koo lost by TKO in the 14th round and died five days after the fight.

Other things you probably never heard at a Trump rally: He’s a big fan of British heavyweight boxer Tyson Fury and he thinks Larry Holmes had the best left-hand jab.

Junior Dos Santos, a former UFC heavyweight champion, joined the Trumps as a guest commentator and spent a good portion of the time chatting with Trump as the cameras rolled and the fights progressed.

“I’m impressed with how much the gentleman knows about boxing,’’ Dos Santos said.

“We’ve had a lot of fights,’’ Trump replied, apparently referring to those he has staged rather than those he has fought.

5 biggest takeaways from Triller Fight Club: Belfort’s callout of Jake Paul, Tito Ortiz fight fixing claims

Thoughts and analysis of the biggest storylines coming out of Triller Fight Club, which saw Vitor Belfort and Anderson Silva win by KO.

What mattered most at Triller Fight Club at the Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino in Hollywood, Fla.? Here are a few post-fight musings …

Evander Holyfield frustrated with TKO stoppage vs. Vitor Belfort: ‘It was a bad call’

Evander Holyfield is unhappy with how quickly his fight against Vitor Belfort was waved off at Triller Fight Club.

[autotag]Evander Holyfield[/autotag] thought he deserved a longer leash in his main event bout with Vitor Belfort at Triller Fight Club.

Holyfield, a legendary former boxing champion, competed in his first bout since 2011 on Saturday at Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino in Hollywood, Fla. He was stopped by TKO late in the first round of the contest.

Belfort, a former UFC light heavyweight titleholder, came out of the gate quick as he’s made a career of doing. He landed an uppercut that stunned and dropped Holyfield. The 58-year-old made it back to his feet, but struggled to fully recover as Belfort continued to pressure with punches.

The referee saw Holyfield couldn’t fully get his bearings back in that moment, and Belfort wasn’t letting up, so he stepped in and waved it off while Holyfield was still on his feet. That rubbed Holyfield the wrong way. He thought he still had more to show, which he expressed during his post-fight interview with Todd Grisham and 50 Cent.

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“I wasn’t hurt,” Holyfield said on the broadcast. “The thing is, there wasn’t no shot that hurt me really bad. He’s strong and he got that shot and I was off balance.”

Holyfield elaborated and downright slammed the referee’s work.

“I think it was a bad call,” Holyfield said. “I think the referee shouldn’t stop the fight that quick.”

For many observers, watching Holyfield step back into the ring was both a nostalgic and concerning moment. He turns 59 next month, and has had problems receiving licensure dating back nearly 17 years. The Florida State Athletic Commission approved him to step into the ring, though.

There was a legitimate fear something true bad could happen to Holyfield prior to stepping in the ring, and he confirmed afterward that he felt in good physical condition.

“No, I’m not hurt,” Holyfield said. “It’s kind of sad. It is what it is.”

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Good, bad, worse: The Evander Holyfield-Vitor Belfort debacle

Good, bad, worse: The Evander Holyfield-Vitor Belfort debacle.

A critical look at the past week in boxing

GOOD

Evander Holyfield (right) had no answers for Vitor Belfort. AP Photo / Rebecca Blackwell

The only good thing about Vitor Belfort’s knockout of 58-year-old Evander Holyfield is that it was quick.

Belfort, the former UFC champion, didn’t have enough time to deliver a beating that might’ve caused significant damage to Holyfield in the Triller Fight Club main event Saturday in Hollywood, Florida. It was painful to watch but it lasted only 1 minute, 49 seconds.

To say Holyfield was a shell of the all-time great fighter he once was would be generous. He looked like Evander Holyfield, fit and trim, but he was slow and had problems with his balance.

The latter was obvious as he stumbled a few times and then went flying into the ropes when he missed a wild left hook. Moments later, Belfort landed a left uppercut that put the old man down. The 44-year-old Brazilian followed with a flurry of unanswered shots, prompting referee Samuel Burgos to stop the “fight.”

Holyfield complained about the stoppage afterward – “The guys’ strong, but I wasn’t hurt,” he said – but it was clear that he couldn’t adequately defend himself. Burgos did the right thing.

The lessons here should’ve been obvious beforehand: 58-year-olds don’t belong in a boxing ring, at least not in a fight in which the parties are trying to hurt one another. Fortunately, good sense superseded bad judgment once the opening bell rang, which allowed us to see that this was a bad idea without Holyfield getting seriously injured.

Kudos to the California State Athletic Commission, which refused to sanction the bout. Shame on Florida officials for giving their OK. The same goes for Triller, which should’ve canceled the event or found a younger opponent when Oscar De La Hoya had to pull out after contracting COVID-19.

I certainly don’t blame Belfort, who did his job. And I don’t want to be too critical of Holyfield, who, like Mike Tyson and others, wanted to make some money off his name.

Maybe next time – if there has to be one – he’ll do it wearing oversized gloves in an exhibition against another geezer in what would amount to a light sparring session. The fighters would make their money, the fans would get to see their heroes and no one would get hurt.

I hope everyone involved in the promotion learned a lesson.

***

BAD

One of many disturbing elements to the fight on Saturday was the subject of our concern, Holyfield.

“The Real Deal” was among the best fighters pound-for-pound over the past 35 years or so, alongside the likes of Roy Jones Jr., Floyd Mayweather and Manny Pacquiao. The 1984 Olympian was arguably the greatest cruiserweight champion ever and went on to become a heavyweight titleholder a record four times even though he was undersized for the division.

I’ve always believed that if he were a few inches taller and maybe 20, 25 pounds heavier, he would’ve been the greatest heavyweight of all time.

I don’t want to be overly corny but it was honor to cover his fights during my career as a boxing writer.

That’s why it was particularly difficult for me to watch on Saturday night. A once-great fighter, whose skills are long gone, was reduced to a punching bag against an opponent he would’ve annihilated even a decade ago. Sad.

I hope that image doesn’t remain in my mind for long. I want to remember Evander Holyfield who medaled in the 1984 Olympics, ruled the cruiserweight division and accomplished so much in the sport’s glamor division.

I want to remember the dynamo who knocked out Buster Douglas to win his first heavyweight title, had an epic trilogy with the much-bigger Riddick Bowe, stunned the world by knocking out Mike Tyson and remained competitive for years after that.

I don’t even want to think about the pathetic figure I saw step through the ropes on Saturday.

***

WORSE

The past week was one of the worst for the sport in recent memory.

The powers that be, who are supposed to protect the welfare of the fighters and the sport, allowed a 58-year-old and a champion boxer who tested positive for a banned substance to fight on consecutive nights.

Perhaps the negative fallout from the Belfort-Holyfield fight will result in a change for the better. I’m not as optimistic that the situation involving WBC 130-pound titleholder Oscar Valdez will lead to reform.

Valdez tested positive for a weight-loss drug that is banned by the Voluntary Anti-Doping Association, which did the testing for the fight, yet was allowed by the commission and WBC to defend his title against Robson Conceicao anyway.

The obvious question: Why bother with drug testing if there are no consequences for violations?

Clearly, the debacle was a step backward in efforts to maintain – or, more cynically, create – a clean sport. Indeed, a reasonable person might think that drug testing in boxing is nothing more than a façade.

And, unfortunately, you can bet officials will continue to bend the rules they establish to prevent fight cancelations that affect their bottom line.

Valdez, perhaps distracted or drained from the controversy, did just enough to retain his title against the capable Conceicao by a unanimous decisions. Afterward, he said, “I’ve been through a hard week.”

It’s been hard for everyone.

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Good, bad, worse: The Evander Holyfield-Vitor Belfort debacle

Good, bad, worse: The Evander Holyfield-Vitor Belfort debacle.

A critical look at the past week in boxing

GOOD

Evander Holyfield (right) had no answers for Vitor Belfort. AP Photo / Rebecca Blackwell

The only good thing about Vitor Belfort’s knockout of 58-year-old Evander Holyfield is that it was quick.

Belfort, the former UFC champion, didn’t have enough time to deliver a beating that might’ve caused significant damage to Holyfield in the Triller Fight Club main event Saturday in Hollywood, Florida. It was painful to watch but it lasted only 1 minute, 49 seconds.

To say Holyfield was a shell of the all-time great fighter he once was would be generous. He looked like Evander Holyfield, fit and trim, but he was slow and had problems with his balance.

The latter was obvious as he stumbled a few times and then went flying into the ropes when he missed a wild left hook. Moments later, Belfort landed a left uppercut that put the old man down. The 44-year-old Brazilian followed with a flurry of unanswered shots, prompting referee Samuel Burgos to stop the “fight.”

Holyfield complained about the stoppage afterward – “The guys’ strong, but I wasn’t hurt,” he said – but it was clear that he couldn’t adequately defend himself. Burgos did the right thing.

The lessons here should’ve been obvious beforehand: 58-year-olds don’t belong in a boxing ring, at least not in a fight in which the parties are trying to hurt one another. Fortunately, good sense superseded bad judgment once the opening bell rang, which allowed us to see that this was a bad idea without Holyfield getting seriously injured.

Kudos to the California State Athletic Commission, which refused to sanction the bout. Shame on Florida officials for giving their OK. The same goes for Triller, which should’ve canceled the event or found a younger opponent when Oscar De La Hoya had to pull out after contracting COVID-19.

I certainly don’t blame Belfort, who did his job. And I don’t want to be too critical of Holyfield, who, like Mike Tyson and others, wanted to make some money off his name.

Maybe next time – if there has to be one – he’ll do it wearing oversized gloves in an exhibition against another geezer in what would amount to a light sparring session. The fighters would make their money, the fans would get to see their heroes and no one would get hurt.

I hope everyone involved in the promotion learned a lesson.

***

BAD

One of many disturbing elements to the fight on Saturday was the subject of our concern, Holyfield.

“The Real Deal” was among the best fighters pound-for-pound over the past 35 years or so, alongside the likes of Roy Jones Jr., Floyd Mayweather and Manny Pacquiao. The 1984 Olympian was arguably the greatest cruiserweight champion ever and went on to become a heavyweight titleholder a record four times even though he was undersized for the division.

I’ve always believed that if he were a few inches taller and maybe 20, 25 pounds heavier, he would’ve been the greatest heavyweight of all time.

I don’t want to be overly corny but it was honor to cover his fights during my career as a boxing writer.

That’s why it was particularly difficult for me to watch on Saturday night. A once-great fighter, whose skills are long gone, was reduced to a punching bag against an opponent he would’ve annihilated even a decade ago. Sad.

I hope that image doesn’t remain in my mind for long. I want to remember Evander Holyfield who medaled in the 1984 Olympics, ruled the cruiserweight division and accomplished so much in the sport’s glamor division.

I want to remember the dynamo who knocked out Buster Douglas to win his first heavyweight title, had an epic trilogy with the much-bigger Riddick Bowe, stunned the world by knocking out Mike Tyson and remained competitive for years after that.

I don’t even want to think about the pathetic figure I saw step through the ropes on Saturday.

***

WORSE

The past week was one of the worst for the sport in recent memory.

The powers that be, who are supposed to protect the welfare of the fighters and the sport, allowed a 58-year-old and a champion boxer who tested positive for a banned substance to fight on consecutive nights.

Perhaps the negative fallout from the Belfort-Holyfield fight will result in a change for the better. I’m not as optimistic that the situation involving WBC 130-pound titleholder Oscar Valdez will lead to reform.

Valdez tested positive for a weight-loss drug that is banned by the Voluntary Anti-Doping Association, which did the testing for the fight, yet was allowed by the commission and WBC to defend his title against Robson Conceicao anyway.

The obvious question: Why bother with drug testing if there are no consequences for violations?

Clearly, the debacle was a step backward in efforts to maintain – or, more cynically, create – a clean sport. Indeed, a reasonable person might think that drug testing in boxing is nothing more than a façade.

And, unfortunately, you can bet officials will continue to bend the rules they establish to prevent fight cancelations that affect their bottom line.

Valdez, perhaps distracted or drained from the controversy, did just enough to retain his title against the capable Conceicao by a unanimous decisions. Afterward, he said, “I’ve been through a hard week.”

It’s been hard for everyone.

[lawrence-related id=23782,23779,23776,23767,23758,23752]

Twitter reacts to Vitor Belfort’s quick TKO of Evander Holyfield

Twitter reacts to Vitor Belfort’s quick TKO of Evander Holyfield.

Editor’s note: This article was originally published on MMAJunkie.com.

***

Vitor Belfort’s cross over into the boxing world was a success on Saturday when he defeated the legendary Evander Holyfield in the Triller Fight Club main event.

Belfort, a former UFC champion, was supposed to fight Oscar De La Hoya on the card. COVID-19 prevented that fight, though, so Holyfield stepped in despite being 58 years old and having not fought in a decade. Belfort showed why there were concerns, earning a first-round TKO win at the Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino in Hollywood, Fla.

Check below for the top Twitter reactions to Belfort’s win over Holyfield at Triller Fight Club.

MMA Junkie

MMA Mania

 

Diego Sanchez

FiteTV

Mike Pierce

Eryk Anders

Kamaru Usman

Mike Coppinger

Caposa

Mike Coppinger

Geoff Neal

Eryk Anders

Matthew Wells

Mike Bohn

Renee Paquette

Chris Weidman

Simon Head

E. Casey Leydon

Simon Samano

MMA Junkie

Ian McCall

Kevin Iole

Mike Bohn

Comics Department

Diego Sanchez

Mike Bohn

Kamaru Usman

Patricky Freire

Arjan Bhullar

Michael Chiesa

Chael Sonnen

Mike Coppinger

David Michaud

Michael Bisping

Andre Berto

Derek Brunson

Claressa Shields

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Twitter reacts to Vitor Belfort’s quick TKO of Evander Holyfield

Twitter reacts to Vitor Belfort’s quick TKO of Evander Holyfield.

Editor’s note: This article was originally published on MMAJunkie.com.

***

Vitor Belfort’s cross over into the boxing world was a success on Saturday when he defeated the legendary Evander Holyfield in the Triller Fight Club main event.

Belfort, a former UFC champion, was supposed to fight Oscar De La Hoya on the card. COVID-19 prevented that fight, though, so Holyfield stepped in despite being 58 years old and having not fought in a decade. Belfort showed why there were concerns, earning a first-round TKO win at the Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino in Hollywood, Fla.

Check below for the top Twitter reactions to Belfort’s win over Holyfield at Triller Fight Club.

MMA Junkie

MMA Mania

 

Diego Sanchez

FiteTV

Mike Pierce

Eryk Anders

Kamaru Usman

Mike Coppinger

Caposa

Mike Coppinger

Geoff Neal

Eryk Anders

Matthew Wells

Mike Bohn

Renee Paquette

Chris Weidman

Simon Head

E. Casey Leydon

Simon Samano

MMA Junkie

Ian McCall

Kevin Iole

Mike Bohn

Comics Department

Diego Sanchez

Mike Bohn

Kamaru Usman

Patricky Freire

Arjan Bhullar

Michael Chiesa

Chael Sonnen

Mike Coppinger

David Michaud

Michael Bisping

Andre Berto

Derek Brunson

Claressa Shields

[lawrence-related id=23779,23776,23767]

Donald Trump congratulates Vitor Belfort after TKO of Evander Holyfield

Donald Trump congratulated Vitor Belfort after his TKO of Evander Holyfield on Saturday.

Editor’s note: This article was originally published on MMAJunkie.com.

***

Former U.S. President Donald Trump took the opportunity to address the main event winner of Triller Fight Club Legends II on Saturday.

Shortly after former UFC light heavyweight champion Vitor Belfort made quick work of boxing legend Evander Holyfield in their main event fight, Trump, who was on secondary commentary duty for the event, spoke to the captive audience at the Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino in Hollywood, Fla.

Along with Trump in the commentary booth was his son, Donald Trump Jr., former UFC heavyweight champion Junior Dos Santos, and welterweight contender Jorge Masvidal.

“You are some fighter,” Trump said. “I have to tell you, you have a couple of friends between Jorge and Junior, and my son, my ‘junior,’ they said you’re going to do fantastically well…I said, ‘Well, but boxing’s not his thing.’ Junior said, ‘Yes it is, you just watch.’”

The former heavyweight champ proved the former president correct in his prediction, as Belfort made quick work of Holyfield by scoring a quick first-round TKO finish.

Before the fight in an interview that took place just seconds before he entered the ring, Belfort ended his remarks with Trump’s presidential campaign tagline, “Let’s make America great again!”

The former president appreciated Belfort’s message, as did most of the crowd in attendance who chanted Trump’s name throughout the evening. “You are a great patriot and we appreciate it,” Trump added when speaking to Belfort.

“Vitor, your stock was very high, but it’s even higher tonight because you beat somebody who is, I don’t know, I think probably one of the greatest of all time,” Trump continued. “There’s no question about Evander and we love Evander. I know Evander, and I’ve never seen that happen to Evander. I’ve been with Evander a long time and it’s just one of those things, you were really fantastic.”

Trump also briefly proposed the idea of creating a matchup between Masvidal or Dos Santos as Belfort’s next opponent inside the boxing ring, but it appears Triller would like to create a matchup between Belfort and Jake Paul instead.

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Donald Trump congratulates Vitor Belfort after TKO of Evander Holyfield

Donald Trump congratulated Vitor Belfort after his TKO of Evander Holyfield on Saturday.

Editor’s note: This article was originally published on MMAJunkie.com.

***

Former U.S. President Donald Trump took the opportunity to address the main event winner of Triller Fight Club Legends II on Saturday.

Shortly after former UFC light heavyweight champion Vitor Belfort made quick work of boxing legend Evander Holyfield in their main event fight, Trump, who was on secondary commentary duty for the event, spoke to the captive audience at the Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino in Hollywood, Fla.

Along with Trump in the commentary booth was his son, Donald Trump Jr., former UFC heavyweight champion Junior Dos Santos, and welterweight contender Jorge Masvidal.

“You are some fighter,” Trump said. “I have to tell you, you have a couple of friends between Jorge and Junior, and my son, my ‘junior,’ they said you’re going to do fantastically well…I said, ‘Well, but boxing’s not his thing.’ Junior said, ‘Yes it is, you just watch.’”

The former heavyweight champ proved the former president correct in his prediction, as Belfort made quick work of Holyfield by scoring a quick first-round TKO finish.

Before the fight in an interview that took place just seconds before he entered the ring, Belfort ended his remarks with Trump’s presidential campaign tagline, “Let’s make America great again!”

The former president appreciated Belfort’s message, as did most of the crowd in attendance who chanted Trump’s name throughout the evening. “You are a great patriot and we appreciate it,” Trump added when speaking to Belfort.

“Vitor, your stock was very high, but it’s even higher tonight because you beat somebody who is, I don’t know, I think probably one of the greatest of all time,” Trump continued. “There’s no question about Evander and we love Evander. I know Evander, and I’ve never seen that happen to Evander. I’ve been with Evander a long time and it’s just one of those things, you were really fantastic.”

Trump also briefly proposed the idea of creating a matchup between Masvidal or Dos Santos as Belfort’s next opponent inside the boxing ring, but it appears Triller would like to create a matchup between Belfort and Jake Paul instead.

[lawrence-related id=23776,23767]

Best photos: Vitor Belfort knocks out Evander Holyfield

Best photos: Vitor Belfort knocked out Evander Holyfield on Saturday in Hollywood, Florida.

Editor’s note: This article was originally posted on MMAJunkie.com.

***

Check out these photo highlights of Vitor Belfort’s first-round TKO win over Evander Holyfield in their Triller Fight Club main event at the Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino in Hollywood, Fla.

Photos by Triller Fight Club, Associated Press and Getty Images.