Belfort Stops Holyfield in the Opening Round of a Sad Spectacle

“Heads should roll,” said the noted author Tris Dixon in his preview of tonight’s Triller Fight Club event in Hollywood, Florida. Indeed, yes, and the first head to roll should be that of Patrick Cunningham, the Executive Director of the Florida State Athletic Commission which allowed Evander Holyfield to step back into the ring after an absence of more than ten full years. Florida Governor Ron DeSantis has higher priorities, but if he allows this clown to go back to work on Monday morning, then he’s been remiss (to put it mildly).

Holyfield was one of the greatest warriors in the annals of the sweet science but he took a lot of punishment during a career in which he answered the bell for 443 rounds and tonight against 44-year-old former MMA star Vitor Belfort he fought like a man who will turn 59 years old next month.

Holyfield had no offense unless one counts the errant left hook that he threw, the momentum of which carried him through the ropes. Moments later, Belfort knocked him down with a left uppercut. Holyfield got up, but Belfort got right on top of him and Holyfield’s reflexes were too shot to give anything back in return. Referee Max Burgos wisely stepped in and waived it off at the 1:49 mark of the opening round.

The promoter billed this farce as “the most anticipated heavyweight fight of the year.” It was a fight indeed, not an exhibition, but BoxRec chose not to list it as such, so it may not appear in Holyfield’s record.

Vences-Carroll

The saving grace of this card was the 10-round junior lightweight tilt between San Jose’s Andy Vences and Ireland’s Jono Carroll. Vences, 30, was making his first start since losing a split decision to Luis Alberto Lopez in July of last year – the same Lopez that manhandled Gabriel Flores last night in Tucson. Carroll, was making his second appearance on U.S. soil, having come up short in a bid for Tevin Farmer’s 130-pound title on Farmer’s turf in Philadelphia in 2019. Although Carroll (born Jonathon Beresford) lost a wide decision, that was a fan-friendly fight.

Vences, who signed with Top Rank after opening his career 12-0, was once thought to be a fighter with a big upside. But that opinion was tempered when he lost to Lopez, and tonight he dropped down a bit further in public esteem. Carroll, one of boxing’s most interesting characters, overcame a damaged right eye to win a majority decision (95-95, 97-93 twice).

Silva-Ortiz

The boxing match between 46-year-old MMA legends Anderson Silva and Tito Ortiz also ended in the opening round. It was all over in 81 seconds.

Fighting with his back against the ropes, Silva unloaded a counter right hook that put Ortiz down hard, detaching him from his senses. Earlier this year, in June at Guadalajara, Silva won a split decision over Julio Cesar Chavez Jr.

Haye-Fournier

In an 8-round exhibition with two-minute rounds, 40-year-old David Haye returned to the ring after a three-and-a-half-year absence and was credited with a unanimous decision in a make-believe fight with former protégé Joe Fournier, a 38-year-old London businessman.

Haye, who once appeared headed to the Boxing Hall of Fame, was a world title-holder at cruiserweight and heavyweight. In his last two legitimate fights, Haye fell to pieces against Tony Bellew.

Fournier was 9-0 (9 KOs) heading in, but was wallowing in the muck. His last five opponents were a combined 2-40. This bout will not count against his professional record.

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