Former UFC champion Vitor Belfort will be taking on Oscar De La Hoya in a boxing match for Triller on September 11 that will feature a weekend long festival.
From “The Real Tarzann” to “The Golden Boy,” Vitor Belfort will be getting a step up in assignment as he is scheduled to box former champion Oscar de la Hoya on September 11 for Triller. The Athletic was first to report the news. The card is expected to be a culmination of a weekend long event featuring several musical acts and other attractions leading up to the fight.
Belfort was previously scheduled to box social media star Mike Holston, aka “The Real Tarzann”, this Saturday but the removal of headliner Teofimo Lopez due to COVID-19 led to the entire event being rescheduled. Now, Triller is moving forward and booked Belfort against the longtime boxing champion.
“The Phenom” has not fought since a loss to Lyoto Machida back in 2018 which marked the last fight on his UFC contract. At the time, Belfort announced his retirement from the sport before coming back a year later to say he would fight for ONE Championship. While his deal expired before he competed for the promotion, he would later make headlines again for rumors of a boxing bout for Triller.
Oscar De La Hoya will be competing again for the first time in over ten years and at the startling age of 48. The Olympic gold medalist is best known for being one of the most popular boxers of the 90’s and early 2000’s behind signature victories over Fernando Vargas, Pernell Whittaker, Julio Caesar Chavez, and others. He also participated in high profile pay-per-view events against Floyd Mayweather, Manny Pacquiao, and Shane Mosley. De La Hoya last fought in 2008 where he was dominated by Manny Pacquiao and the fight was stopped in the eighth round.
Belfort is best known for his time in the UFC where he won the UFC 12 tournament in 1997 at the age of 19. “The Phenom” would have three stints in the UFC, winning and losing the light heavyweight title in 2004 and having fights with Chuck Liddell, Tito Ortiz, and Randy Couture. Belfort would return to the UFC again in 2009, challenging Anderson Silva, Jon Jones, and Chris Weidman for their respective titles at the time and scoring victories over Anthony Johnson and future champions Luke Rockhold and Michael Bisping. Belfort will enter the bout with De La Hoya at 44 years old.
No details on the undercard were announced. The all-day music festivals on Saturday and Sunday will feature performances by Swizz Beats, Timbaland, and a rap battle for the series Verzuz.
