Reports: Oscar De La Hoya out vs. Vitor Belfort with COVID-19, Evander Holyfield tapped as replacement
Oscar De La Hoya vs. Vitor Belfort won’t be happening after all – at least not next week.
De La Hoya, the boxing legend who was supposed to come out of retirement to box former UFC champion Belfort in the Triller Fight Club main event on Sept. 11 in Los Angeles, has contracted COVID-19 and will be unable to compete in the bout.
The promotion already has a backup plan in place, however, and another boxing legend, Evander Holyfield, is set to step in and replace De La Hoya in the fight.
The news was first reported by TMZ and subsequently reported by ESPN.
According to the TMZ report, the Triller Fight Club event could be relocated from Los Angeles to Florida if the California State Athletic Commission is unable or unwilling to license the 58-year-old Holyfield in time for the event.
It’s not currently known if Belfort vs. Holyfield would be a professional fight or an exhibition.
Stay tuned to MMA Junkie for more on this story as it develops.
