Tatang Holyfield, knockout kay Vitor sa exhibition fight

ni Gerard Arce - @Sports | September 13, 2021

Naranasan ni dating undisputed cruiserweight at heavyweight champion Evander “The Real Deal” Holyfield ang kanyang ikalawang knockout defeat sa kanyang maningning at matagumpay na boxing career matapos pabagsakin ni dating UFC Light-Heavyweight titlist na si Vitor “The Phenom” Belfort ng Brazil kahapon sa Hard Rock Hotel and Casino sa Hollywood, Florida.

Huling beses nakatikim ng knockout loss ang 58-anyos na 1984 Los Angeles Olympics bronze medalist laban kay James “Lights-out” Toney noong Oktubre 4, 2003 via 9th round TKO sa Mandalay Bay sa Las Vegas, Nevada.

Dahil sa sunod-sunod na birada ng suntok ng mas batang si Belfort ay nagawa nitong patumbahin si Holyfield na nagawa pang makatayo, ngunit tuluyan ng itinigil ng referee sa 1:49 ng opening round.

Hindi naman nagustuhan ni Holyfield ang naging desisyon ni referee Samuel Burgos na itigil ang laban na pinapanood ang Triller Fight Club main event ni dating US president Donald Trump na nasa commentary booth.

“I wasn’t hurt. Kind of sad. It is what it is. It’s a bad call,” wika ni Holyfield hinggil sa naturang desisyon. “This is the first time my kids ever told me ... 'Dad, you don't need to be getting hit. At least I'm fighting somebody that I know I can protect myself [against]. The whole thing's about protection. You don't become a good fighter until you know how not to get hit. ... I know all the things that's necessary to be safe,” dagdag ng Atmore, Alabama-native na nagretiro noong 2011 matapos ang 10th round TKO victory kay Brian Nielsen ng Denmark.

Sinabi ni Holyfield na mahirap umanong tanggihan ang halagang mayroon ang laban, kung saan pinalitan nito sa naturang laban si dating 6-division World titlist Oscar “The Golden Boy” Dela Hoya na tinamaan ng COVID-19.