Bob Arum Can’t Believe Evander Holyfield Is Allowed To Fight

Top Rank Boxing’s Bob Arum is beside himself at the fact that Evander Holyfield is being allowed to face Vitor Belfort.

Holyfield is 58 years old and hasn’t had a pro boxing match since 2011. He’ll be competing tonight (Sept. 11). The “Real Deal” is replacing Oscar De La Hoya, who was removed from the bout due to a COVID-19 diagnosis. Holyfield’s fight with Belfort had to be moved to Florida as the California State Athletic Commission wouldn’t license him.

Arum spoke to BoxingScene.com and expressed his dismay with the Florida Commission for allowing Holyfield to compete.

“I’m just shaking my head. I mean, how does that fight get approved with a guy who’s almost 60 years old, without getting a Cleveland Clinic, Mayo Clinic-type of examination? How do you approve a guy that age, you know, allowing him to take punches to the head? That is absolutely crazy – crazy!”

Dan Rafael has reported that Holyfield vs. Belfort will be an exhibition bout despite Triller’s advertising.

Ahead of the fight, Holyfield told Sky Sports that he won’t be the one who will be in trouble. He thinks Belfort doesn’t know what he’s getting himself into.

“We say: ‘If you don’t quit it will be alright’. Then you get older and start quitting. You stop taking care of yourself. I was young at one point and didn’t have bad habits,” Holyfield said (via Sky Sports). “They say: ‘You’re taking a chance’. But you will never be successful in life if you don’t take any chances. I realized that I was in good shape. If I don’t get out of shape, I don’t have to worry. If I was fighting in MMA, I would be in trouble. He’s boxing – he’s in trouble.”

Do you think booking Evander Holyfield vs. Vitor Belfort was a mistake?