Boxing legend reveals urgent plea to not fight

Boxing fable Evander Holyfield says his children urged him not to measurement into the ringing against Vitor Belfort after a concerning clip of the seasoned was released up of the bout.

Holyfield, who'll crook 59 adjacent month, volition combat erstwhile MMA prima Belfort,44, astatine the Hard Rock Hotel and Casino successful Florida connected Sunday (AEST) aft Oscar De La Hoya was forced to retreat aft investigating affirmative to COVID-19.

However, a clip of the erstwhile satellite champion grooming up of the bout has reverberated astir the combat sports world, with respective starring voices questioning however the combat large was allowed to participate the ring.

All fighters implicit the property of 40 who use for a licence successful Florida are taxable to an oculus exam, humor work, an MRI and EKG, from the Florida Athletic Commission.

Leading voices successful boxing person questioned however Holyfield was allowed to fight. (Triller)

Holyfield signed a woody with Triller to conscionable Kevin McBride successful an accumulation bout connected June 5 connected the undercard of Teofimo Lopez-George Kambosos, but it ne'er materialised starring to a contractual quality betwixt the institution and 'The Real Deal'. When De La Hoya pulled out, Triller enlisted the services of Holyfield.

The four-time heavyweight champion is understood to beryllium making aggregate millions for the fight, sources told ESPN. It's said helium besides wants a 3rd combat with Mike Tyson. Holyfield made value for the clash and was asked whether his household held immoderate concerns for his safety.

"This is the archetypal clip my kids ever told me... 'Dad, you don't request to beryllium getting hit,'" Holyfield said.

"At slightest I'm warring idiosyncratic that I cognize I tin support myself [against]. The full thing's astir protection. You don't go a bully combatant until you cognize however not to get hit.... I cognize each the things that's indispensable to beryllium safe.

"It's benignant of hard to crook down a large sum of thing erstwhile you cognize you tin bash it. Plus you gotta understand, they saying combat idiosyncratic who boxing ain't his thing."

Belfort has had lone 1 pro boxing match, each the mode backmost successful 2006, a first-round KO triumph successful his autochthonal Brazil.

Belfort hasn't fought since May 2018, a second-round KO nonaccomplishment to Lyoto Machida astatine UFC 224. That was Belfort's 4th nonaccomplishment successful six Octagon appearances. He announced his status aft the bout.