Óscar de la Hoya vs. Vítor Vieira Belfort

Main event on Triller at the Staples Center on 9/11.

I had assumed this was an exhibition when I first heard about it - but no, it apparently will be a sanctioned professional bout, scheduled for 8 rounds at light heavyweight, and count on both of their official records. DLH's currently stands at 39-6 (30) and Belfort's at 1-0 (1), with the combatants having last fought (in a boxing ring) in 2008 and 2006 respectively.

Óscar and Vítor each debuted in the 1990's (the former in boxing and the latter a few years later in MMA) with both staying not just relevant but entrenched in the world championship picture until the mid-aughts. The legacy of the Mexican-American is probably the greater overall between the combat sportsmen, and this rule set is obviously his stomping grounds, but the Brazilian southpaw is four years his junior at 44, with a one inch height and one inch reach advantage.

 

Barebacking it, baby.

 

I think over 8 long rounds and with both of them being so past it, and the apparent vitriol in the build-up (although I'm sure a lot of that is exaggerated, if not totally for show to sell tickets and PPV buys), somebody's getting stopped. Question is whom.

ODLH is pushing 50 and was getting his ass kicked by a flyweight last time we saw him, thirteen years ago. So maybe him. Belfort also has 18 of his 26 victories in MMA by stoppage with eleven of those knockouts from punches - which is a pretty high rate for that sport - and is just a naturally much bigger guy, tale of tape aside, having campaigned in three weight divisions the lightest of which is 25lb heavier than where DLH topped out.

OTOH, this is his backyard. He isn't just a former champ but a bona fide ATG, something I'm not sure can be said of Belfort in MMA (he likely won't get into the UFC modern unified-rules era Hall of Fame, but might have a slim chance of squeaking into the Pioneer Wing) and his educated gloves and pop will be like nothing Belfort has seen from the guys that stopped him with punches in the octagon (although Souza, Weidman and Couture were all much larger).

 

Could box well for the UFC...that isn't the same as boxing on Hoya's level. Point taken however, Golden Boy has been more like a Golden Buddha for a long time, fat and blatantly coked out in even very recent public appearances. There's a reason Calzaghe has pooh-poohed every attempt to lure him back for huge money (but image tarnishing, inevitably) fights.

 

...has said he is concerned that he might kill him.