By Robert Brizel, Brick City Boxing Correspondent
Just when you think you have seen it all, boxing continues to provide new firsts beyond the firsts already recorded. Former United States President Donald Trump and his son Donald Trump Jr. will host the Evander Holyfield versus Vitor Belfort eight round exhibition and fight card at Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino, in Hollywood, Florida, this Saturday evening, September 11, 2021, coincidentally or not, the twentieth anniversary of the 9/11 terrorist attacks tragedy on the Twin Towers in Manhattan, which occurred before Donald’s presidency.
Trump will provide live ringside commentary for the Triller pay-per-view, along with his son Donald Trump Jr., featuring Evander Holyfield, a former World Heavyweight champion, age 58, versus MMA star Vitor Belfort, fighting an eight round exhibition with two minute rounds in a format similar to the Roy Jones Jr. versus Iron Mike Tyson at the Staples Center in Los Angeles, California, held last November 28, 2020. As to why the California State Athletic Commission would approve Tyson versus Jones as an exhibition, then approve Oscar De La Hoya versus Belfort as an exhibition, but not Holyfield versus Holyfield, could be because of the short notice time factor for Holyfield to substitute for De La Hoya rather than his age. Different state athletic commissions in the United States have different medical examination requirements, paperwork and bloodwork requirements.
The switch from California to Florida as the venue opened the door for ex-President Trump, whose home residence is Mar-a-Lago, Florida, wherehe has his private membership Mar-a-Lago Club, to get onboard with the Triller fight card. BoxRec currently lists Holyfield versus Belfort, and David Haye versus Joe Fournier, as actual eight round bouts with three minute rounds and not exhibitions. September 11, 2021 will tell the story as to how these bouts will go off. With Trump hosting the five fight card and providing commentary, the pay-per-view is going to sell, and is going to get noticed.
Compensation or not, “The Donald” will get good publicity in the United States of America, and possibly worldwide as well, from the pay-per-view audience ,as well as television networks and sports venues who will cover the Trump spectacle. What was originally a fight card of disinterest will become a fight card of all-time note. President Trump will be the first present or former United States president to call a professional boxing event. What’s he got to do with it? That’s is the question. The world has never figured out Donald Trump before, and it will not figure Trump after this boxing card.
Donald was present at boxing events at the Trump Taj Mahal Atlantic City, the hotel and casino which bore his name in his younger days, where many boxing events took place at Mark Etess Arena. Ironically, the Trump Taj Mahal is now the Hard Rock Atlantic City, and Trump will be hosting this boxing event at the Hard Rock in Hollywood. Well, a show is a show is a show. What better way to generate attention and controversy than to let the one and only Donald Trump host the pay-per-view card.
Just when you think you have counted Donald out, he will always find a way to return to the public spotlight, and still the show. Even still, aside from a few low key television postelection interviews, this is his most significant television appearance to date since losing the 2020 Presidential Election to Joe Biden. Ex-President Trump has maintained a low profile since, gearing his efforts below the radar in preparation for the 2022 United States Senate Elections.
Here we go again. It is not known if “The Donald” will use the pay-per-view sports platform on Saturday to air some or all of his current controversial political views along with his boxing and sporting views. He does have a history of hosting boxing events, attending major boxing events, and intermingling with boxers during his high profile life. His very present at ringside and with the microphone is certain to generate controversy and maximum publicity anyway, which is what Trump’s colorful personality lives for.