Oscar De La Hoya-Vitor Belfort boxing match to be sanctioned fight rather than exhibition
Oscar De La Hoya's comeback fight at 48 is now exactly that -- a fight.
The Hall of Fame boxer's Sept. 11 return against former UFC champion Vitor Belfort, originally planned as a boxing exhibition, now will be a sanctioned fight, Triller Fight Club founder Ryan Kavanaugh told ESPN on Wednesday.
The boxing match, which will be staged at Staples Center in Los Angeles, will be contested over eight two-minute rounds at 180 pounds. De La Hoya and Belfort can weigh within 5 pounds of the limit.
The event has been approved by the California State Athletic Commission, executive director Andy Foster told ESPN, subject to De La Hoya and Belfort passing comprehensive medical testing for 40-year-old-plus fighters that includes an MRA and MRI of the brain, an EKG, cardiac testing, neurocognitive testing and an ophthalmologic exam.