Vitor
Belfort will make another venture into the Sweet Science when
he faces Hasim Rahman in a boxing match in Sheffield, England, on
Oct. 15.
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The bout was announced during on Saturday during an event that
featured YouTube personality KSI. Belfort vs. Rahman Jr. is
expected to serve as one half of a double main event for a card
entitled DAZN X Series 002, with the other featured bout to be
announced at a later date.
Belfort’s first boxing outing occurred when he defeated 58-year-old
former champion Evander Holyfield via technical knockout 1:49 into
Round 1 of their clash at a Triller Fight Club-promoted event in
September 2021. Though initially marketed as Belfort’s professional
debut, the fight was
counted as an exhibition by the Florida State Boxing
Commission. Belfort was previously slated to face Oscar De La Hoya
before De La Hoya withdrew after contracting COVID-19. The former
UFC champion has a 1-0 mark in professional boxing thanks to a
knockout victory against Josemario Neves in 2006. “The Phenom”
hasn’t competed in MMA since 2018, when he fell to Lyoto
Machida via second-round KO at UFC 224.
Rahman Jr., meanwhile, owns a 12-1 professional mark but is coming
off a technical knockout loss to Kenzie Morrison in his most recent
appearance. Rahman Jr. was supposed to face Jake Paul at
a Showtime event in August as a replacement opponent for Tommy
Fury, but the event was scrapped when Rahman Jr. was unable to make
weight.