Blockbuster boxing events no longer need to have a title belt on the line to attract the fans.
One perfect example is the Triller Boxing Club, which is fast becoming a trailblazer in setting novelty bouts, pitting legends against either a celebrity blogger or a legend from another combat sport.
Acceptance from the fans is astounding.
The most recent talk of the boxing town were former world heavyweight champion Evander Holyfield being stopped by Ultimate Fighting Championship star Vitor Belfort and Anderson Silva knocking out cold fellow UFC legend Tito Ortiz last Saturday in Florida, USA.
The bouts were both in the same blockbuster pay-per-view card put up by Triller, with the Holyfield-Belfort tussle serving as the main event.
What novelty matchup fans want to see next?
If Filipino boxing enthusiasts are to be asked, they’d like to see a rematch between Silva and Belfort, this time atop the boxing ring.
Former Muay Thai champion Ray Biagtan said it should be an exciting fight, with both wanting to finish their opponents via stoppage.
“Para sa akin magandang laban para sa kanila para mapatunayan kung sino pa rin ang malakas sa mga legends. Halos pareho sila ng mentality sa laban na ang gusto ay maipanalo ang laban sa knockout,” Biagtan said.
For Delfin Boholst, coach and manager of former Olympian and now a professional campaigner Charly Suarez, Belfort has an upperhand if he takes on Silva.
“Maganda ‘pag maglaban sila ni Belfort. Pero kay Belfort ako dito (against Silva),” he said.
Why is Boholst picking Belfort?
“Magaling din naman si Silva and timing niya maganda. Pero may power at galing si Belfort para sakin,” explained Boholst.
Jhack Tepora, former interim World Boxing Association featherweight champion, likewise picks Belfort if ever he faces Silva.
“Lamang si Belfort para sakin. Gandang laban ‘yan. Parang na talo na yata ni Silva si Belfort dati?” said Tepora.
Indeed, Silva easily won their first meeting—inside the UFC octagon—using a devastating front kick to the face of Belfort right in the first round of their middleweight championship bout last Feb. 5, 2011, in Las Vegas, Nevada.
That was a decade ago, and with those long limbs rendered useless in a boxing match, boxing experts are giving the younger Belfort a slight edge.
Silva, now 49 years old, decisioned boxing legend Julio Cesar Chavez Jr. in his debut before the KO win against Ortiz.
Belfort, 44, definitely has a lot of gas and power left as he had shown in his debut win against no less than Holyfield, the man who once stopped the brass and powerful Mike Tyson.