MMA stars Anderson Silva, Tito Ortiz to box in co-feature of De La Hoya comeback

David Haye, coming out of retirement, also on card

Anderson Silva and Tito Ortiz, two of MMA’s most famous fighters, will face each other in a boxing ring.

They will meet in an eight-round cruiserweight bout in the co-feature of Oscar De La Hoya’s comeback fight after 13 years in retirement on Sept. 11 (Triller Fight Club PPV and FITE, $49.99) at Staples Center in Los Angles, Triller announced.

De La Hoya will face another MMA star in Vitor Belfort in their previously announced eight-round bout at a contract weight of 180 pounds.

Also added to the undercard: former heavyweight and cruiserweight world titlist David Haye, who hasn’t fought since 2018.

Haye is due to face Joe Fournier in an eight-round heavyweight bout, although Andy Foster, the executive officer of the California State Athletic Commission, told Fight Freaks Unite that the bout has not yet been approved.

Silva (2-1, 1 KO), 46, of Brazil, had his third boxing match on June 19 in Guadalajara, Mexico, where he won an upset eight-round decision over former middleweight titlist Julio Cesar Chavez Jr. Silva is a former UFC middleweight champion, holding the title from 2006 to 2013, and is considered one of the greatest MMA fighters of all time.

“I am very excited to have the opportunity along with my team to get in the ring against Tito Ortiz on Sept. 11th with Triller Fight Club, who are really shaking things up in the combat sports world.” Silva said.

Ortiz, 46, a former UFC light heavyweight champion, will be making his boxing debut.

“I am excited to be taking on a new challenge and compete against another great fighter in Anderson Silva,” Ortiz. “As a patriot, fighting on Sept. 11 means a lot to me.”

Haye (28-4, 26 KOs), 40, of England, has not fought since a fifth-round knockout loss to Tony Bellew in May 2005. Bellew also knocked Haye out in the 11th round in his previous fight in 2017.

“This is not a comeback, this is about teaching Joe Fournier there are levels to the boxing game,” Haye said. “One must stay in their lane or risk getting flattened. There are certain things in life you can’t buy. Joe ‘The Billionaire’ Fournier needs to learn that.”

Fournier (9-0, 9 KOs), 38, a billionaire entrepreneur from England, has amassed an unbeaten record but has faced dreadful opposition with a combined record of 29-116-1.

“I will shock the world and knock out David Haye,” Fournier said. “Unquestionably, one of the hardest challenges of my life, but this is the perfect fight at the perfect time for me. Haye is riddled with injuries, 10 years past his prime. I was a late starter to this pro boxing game, now I’m coming into my fighting prime. I’m healthy, motivated and ready to prove a point to Haye, that on Sept. 11 I will be victorious.”

Another bout added to the pay-per-view will pit junior lightweights Andy Vences (23-2-1, 12 KOs), 30, of San Jose, California, and former world title challenger Jono Carroll (19-2-1, 5 KOs), 29, of Ireland, in a 10-rounder.

Their bout was originally scheduled to take place on June 19 in Miami on the undercard of the fight between unified lightweight world champion Teofimo Lopez and George Kambosos Jr., but when Lopez came down with Covid-19 a week beforehand the card was canceled.

Silva photo: Chris Farina