Former US President Donald Trump will provide “guest commentary” at a boxing match on September 9 when the country will be observing the 20th anniversary of 9/11 terror attacks. He will be joined by son Donald Trump Jr. for the Triller Fight Club match between former heavyweight champion Evander Holyfield and former UFC light heavyweight champion Vitor Belfort in Hollywood, Florida. The father-son duo’s “unfiltered boxing commentary” and match will be available on Pay-Per-View and FITE, according to a statement. The match will will be 58-year-old Holyfield’s first professional bout since 2011 as he replaces Oscar de la Hoya, who had to withdraw due to a coronavirus-related hospitalisation, to take on the 44-year-old Belfort.
“I love great fighters and great fights,” Trump said in the statement. “I look forward to seeing both this Saturday night and sharing my thoughts ringside. You won’t want to miss this special event.”
The announcement comes as two of Trump’s predecessors and his successor will visit memorial sites to commemorate the 2,977 fatalities and over 25,000 injuries in four coordinated terrorist attacks by al-Qaeda on September 11, 2001 against the United States.
Trump’s fellow Republican and former President George W. Bush will visit the 9/11 memorial in Shanksville, Pennsylvania, while former President Barack Obama will visit the 9/11 memorial in New York City, according to CBS News. President Joe Biden will visit New York City, Pennsylvania and Arlington, Virginia to pay homage to 9/11 victims.
Trump, who hosted several boxing matches at his casinos in the 1980s and ’90s, been inducted into both the New Jersey Boxing Hall of Fame and the Atlantic City Boxing Hall of Fame.
Some of other fights lined up for the evening include Anderson Silva v. Tito Ortiz, David Haye v. Joe Fournier and Andy Vences v. Jono Carroll. Performances will be provided by Anitta, Gente De Zona and Lunay.