Rahman Jr. vs Belfort headlines MF & DAZN: X SERIES 003
DAZN Group, the global sports entertainment company, unveiled its third installment of its groundbreaking crossover MF & DAZN: X SERIES in partnership with social media megastar KSI and his promotional company Misfits Boxing, and in association with the Sauerland brothers, Wasserman Boxing and Proper Loud.
MF & DAZN: X SERIES 003, powered by Misfits Boxing, will take place on 19 November at the Moody Center in Austin, Texas, and boasts a HUGE main event between Hasim Rahman Jr. and Vitor Belfort.
The November 19 fight night will be available both live and on demand to all subscribers around the world on DAZN. Ticket details will be released soon. Visit MisfitsBoxing.com for more info.
Hasim Rahman is a former two-time heavyweight champion of the world, unifying the IBF, IBO, WBC and lineal titles before reclaiming his WBC World Heavyweight title five years later. Gaining notoriety as a professional fighter with destructive punching power, his rise to prominence began with a fifth-round knockout win against Hall of Fame great Lennox Lewis to unify the belts in his first period as a champion. Rahman would then go on to beat Monte Barrett for his second period as the WBC’s Heavyweight king. A career that saw him share the stage with fighters such as Wladimir Klitschko and Evander Holyfield, Rahman achieved 50 wins throughout his illustrious career, and could boast a devastating stoppage-win statistic of 82%.
Vitor Belfort is the former Brazilian MMA star who held the UFC Light Heavyweight Championship whilst producing stunning highlight-reel finishes throughout 20 years in the organisation. Alongside his reputation as a finisher, that saw 18 out of 26 wins come via stoppage, he is also undefeated as a professional boxer. He returned to the ring in September 2021 when he stopped Evander Holyfield in the first round of their exhibition fight. Having fought at both Light Heavyweight and Heavyweight, Belfort has beaten some of MMA’s greatest athletes including Randy Couture, Michael Bisping, Wanderlei Silva, Dan Henderson and Luke Rockhold. He sits amongst some of the greatest finishers the UFC has seen with his 12 knockout wins.
Rahman said: “I’m really looking forward to fighting Mr.Belfort on Oct 15th. I’m extremely grateful to Misfits Boxing for giving me the opportunity and I look to make the most of it. I’m 100% focused on making a lasting impression on all the fans in England and those watching at home. Now the world gets to see why Fake Paul and his sister want absolutely nothing to do with getting in a ring with me!”
Belfort said: “I’m excited to showcase my skills on October 15 in Sheffield, live on DAZN! I have been waiting for a fight for a while, and now is my time. I’m always in the gym staying ready. Rahman is a perfect opponent for me, so expect fireworks in the return of the Phenom.”
“It is great to be able to announce the third show in our MF & DAZN: X Series, and our first in the U.S.,” said Joseph Markowski, CEO DAZN North America. “We are super excited about these shows; their reach and their potential to excite and entice a growing new generation of fight fans. Stay tuned for more shows and more big names to be announced soon”.
President of Misfits Boxing and CEO of Proper Loud, Mams Taylor said: “We’re always looking at providing our fans with huge events, and that includes those all over the world. I’m so excited for a huge night in Texas, even more so with a headline between two dangerous men in Belfort and Hasim Rahman. Misfits Boxing keeps moving forward; London, Sheffield and now Austin confirmed. We’re just getting started.”
“America needs no introduction when it comes to its stature for putting on the biggest and best events in sports and entertainment as well as the passion of the fans,” said Kalle Sauerland, Head of Global Boxing at Wasserman Boxing. “It’s exactly why we’re heading out there, to give the world the best crossover boxing events available. This time, the headline is a frightening one, between two men who are coming with dangerous reputations. We have a former UFC champion going up against a man who has boxing running through his veins. Belfort vs. Rahman Jr is confirmed, and Texas better be ready for a fiery encounter.”