EVANDER HOLYFIELD is set to make a stunning return to the ring next weekend against former UFC light-heavyweight champion Vitor Belfort.

Boxing hall-of-famer Oscar De La Hoya was due to face Belfort in the main event of Triller's latest Fight Club card before he contracted Covid.

And in a bid to save the card, the promotion has turned to former undisputed cruiserweight king Holyfield.

Holyfield, 58, wasn't cleared to compete by the California State Athletic Commission.

And the CSAC's refusal to license The Real Deal has led to the entire event being moved to Florida.

It's understood Holyfield was not denied a license due to his age but because of the commission's lack of time to appropriately assess the former heavyweight champion.

Holyfield's clash with Belfort will be his first outing in over ten years, the last of which saw him register a tenth-round TKO victory over former IBO heavyweight champ Brian Nielsen.

The 1984 Olympian has, however, been training to return to the ring for the last 16 months.

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Holyfield was due to face Kevin McBride on the undercard of Teofimo Lopez's eagerly-anticipated clash with George Kambosos Jr.

But the card was scrapped after unified lightweight champion Lopez tested positive for Covid.

A gutted De La Hoya announced his withdrawal from his clash with Belfort on Twitter on Friday, writing: "Wanted you to hear directly from me that despite being fully vaccinated, I have contracted Covid and am not going to be able to fight next weekend.

"Preparing for this comeback has been everything to me over the last months.

"And I want to thank everyone for their tremendous support.

"I am currently in the hospital getting treatment and am confident I will be back in the ring before the year is up.

"God bless everyone and stay safe."

In a video from his hospital bed, The Golden Boy said: "What are the chances of me getting COVID?

"I've been taking care of myself and this really, really kicked my **s."

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