Holyfield, best known for his two wins over Mike Tyson, including the famous fight in which Tyson bit his ear, suffered Saturday in the first technical round against former UFC fighter Vitor Belfort on Saturday at the Seminole Hard Rock Hotel and Casino in Florida.
Belfort, 44, who was a UFC light heavyweight champion, attacked Holyfield with a succession of quick punches at first, setting him against the ropes.
And, failing to get a punch of his own, Holyfield was hit on the canvas twice before the referee had ended the fight in the first round.
Belfort called it a “legendary” moment, given the tough season everyone is going through.
The Trumps were part of the comment team for the event, alongside rapper 50 Cent.
Trump has long been a fan of boxing and mixed martial arts.
Trump, in office, paid tribute to sweet science by forgiving Jack Johnson, a former heavyweight champion convicted of transporting a white woman over state lines. Of Johnson, Trump said, “The first African-American heavyweight world champion, a truly great fighter. He had a hard life.”
Earlier, David Haye, the former world heavyweight and cross country champion of Great Britain, had returned to boxing with a win over Joe Fournier. Haye last fought Tony Bellew three years ago.