MAN MOUNTAIN Thor eased to victory over Devon Larratt with a first round TKO
Arm wrestling legend Larratt stepped in at the last minute after Eddie Hall pulled out of the fight with a bicep injury.
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Full undercard results
- Thor bt Devon Larratt by TKO
- Jacob Heppner bt Josh Bridges by UD
- Anthony De Brujin bt Giorgi Gachechiladze by UD
- Stefi Cohen drew with Marcela Nieto
- Martin Bakole bt Haruna Osumanu by KO
- Avril Mathie bt Jesca Mfinanga by UD
RESPECT
Hafthor Bjornsson was quick to reiterate his love and respect for the sport of boxing after beating Devon Larratt.
Bjornsson said: “I love competing and I have such a respect for this sport.
“I’ve been an athlete my whole life, and this sport is without a doubt the hardest sport I’ve tried.
“But I absolutely love it”
GETTY IMAGES THOR ADMISSION
Hafthor Bjornsson admitted that he would get his “a** beaten” if he got in the ring with Tyson Fury.
Bjornsson told Muscle and Health: “I know I’d get my a** beaten against Tyson Fury today, but if I was offered that opportunity, I would not turn it down.
“The opportunity to fight someone that great would be an honour for me and I just couldn’t say no to that.
“But I would get my a** beaten, that’s for sure.
“I’d need far more experience and a few more years under my belt to stand a chance against someone that good”
FAST & FURY-OUS
Hafthor Bjornsson expressed an interest in fighting current WBC heavyweight champion Tyson Fury,.
Bjornsson said: “I would never say no to that, it wasn’t like I was calling him out.
“The same thing happened when I was asked if I would fight Tyson Fury and I said the same thing.
“I would definitely fight him if the opportunity came along, because the experience would be so great.
“I would learn so much from fighting either of those guys, so I just couldn’t say no to that”
WHO’S NEXT?
Hafthor Bjornsson revealed he would be open to fighting boxing legend Mike Tyson.
Bjornsson told the Daily Mirror: “I was asked the question if I would fight Mike Tyson and my answer was that I would not say no to that offer.
“This is because of the respect that I have for Mike as a fighter and as an athlete, and I would want to feel his power.
“I would want to step in the ring with him because to be able to tell people that I fought Mike Tyson would be an honour.
“I’m all about experiences, living your life and taking the right opportunities, and if I was offered to fight Mike Tyson then that would be huge for me”
ED-DING BACK
Eddie Hall has vowed to shatter Hafthor Bjornsson’s jaw after being replaced by Devon Larratt.
Hall told Men’s Health UK: “In the beginning, I think everyone had Thor as the favourite because he’s got the reach and height advantage.
“I’m 6ft 2.5in and he’s 6ft 9in, but I think people are now gauging how seriously I’m taking this.
“I’m putting my heart and soul into this fight and I don’t do anything 99%. It’s 100% or nothing.
“I think it’s safe to say the public is starting to get that feeling that I’m taking this very seriously indeed and that Thor is going to get a broken jaw”
MORE FROM LARRATT
Devon Larratt admitted he “clearly sucks” after his loss to Hafthor Bjornsson.
Larratt said: “I wish I could have done better. I have tons of respect for this boxing game, clearly I suck but wow, what a trip, man,
“To be in the ring with Thor, it’s totally on my bucket list. To be able to step into this arena in this format.
“In the real world Thor could have killed me today but we had the gloves on and we can do it again another day and get stronger.
“I loved it. I knew I was under-prepared but I knew the fight would be a lot of fun”
LARRATT JOKE
Devon Larratt jokingly called for one of his fellow arm-wrestlers to avenge his loss to Hafthor Bjornsson.
Larratt said: “Thanks to everybody who supported me and believed in me in this process.
“I know that there is an arm wrestler out there who is a far superior boxer to me.
“Please, take vengeance on Thor for me. Somebody from the arm wrestling world who actually has some hands”
LARRATT PRAISE
Hafthor Bjornsson was full of praise for his opponent Devon Larratt after his easy victory as he was impressed he took on this fight in such short notice.
Bjornsson said: “My thoughts is just wow.
“Devon is such a warrior, he has the biggest heart I know. That guy is something else.
“To only take a fight on only five weeks’ notice is brave”
HALL OF PAIN
Hafthor Bjornsson vowed to knock out Eddie Hall immediately after his stoppage victory over the latter’s replacement Devon Larratt.
Bjornsson said: “You guys know what I want to fight [next].
“You guys know. Come on, who is it? I know Eddie’s at home chilling on the sofa with his popcorn and cola.
“Enjoy your life, buddy. I’m gonna knock you out soon”
GETTY IMAGES
RECAP
Hafthor Bjornsson scored an easy first-round TKO victory over short-notice replacement Devon Larratt in Dubai on Saturday.
Bjornsson came out aggressive early doors and immediately looked to take the centre of the ring with his pressure and a series of jabs.
But the 32-year-old soon found himself trying to stay upright after the pair clinched and almost fell through the ropes.
Larratt wasn’t deterred by the Icelandic behemoth in front of him and looked to land counter shots, two of which found their home.
But the ref soon gave the 46-year-old a count for what initially looked like a stumble.
That proved to be the signal for the Game of Thrones star to up the ante and fire his left hand, which began to find its home at will.
After hearing Larratt wail in pain following a big left hand, the referee wisely decided to stop the contest and award The Mountain the win
TALE OF THE TAPE
Just a reminder of how Eddie Hall and Hafthor Bjornsson stack up ahead of their grudge match.
JAW TAKER
Eddie Hall is champing at the bit to share the ring with Hafthor Bjornsson, so much so has vowed to shatter the Icelandic giant’s jaw.
He told Men’s Health UK: “In the beginning, I think everyone had Thor as the favourite because he’s got the reach and height advantage.
“I’m 6ft 2.5in and he’s 6ft 9in, but I think people are now gauging how seriously I’m taking this.
“I’m putting my heart and soul into this fight and I don’t do anything 99%. It’s 100% or nothing.
“I think it’s safe to say the public is starting to get that feeling that I’m taking this very seriously indeed and that Thor is going to get a broken jaw.”
WHY THE HATRED BETWEEN THOR AND EDDIE?
The rivalry between the pair stems from Eddie Hall’s World’s Strongest Man triumph in 2017 – after which Hafthor Bjornsson claimed the Brit cheated in the Viking press portion of the competition.
Hall said of Thor’s comments: “
This is a quote from Hafthor Bjornsson: ‘I was robbed.’
“For the last three years, instead of answering questions about how I defeated some of the greatest strongmen to ever live, Hafthor included, instead I had people questioning whether I really won it or not.
“Hafthor Bjornsson and his entourage have been smearing my title and the referee Colin Bryce’s reputation for the last three years.
“Because he was the Mountain from Game of Thrones, a huge TV star, people listened and people believed him.
“I’ve had enough of the doubters saying he was robbed and how hard done by he was.
“So today, I came across a video that ends all the smack talk and silences the doubters.
“This video stopped me in my tracks for how desperate a man can be when things don’t go his way.
“It’s time for the truth to be told, for the picture to do the talking.
“Hafthor Bjornsson, you and your yes men should be ashamed of yourselves.”
‘RESPECT FOR THIS SPORT’
Game of Throne star Hafthor Bjornsson was quick to reiterate his love and respect for the sweet science after having his hand raised.
He said: “I love competing and I have such a respect for this sport.
“I’ve been an athlete my whole life, and this sport is without a doubt the hardest sport I’ve tried.
“But I absolutely love it.”
DEVON LARRATT TALKS
“Thanks to everybody who supported me and believed in me in this process.
“I know that there is an arm-wrestler out there who is a far superior boxer to me.
“Please, take vengeance on Thor for me. Somebody from the arm-wrestling world who actually has some hands.”
MORE FROM THOR
Hafthor Bjornsson was full of praise for Devon Larratt after their bout, hailing him for taking the fight on a mere five weeks’ notice.
He said: “My thoughts is just wow.
Devon is such a warrior, he has the biggest heart i know. That guy is something else.
“To only take a fight on only five weeks’ notice is brave.”
THOR CALLS OUT HALL
Hafthor Bjornsson has just sent a message to former friend turned rival Eddie Hall.
In his post-fight interview, he said: “You guys know what I want to fight [next].
“You guys know. Come on, who is it? I know Eddie’s at home chilling on the sofa with his popcorn and cola.
“Enjoy your life, buddy. I’m gonna knock you out soon.”
IT’S OVER!
Hafthor Bjornsson has defeated short-notice opponent Devon Larratt via first-round TKO.
A scrappy and unpleasing affair on the eye, but The Mountain finally has his first victory.
THOR VS LARRATT – ROUND ONE
Thor comes out aggressive and immediately tries to take the centre of the ring with a series of jabs.
They clinch and briefly fall into the ropes before the ref steps in.
Larratt has landed two good counter hooks early.
The ref is giving a count to Larratt, not sure why, though.
Thor lands a big straight left before Larratt looks to close the distance and avoid the onslaught.
Bjornsson is continuing to find a home for his straight left and Larratt is struggling.
A big left hook lands for Thor and staggers Larratt. And the ref has waved it off!
HERE COMES THE MOUNTAIN
Hafthor Bjornsson is making his way to the ring.
LARRATT IS HERE
Devon Larratt is in the ring.
ALMOST MAIN EVENT TIME
It’s almost time for Hafthor Bjornsson and Devon Larratt to go to war.
Will the former Game of Thrones star finally pick up his first victory?
We’re about to find out.
HEPPNER WINS
Jacob Heppner defeats Josh Bridges via unanimous decision.
No complaints with that decision. Now, let’s move on to the main event.
BRIDGES VS HEPPNER – ROUND SIX
Both men are giving their all here in the sixth and final stanza.
Despite huffing and puffing earlier, Heppner is the fresher fighter.
Bridges seems resigned to throwing and hoping and has missed wildly with several shots.
The final bell goes.
BRIDGES VS HEPPNER – ROUND FIVE
Just as I praise both men for showing some degree of skill, it drops.
More than likely down to fatigue, but the pace and quality has well and truly dropped.
Heppner, to his credit, is continuing to try and push the pace.
Source: Boxing - thesun.co.uk
