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      Deontay Wilder sparring with 6ft 6inch heavyweight Robert Helenius to prepare for Tyson Fury’s height in trilogy fight

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      DEONTAY WILDER has drafted in the help of gigantic heavyweight Robert Helenius to help him prepare for Tyson Fury. The American, 35, is set to face Fury in their anticipated trilogy bout on October 9 after months of delay.
      Deontay Wilder is sparring Robert Helenius to help him prepare for Tyson FuryCredit: Instagram @heleniusrobert
      Tyson Fury beat Deontay Wilder in their rematchCredit: PA
      Helenius – known as ‘The Nordic Nightmare’ – has helped Wilder overcome the issues of matching the Gypsy King’s 6ft 9in frame.
      The Finn is only three inches shorter than Fury and brings a wealth of experience into the ring.
      British fans may recognise Helenius, 37, from his controversial 2011 points win over Derek Chisora or 2017 loss to Dillian Whyte.
      More recently, he upset Polish-American Adam Kownacki and the pair are set to rematch on Wilder’s undercard in Las Vegas.
      Wilder was dethroned of the WBC title in February 2020 after initially drawing with Fury, 33, in 2018.
      They were then contracted to a trilogy fight, but amid the coronavirus pandemic it was continuously delayed.

      BETTING SPECIAL – GET JOSHUA TO WIN IN ROUNDS 1-6 AT 60/1 OR ANYTIME AT 25/1
      So much so that Fury tried to walk away to instead face Anthony Joshua, 31, for the undisputed crown.
      But Wilder took his right to a rematch to arbitration and at the 11th hour was awarded the verdict.
      It left Joshua ordered to face mandatory challenger Oleksandr Usyk, 34, this Saturday before he can kick back and relax to watch Fury’s trilogy as a fan.
      He told  Sky Sports: “I believed Tyson Fury could potentially do what he done.
      “I just felt like, Deontay Wilder is a formidable ex-champion and has a chance to come back, but I just knew that when he gets to the top level, it will be difficult, because it’s one thing getting there and it’s another thing staying there.
      “We’ve seen in some of his fights, it’s been difficult for him and then he lands his punch and he’s been victorious.

      How Tyson Fury and Deontay Wilder stack up ahead of the trilogy fight
      “But I always believe that when you go to war, you can’t have one weapon in your arsenal, which was his right hand.
      “Once that was taken away from him, which Fury did, I’m not going to go into tactics, but he was able to annihilate Wilder and expose him for some of his weaknesses.
      “Fury did a great job tactically and I’m looking forward to their rematch.”
      Tyson Fury’s dad John says his son will send Deontay Wilder into retirement More

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      Jake Paul customises his new £400,000-plus Ferrari SF90 Spider as boxing star rakes in cash after Tyron Woodley win

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      JAKE PAUL showed off his customised £400,000-plus Ferrari SF90 Spider to add to his collection of supercars. The YouTuber-turned boxer has been known to drive around in Lamborghinis, Rolls-Royces and and SUVs.
      Jake Paul pictured shopping for a new Ferrari
      Jake Paul revealed he wants to buy two new Ferraris
      The YouTuber showed off the supercars
      But now two new Ferraris look to be added to the collection after Paul uploaded a video on Instagram customising the motors.
      He captioned the post: “Customizing my new Ferrari SF-90 Spider (the fastest street legal production car) and then adding another Ferrari 296 GTB to the collection for the f*** of it. 2 Ferraris > than 1.”
      The value of a SF90 Spider is close to £407,000 while a 296 GTB is around £230,000.
      Paul, 24, also appeared to suggest he will change the colour from yellow to red.
      According to Celebrity Net Worth, the social media sensation is valued at just over £20MILLION.
      But that number could now go up even higher as Paul claimed he earns ‘eight-figure paydays’ in boxing.

      BETTING SPECIAL – GET JOSHUA TO WIN IN ROUNDS 1-6 AT 60/1 OR ANYTIME AT 25/1
      That would mean he made at least £7.3m for his last fight, a points win over eight rounds against ex-UFC champion Tyron Woodley, 39.
      It added to his prior knockouts over online rival ‘AnEsonGib, ex-NBA star Nate Robinson and retired UFC welterweight Ben Askren, both 37.
      Paul has called to fight UFC fan-favourite Jorge Masvidal, 36, next but Dana White was quick to shoot it down.
      White told The Daily Telegraph: “He likes 170 pounders. Go fight somebody your own size.
      “Anderson Silva is not in contract, he’s 46 years old, that’s the age group you love to fight, and he’s your size, and he’s actually winning fights.
      “If you look at Jake Paul’s history, Jake Paul either fights basketball players who have never fought, or he wants to fight washed-up older guys who haven’t fought in years.
      “Anderson Silva has actually been boxing, he’s won some fights, he’s 46 years old, and he’s in your weight class.
      “There you go, that’s a no brainer, fight Anderson Silva.”
      Jake Paul says ‘idiot’ Conor McGregor may have ‘mistook’ Machine Gun Kelly for him after UFC star’s row at VMA’s More

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      Tyson Fury vs Deontay Wilder 3: Date, UK start time, live stream, TV channel and undercard for heavyweight trilogy bout

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      TYSON FURY and Deontay Wilder are ready to go to war for a THIRD time with a long-awaited re-match.The Gypsy King’s showdown with the Bronze Bomber, which was supposed to take place on July 24, was postponed because Fury, as well as other camp members, tested positive for Covid-19.
      Tyson Fury stopped Deontay Wilder in brutal fashion back in early 2020Credit: Getty
      Tyson Fury and Deontay Wilder will complete their trilogy
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      Fury demolished Wilder inside seven rounds to inflict the first defeat of the American’s career back in February 2020.
      Neither man has fought since then, and both have been busy in longer training camps.
      When is Tyson Fury vs Deontay Wilder 3?

      Tyson Fury vs Deontay Wilder 3 was originally slated to take place on July 24, but it will now take place on October 9.
      Expect the main event of Fury vs Wilder 3 at around 4am BST.
      The T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas plays host.

      What TV channel and live stream is Tyson Fury vs Deontay Wilder 3 on?

      How the fighters compare

      Who is on the undercard?
      The event, cross-promoted by Top Rank and Premier Boxing Champions, will see a host of heavy-hitters featuring on the undercard.
      That includes the battle of unbeaten heavyweights in Cuba’s Frank Sanchez meeting Nigeria’s Efe Ajagba.
      Sanchez, a training partner of Canelo Alvarez who is promoted by Top Rank, will put his 18-0 record against PBC’s Ajagba, who stands 15-0.
      Robert Helenius will also rematch Adam Kownacki on the bill.
      Polish prospect Kownacki, 32, was defeated for the first time and stunned by veteran Helenius, 37, in March 2020.
      American star Jared Anderson will return, with an opponent yet to be confirmed.
      Anderson, 21, is 9-0 and was credited as a huge part in Fury’s win against Wilder last year.
      He provided the Gypsy King with expert sparring Stateside, winning the praise of the WBC champion.

      What have they said?
      Fury, after Wilder’s silence during their press conference: “It shows how weak of a mental person he is.

      “It shows how much the beating from the last fight has taken an emotional and physical effect on his life.
      “I was worried about Deontay Wilder for quite a while after the defeat I gave him.
      “Obviously he’s doing his little thing with his earphones on and he doesn’t want to answer any questions, that’s up to him. I’m here to promote a fight and talk to the press – what I always do.” More

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      Oleksandr Usyk insists he’s more worried about son’s first month at school than fighting Anthony Joshua

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      OLEKSANDR USYK claims he is more worried about his son’s first month at school than fighting Anthony Joshua.Ukraine’s 34-year-old former undisputed cruiserweight king gets a crack at the Brit icon’s WBA, IBF and WBO heavyweight titles at the Tottenham Stadium on Saturday.
      Oleksandr Usyk is more worried about son’s first month at school than fighting Anthony JoshuaCredit: Instagram @usykaa
      AJ puts his world titles on line at the Tottenham Stadium next weekCredit: Getty
      The 18-0 southpaw could be spending hours watching tape and trying to work out if AJ plans to recreate his stick-and-move style from the Andy Ruiz Jr rematch win – or if he will reemploy the seek-and-destroy skillset that helped him obliterate Kubrat Pulev in December.
      But the ice-cool leftie is more concerned with six-year-old Mykhailo’s scary start at big school.
      “At the moment I don’t think about Anthony Joshua,” Usyk revealed. “I don’t think about what he will do, what he will use or how he will box.
      “I have a little bit of timing to finish my training camp now, I might think about it then.
      “Right now I think more about how my son feels at school because he has just started first grade and he really did not want to go and do it.
      “He was saying: ‘I don’t want to go to school, dad. I am bored at school and you’re not there.’

      BETTING SPECIAL – GET JOSHUA TO WIN IN ROUNDS 1-6 AT 60/1 OR ANYTIME AT 25/1
      “But everything is fine now, he seems to have calmed down. So I probably think more about that than what Anthony Joshuua will do in the ring.”
      Joshua was ringside for Usyk’s second heavyweight fight in October, when he had to overcome a poor start to outpoint the relentless Derek Chisora.
      Delboy has since signed with AJ’s management team and spent time in the Sheffield gym going over tactics and he insists Usyk does not have the power to trouble his close friend.
      But the challenger reckons the champ and his fans are falling into a trap if they think that sub-par Wembley arena performance guarantees them a successful defence.
      He said: “I am very grateful to all those that support me and everything else but they expect too much from athletes.
      “Some of them very much do not understand what is happening in the ring, how difficult it is or, in some cases, how easy it is. People just have an image that they think up.
      “The fact is I boxed Derek for 12 rounds but he is actually a very difficult guy to beat. If you look at his two fights with Tyson Fury then he has gone 22 rounds with him.”

      Joshua has been the biggest cash-cow in boxing since his first world title win in 2016 but Usyk reckons he has the perfect background for milking him dry.
      “My first job was helping my mother on a big cow farm,” he revealed.
      “She had about 50 cows under her command and they all had to be milked and fed and put in their place when the shed needed to be cleaned out.
      “I was there every day after school.
      “I work hard now so that my children never have to worry about helping me at work.
      “They can just go to school and get knowledge and not have to worry about helping me at work.”

      Boxer Martin Bakole says Oleksandr should fear Anthony Joshua’s explosive power More

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      Boxing legend Manny Pacquiao announces he will stand to become Philippines president next year during elections

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      MANNY PACQUIAO has confirmed he will run for president of the Philippines in 2022. The 42-year-old is currently a senator in the nation’s parliament, but will aim to go a step further next year.
      Pacquiao is regarded with legendary status in the PhilippinesCredit: AFP
      PacMan has been Senator of the Philippines since 2016Credit: Reuters
      He last fought in August, losing to Cuba’s Yordenis UgasCredit: AP
      He has been nominated as a presidential candidate by a faction of the ruling party, PDP-Laban, it was announced on Sunday morning.
      In a live-streamed speech during a national assembly, Pacquiao said: “I am a fighter, and I will always be a fighter inside and outside the ring.
      “I am accepting your nomination as candidate for president of the Republic of the Philippines.”
      Current president Rodrigo Duterte is blocked from another spell as leader after a six-year term, but has been picked by a rival faction of the party to run for vice-president.
      And Duterte’s longtime friend, Christopher “Bong” Go, is nominated as their presidential candidate.
      He declined the nomination, but there is a divide between his faction of the party and that of Pacquiao.

      BETTING SPECIAL – GET JOSHUA TO WIN IN ROUNDS 1-6 AT 60/1 OR ANYTIME AT 25/1
      The former eight-weight world champion has previously accused Duterte of corruption, and told him: “Your time is up.”
      Despite Pacquiao’s popularity in the Philippines, he is currently way off the top of the opinion polls.
      In the ring he has fought a whopping 72 times as a professional boxer.
      Pacquiao has won 62 of those fights, with eight losses and two draws.

      He was last in action just last month, but was beaten in heartbreaking fashion.
      In July 2019, Pacquiao became the oldest welterweight world champion in history at the age of 40 after defeating Keith Thurman to win the WBA title.
      That victory also made him the first boxer in history to become a recognised four-time welterweight champion.
      Manny Pacquiao has to be spoon-fed by doting wife as boxing legend can barely open eyes after brutal Yordenis Ugas fight More

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      Inside Logan Paul’s UK adventure as boxer and YouTuber visits Stonehenge and meets Drake in London

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      LOGAN PAUL bumped shoulders with Drake and visited Stonehenge during his recent trip to England.The 26-year-old has uploaded a number of snaps on social media to his 21.1 million Instagram followers of him revelling in the United Kingdom.
      Logan Paul was pictured alongside Drake in London earlier this weekCredit: Instagram @champagnepapi
      Paul was also snapped laughing outside monument Stonehenge
      Paul bumped shoulders with Canadian rapper Preme during his time in England
      Paul was snapped leaving the Chiltern Firehouse restaurant in London earlier this week with singer Olivia O’Brien.
      O’Brien came to the attention of the music world in 2016 when she worked with Gnash on the single ‘I Hate U, I Love U’.
      On the same night he shared a picture of himself with Canadian rapper Preme, while Drake put a photo of the pair together on his Instagram story.
      The four-time Grammy-award winner, 34, was in the capital to promote his sixth album Certified Lover Boy.
      In another picture posted by Paul, he can be seen walking up to a helicopter in his Maverick clothing range.
      He was then snapped outside Stonehenge laughing while holding a Polaroid camera.
      YouTube and boxing star Paul has uploaded a number of pictures from his time in the UK
      Paul has backed his brother Jake to beat Tommy Fury should the pair meet inside the ring

      BETTING SPECIAL – GET JOSHUA TO WIN IN ROUNDS 1-6 AT 60/1 OR ANYTIME AT 25/1
      Singer Olivia O’Brien followed Paul out of the Chiltern Firehouse restaurant earlier this week
      During his time in the UK, Paul linked up with True Geordie where he commented on the potential fight between his brother Jake and Tommy Fury.
      The pair are in talks to meet each other in the ring, with promoter Frank Warren revealing ‘something may happen’ in the near future.
      And should the duo square off, Logan has backed his sibling to come out on top as he declared he will ‘murder’ the Love Island star.
      He said: “The dude Tommy Fury beat [Anthony Taylor]. I’d been drinking 45 days straight after the Floyd Mayweather fight.
      “I come back, I sparred the kid Tommy fought, he didn’t make it out of the first round… He’s gonna get f***ing murdered [vs Jake].
      Paul hasn’t stepped inside the ring since his exhibition bout against Floyd Mayweather in JuneCredit: The Mega Agency

      “It isn’t a fight between me and Tommy Fury at all, I can say what I want now I really don’t give a f***, Tommy couldn’t even finish Taylor in the four round period.
      “Do people think he is going to win, I was watching his fight and it is very clear that he is still an amateur, he is clearly built for it but there is something he lacks.
      “From what I saw from that fight, there is levels to this s*** and I am way above him.”
      Logan Paul reveals he almost accidentally sparked a brawl between UFC stars Conor McGregor and Khabib in a restaurant More

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      Tyson Fury lands in Las Vegas to complete Deontay Wilder trilogy fight training camp with just three-weeks left

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      THE GYPSY KING has made landfall in Las Vegas as he counts down the days until his epic trilogy fight against Deontay Wilder. The pair lock horns for a third time on October 9 at the T-Mobile Arena in Vegas.
      Fury is all smiles after landing in Las VegasCredit: Instagram @toprank
      The 33-year-old is yet to be defeated in his professional careerCredit: Getty
      But The Bronze Bomber once again stands in his wayCredit: Rex
      And with less than three weeks to go until the first bell rings, Fury has posed for an Instagram snap for Top Rank after disembarking from a private jet that took him stateside.
      The two heavyweights will go head to head for the WBC and The Ring heavyweight titles when they meet again next month.
      After a controversial draw between the pair in December 2018, the two once again clashed in the ring 19 months ago.
      And it was Fury who came out on top in the rematch.
      The fight was stopped midway through the seventh round after Wilder’s corner threw in the towel to save their man from a barrage of Fury shots.
      Boxing fans had initially believed that closed the chapter of bouts between Fury and Wilder.

      BETTING SPECIAL – GET JOSHUA TO WIN IN ROUNDS 1-6 AT 60/1 OR ANYTIME AT 25/1

      The Gypsy King was scheduled to face Anthony Joshua on August 14 in a hugely anticipated all-British bout for the ages.
      But an arbitration judge ordered Fury to once again lock horns with Wilder, forcing the fight with AJ to be cancelled.
      Joshua though has vowed a bout with Fury will go ahead one day.
      First though The Gypsy King must dispose of Wilder again, something his dad and trainer John thinks he will do without any problems.
      John is even confident his 33-year-old son will sent Wilder ‘into retirement.’
      He said: “Tyson will send him into retirement this time. He’ll never box after this, he’s gonna get beat to pieces. Smashed to pieces.
      How Tyson Fury and Deontay Wilder stack up ahead of the trilogy fight
      “He got humiliated last time. He let the whole of America down. Tyson smashed him to pieces. He’s lucky to be boxing Tyson again for the third time.
      “After that last performance, he don’t deserve the fight. It should have been him and AJ.
      “People who like blood and snot everywhere and injuries are going to have a right night, believe me. He’s going to get it proper.”
      Tyson Fury’s dad John says his son will send Deontay Wilder into retirement More

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      Thor vs Devon Larratt LIVE REACTION: Hafthor Bjornsson WINS with a 1st round TKO as Devon Larratt says ‘clearly I suck’

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      MAN MOUNTAIN Thor eased to victory over Devon Larratt with a first round TKOArm 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.
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