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      Game of Thrones star turned boxer Hafthor Bjornsson looks unrecognisable without trademark beard

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      GAME OF THRONES star Hafthor Bjornsson looks completely unrecognisable without his trademark beard.The 2018 World’s Strongest Man, also known as Thor, has had the bushy facial hair ever since coming into the public eye more than a decade ago.
      Hafthor Bjornsson shared a video of him donning his usual beardCredit: Instagram / @thorbjornsson
      But now he has shared an image of him from back in the day which shows him donning a clean look.
      He shared the clip of him now and photo of him then, along with the caption: “How I look with beard vs without beard”.
      Reacting to the Icelandic strongman’s post on social media, one person hilariously said: “I really respect you sir , but please don’t shave 🙏”.
      Another added: “I was not ready 😆”.
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      And a third said: “European Dana White 😂”.
      Bjornsson recently swapped the world of strongman for a short stint in boxing.
      And after three warm-up bouts, he faced rival Eddie Hall, 35, in March of last year in what was billed The Heaviest Boxing Match in History.
      Bjornsson, 34, won on points in Dubai and was in talks for an exhibition with heavyweight champion Tyson Fury, 34.
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      But after negotiations collapsed, Thor hung up his gloves and retired from boxing.
      He said: “I’ll admit there was a time when there was talks between Tyson Fury and I, his team and my team, there was build-up but that never went through.
      “Now I’ve made a hard decision and the reason why it took me so long to make this video was because this is actually a very difficult thing to talk about.
      “I’ve made a decision to move on from boxing, to not compete in boxing again, to say goodbye to boxing and just not fight again.
      “I had a good run, I did it for two-and-a-half years. It was nice to do so, because when I first started I had a lot of people not believing in me.”
      This is what he looked like before growing his beardCredit: Instagram / @thorbjornsson More

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      Tommy Fury promises to end Jake Paul’s career as American drops pregnancy bombshell and vows to force him to change name

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      JAKE PAUL and Tommy Fury have wasted no time in kicking off the war of words before their rescheduled grudge fight. The celebrity rivals have announced they will finally settle their score in the ring on Sunday, February 26 in Saudi Arabia.
      Jake Paul faces Tommy Fury on February 26Credit: Caitlin O’Hara/SHOWTIME
      Tommy Fury has signed to fight Tommy Fury for the third timeCredit: Global Titans
      Paul, 26, comes into the bout with a 6-0 record but faces his first opponent with recognised professional boxing experience.
      And Fury, 23, has vowed to be the first and last by promising to bury the American’s prizefighting career in the desert.
      He said: “Jake Paul’s boxing career ends on February 26th and I can finally move on with mine.
      “Every time I go out right now, everybody asks me about the Jake Paul fight.
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      “After this fight is done, everybody will be asking me how it felt to knock Jake Paul out.
      “The world is about to see what happens when a proper boxer faces a YouTuber.
      “I am a professional boxer, I have had eight undefeated bouts, soon to be nine.
      “Jake Paul will regret ever thinking he could take me on. I will put him in his place, the canvas.”
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      Fury gets a third crack at the cherry, having pulled out in December 2021 due to a rib injury and then last August amid a US visa issue.
      And Paul claimed there is “no excuses now” as he appeared to suggest Fury’s girlfriend Molly-Mae has given birth.
      He posted online: “After multiple failed attempts to get Tommy Fury in the ring, the moment of truth has finally arrived.
      “Fumbles has no excuses now. Baby is born. Money is massive. Immigration is not an issue.”
      Fury’s champion brother Tyson, 34, insisted the 2019 Love Islander can “stay in Saudi Arabia” if he fails “chin” Paul.
      And last year he even threatened to change his younger sibling’s name if he does not emerge victorious.

      Tyson said: “If Tommy can’t splatter Jake Paul, I’ll retire him from boxing myself. If he can’t beat Jake Paul, forget about boxing.
      “Because he’s got ambitions of being a world champion, never mind beating some YouTube guy.
      “But it’s a great fight for the social media world and for all the kids out there who support them both.
      “It’s a great fight to watch, it’s a spectacle. But Tommy – his name’s Fury. If he can’t beat Jake Paul, I’ll have to change his name.”
      Paul is set to go face to face with Fury for the first time on Saturday before Anthony Yarde, 31, fights Artur Beterbiev, 38.
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      And he said: “Tyson Fury has promised he and Papa John will make Tommy retire from boxing and change his last name forever if he can’t beat the YouTuber.
      “Saturday (tomorrow) I’m coming to London to look at all three Fury’s in the eye and shake on that promise.”
      Tommy Fury and Jake Paul are set to fight in FebruaryCredit: BT Sport More

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      Tyson Fury vs Oleksandr Usyk fight location to be revealed NEXT WEEK with Wembley Stadium the preferred option

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      TYSON FURY’s historic showdown with Oleksandr Usyk could still land at Wembley – despite fierce interest from the Middle East.The pair’s mouthwatering undisputed heavyweight title fight is on the verge of being signed, sealed and delivered – although the fine details have yet to be ironed out.
      Tyson Fury and Oleksandr Usyk are on course for a historic undisputed showdownCredit: Reuters
      A venue for the bout has yet to be finalisedCredit: JAMIE MCPHILIMEY
      Fury’s co-promoter bob Arum has revealed the pair could clash at WembleyCredit: GETTY
      Saudi Arabia are currently the frontrunners to bag the monumental showdown, although Fury co-promoter Bom Arum admits Wembley is still very much a contender to stage the bout.
      When asked about the venue for the clash, Arum told Sky Sports: “It depends what the deals are and so forth.
      “There are a number of us that would prefer the fight to be in Wembley, but again it depends on the money.
      “The fighters have a very short limit of their careers and they have to make whatever money.
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      “Particularly large amounts of money, because in a few years it’s not going to be available.
      “I just think it’s going to be a tremendous fight.”
      Arum is hoping to announce the first undisputed heavyweight title fight in nearly 24 years – which is still on course for the spring – next week.
      The 91-year-old said: “I think both of the fighters have agreed to the fight.
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      “I think the question is where the site will be.
      “That will be sorted out hopefully next week and we’ll have an announcement shortly.
      “If the fight goes to the Middle East it will be sometime after Ramadan and if the fight is in the UK it will be the beginning of April.”
      Fury and Usyk, 34 and 36 respectively, have traded several verbal jabs since their heated face-off last December.
      Fury vs Usyk will crown the first undisputed heavyweight champ in 24 yearsCredit: REUTERS
      Undefeated Ukranian Uysk recently question The Gypsy King’s honour, writing on social media: “Fury, you talk about greatness in boxing but, at the same time, you say, ‘Give me a lot of money.’
      “Greatness in boxing is not determined by money. Greatness comes from a victorious path.
      “You say that I avoid you, but I never have. In fact, I have even come to you.
      “I am ready to box you even without any prize money.” More

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      I’m perfect sparring partner for Tyson Fury ahead of Usyk fight.. he mustn’t make same mistake as AJ, says Moses Itauma

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      MOSES ITAUMA has told Tyson Fury to hit him up for Oleksandr Usyk sparring and not make the same mistake Anthony Joshua did.The 18-year-old heavyweight prodigy is 6ft 3in southpaw with mind-boggling movement and angles – just like Ukraine’s 36-year-old WBA, IBF and WBO world champion.
      Moses ‘Enriko’ Itauma believes he is the perfect sparring partner for Tyson FuryCredit: Richard Pelham / The Sun
      He has offered to spar with the Gypsy King ahead of his fight with Oleksandr UyskCredit: Reuters
      But he only did a few rounds with the London 2012 Olympic legend ahead of the first points loss – by accident – and none for the second.
      Over 24 rounds, AJ – who admitted to hating lefties – could work out the timing and techniques of the gap-toothed genius and – having seen some of his preparation – Itauma was not surprised.
      So he has been asking Frank Warren and BT sport stablemate Tyson Fury to take up an offer for ideal sparring sessions before his possible April 29 undisputed showdown with Usyk.
      Ahead of his pro debut against Marcel Bode at Wembley arena on Saturday night, the Kent wonderkid told SunSport: “The sparring that AJ had for the Usyk fight seemed wrong.
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      “When I was there, he had a 6ft 10in German southpaw, and I’m thinking ‘why would you have that?’ 
      “But he would only spar six rounds, then do three rounds on the bag, three rounds on the pads. He didn’t really do a full 12-round spar. 
      “But the sparring he had was mediocre. 
      “I didn’t get called back for the second fight but I wasn’t really meant to spar him for the first one, it was coincidental.
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      “I was training up in Sheffield when he was training, then when his team asked me if I wanted to spar. I said, ‘why not?'”
      Itauma’s freakish talents have already earned him priceless training sessions with British stars like Lawrence Okolie, Daniel Dubois and Joe Joyce, often he would arrive at their London gyms still in his school uniform, before schooling them.
      It’s a nightmare finding right-leading heavyweights around the world, let alone in England.
      So he was baffled AJ spurned him and hopes the 34-year–old Gypsy King snaps up his offer.
      He revealed: “I was quite confused Joshua’s team never brought me back, because around that time I was always struggling to get fights and good sparring. But I am not stressing about that.  
      “I want to spar Fury, if he gets the Usyk fight, definitely. 
      “I’ve been asking to do a few rounds with Fury, so that would be good.”
      Itauma turned 18 on December 28 and trained at mentor Dan Woledge’s Chatham gym, with SunSport and providing balloons and bunting.
      Itauma wanted to spar with Anthony Joshua before his loss to UsykCredit: Getty
      The red-hot prospect signed pro terms with manager Francis Warren that day and has dreams of beating Mike Tyson’s record of becoming history’s youngest-ever heavyweight king, at 22 years and four months.
      Everyone inside the sport is excited about the boy-in-a-man’s-body who blitzed the most recent European Youth Champions with four first-round knockouts.
      But he’s taking everything in his giant southpaw stride.
      In his baritone boom, with deadpan delivery, he said: “I don’t feel any different to when I was 17, I feel exactly the same.
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      “I am not one for parties, nightclubs or drinking, so it won’t make any difference to me.
      “My new year resolution was to stick to exactly what I did last year. It’s an easy one to stick to.” More

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      Jake Paul heading to London for face off with Tommy Fury as boxing rivals CONFIRM February 26 fight in Saudi Arabia

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      JAKE PAUL is set to head to London to face off with Tommy Fury – after they CONFIRMED their grudge match. The celebrity boxing rivals have announced the latest rescheduling of their pay-per-view bout, on Sunday, February 26 in Saudi Arabia.
      Jake Paul and Tommy Fury are set to face off in LondonCredit: Reuters
      Tommy Fury and Jake Paul will fight on February 26Credit: Getty
      And they will use this Saturday’s unified light-heavyweight title fight between Artur Beterbiev, 38, and Anthony Yarde, 31, to help promote it.
      SunSport was the first to reveal Paul will be at Wembley Arena to square up and face off against Fury in the ring.
      He tweeted: “I’m coming to London to look at all 3 Fury’s in the eye & shake on that promise.”
      A fight announcement came today and marks the third time the two will attempt to put bragging rights and reputations on the line.
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      It will be televised on BT Box Office in the UK and ESPN PPV in America.
      Fury, 23, was forced to pull out in December 2021 due to a rib injury and then last August amid a US visa issue.

      The travel woe still persists today, which left the UK and Saudi as frontrunners to host the bitter bout.
      Paul, 26, even offered to travel to Manchester on February 18 and fight Fury in enemy territory.
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      But a more lucrative deal in Saudi Arabia a week later was proposed and won the race.
      Paul posted: “Tommy has no excuses now
 Baby’s born. Money’s massive. Immigration no issue.
      “Tyson promises he & Papa will make Tommy retire from boxing & change his last name if he can’t beat the YouTuber.”
      Fury hit back: “Jake Paul’s boxing career ends on February 26th and I can finally move on with mine.
      “Every time I go out right now, everybody asks me about the Jake Paul fight.
      “After this fight is done, everybody will be asking me how it felt to knock Jake Paul out.
      “The world is about to see what happens when a proper boxer faces a YouTuber.
      Jake Paul’s boxing career ends on February 26th and I can finally move on with mine. Tommy Fury
      “I am a professional boxer, I have had eight undefeated bouts, soon to be nine!
      “Jake Paul will regret ever thinking he could take me on. I will put him in his place, the canvas.”
      Paul and Fury become the latest prizefighters to have been convinced over to the desert.
      Anthony Joshua, 33, has twice boxed in Saudi, most recently in defeat in August against Oleksandr Usyk, 36.
      And now Usyk is in talks for the heavyweight division’s first ever four belt undisputed title decider in the Middle East with Tommy’s brother Tyson, 34.
      The younger Fury last boxed in Dubai in November in a last-minute exhibition against Rolly Lambert, 33.
      Paul was a special guest commentator that night and slammed the six-rounder from ringside.
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      It came a month after the American beat UFC legend Anderson Silva, 47, over eight rounds to go 6-0.
      And it has kept the unbeaten pair on track to finally settle their drawn out score in the ring once and for all.
      Tommy Fury and Jake Paul attempt to fight for the third timeCredit: Amanda Westcott/SHOWTIME More

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      Tyson Fury’s mixed-rules fight against Francis Ngannou with 4oz gloves in the cage ‘evens it up a lot’, says UFC star

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      FRANCIS NGANNOU has been given a glimmer of hope against Tyson Fury – if they agree to an unprecedented mixed-rules bout. Fury has called to fight Ngannou in a hybrid bout, in the cage with 4oz gloves on but under boxing rules.
      UFC middleweight Darren Till pictured with Tyson Fury
      Francis Ngannou has left the UFCCredit: Getty
      And UFC heavyweight Tom Aspinall believes it help level the playing field slightly.
      He told talkSPORT: “Punching with boxing gloves and MMA gloves is completely different.
      “The boxers are very used to the rings, obviously, because that’s all they’ve fought in, and the cage is completely different.
      “You can’t ride punches as well in a cage as you can in a ring. I mean, there’s no leaning back over the top rope in a cage, if you start leaning back you’re going to get knocked out.
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      “It definitely evens it up a lot. I don’t know what they are trying to do with the rounds. If they do three five-minute rounds that will suit Ngannou as well.
      “It definitely evens it up more than fighting in a ring with boxing gloves on.”
      Ngannou, 36, is now a free agent having walked out on the UFC after failing to agree a new contract, which saw him stripped of the title.
      But it now paves the way for the Cameroonian to realise his long-standing dream of a career in boxing.
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      Fury, 34, is currently in talks for the heavyweight division’s first four-belt undisputed title decider with Oleksandr Usyk, 36.
      But he warned attention will turn to a blockbuster crossover fight with Ngannou if terms for the historic unification are not met.
      Despite Ngannou’s devastating punch power – which is equal to being hit with a sledgehammer – Aspinall remains realistic on his chances against boxing’s best.
      He said: “I think they are good fights for PR and money and stuff.
      “I mean, everyone has got a chance, especially with heavyweights, but I think it’s a very, very slim chance.
      “[It’s tough] when you’re boxing someone who is a specialist in just boxing, us as MMA fighters, boxing is just a small part of our game really.
      “It is definitely a part of the game, but pure boxing is different, it’s a whole other sport on its own
      “I definitely think it’ll be great for his career and he definitely has a chance of winning but I don’t think the chance is very big to be honest.”
      UFC heavyweight contender Tom AspinallCredit: Getty More

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      Deontay Wilder labelled a ‘fraud’ and ‘coward’ after Dillian Whyte accuses rival of being ‘scared to fight’ him

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      DILLIAN WHYTE labelled Deontay Wilder a “fraud” and “coward” after accusing his rival of being “scared to fight” him.Whyte spent an age as the No1 contender for the WBC title, held by the American at that point.
      Dillian Whyte labelled Deontay Wilder a ‘fraud’ and ‘coward’Credit: PA
      Deontay Wilder has been accused by Dillian Whyte of being ‘scared’ to fightCredit: Getty
      But by the time he finally got his shot at the green and gold belt, it was held by Tyson Fury, who twice beat Wilder to win and retain the title.
      Whyte, 34, is still out to settle the score with Wilder, 37, but claimed the ex-champion is not so keen as he voiced his frustration.
      He told the Daily Mail: “We are just looking to see what’s next and who’s next. I’ve had enough of waiting around.
      “I waited years and years as No1 contender to fight that coward, fraud Wilder who avoided me and apparently is still scared to fight me which is pathetic. 
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      “That is the problem with boxing. Everyone should have to fight each other like in UFC.”
      Whyte most recently beat Jermaine Franklin, 29, in a disputed decision in November.
      Anthony Joshua, 33, was ringside that night which fuelled speculation of a rematch, following AJ’s 2015 win.
      But Joshua is set to instead return on April 1 against Franklin, building back after two losses to Oleksandr Usyk, 36.
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      And Hearn plans for a summer stadium fight between Whyte and AJ.
      Although Whyte has received no formal offer guaranteeing him another shot at Joshua, who he beat in the amateurs all the way back in 2009.
      He said: “AJ’s doing what he wants to do. Listen, if he really wants to fight me it’s not very hard to make.
      “It’s 1-1 and I’ve been chasing that fight for the last seven years. I don’t understand why we can’t get the fight on.
      “Obviously it’s a big fight for Britain and for DAZN, DAZN need big fights and big content. I don’t know why they’re not pushing for it.
      “Eddie has talked a lot about the fight, but they couldn’t commit to actually making it. Waste of time talking about it.
      “We’ve had no offer for that fight or serious talks. It’s very frustrating.”
      Anthony Joshua beat Dillian Whyte in 2015Credit: News Group Newspapers Ltd
      Anthony Joshua and Dillian Whyte embrace from ringsideCredit: Mark Robinson Matchroom Boxing More

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      Jake Paul’s grudge match with Tommy Fury in Saudi Arabia faces DELAY as fight announcement closes in

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      THE anticipated grudge match between Jake Paul and Tommy Fury faces another delay – by just 24 hours. Fans of the two celebrity boxing stars are fearing the worst with the fight yet to be confirmed.
      Jake Paul is set to fight Tommy Fury nextCredit: Esther Lin
      Tommy Fury has twice pulled out of fighting Jake Paul beforeCredit: Rex
      But according to journalist Ariel Helwani, the bout is set to end up on Sunday, February 26, with “an announcement shortly”.
      Initially the fight was due to land a day beforehand, with Saudi Arabia all-but confirmed to host.
      The two are now trying to settle their score in the ring for the THIRD time.
      Fury, 23, was forced to pull out in December 2021 due to a rib injury and then last August amid a US visa issue.
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      The travel woe still persists today, which left the UK and Saudi as frontrunners to host the bitter bout.
      Paul, 26, even offered to travel to Manchester on February 18 and fight Fury in enemy territory.
      But a more lucrative deal in Saudi Arabia a week later was proposed and looks to have won the race.
      Fury last boxed in Dubai in November in a last-minute exhibition against Rolly Lambert, 33.
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      Paul was a special guest commentator that night and slammed the six-round bout from ringside.
      It came a month after the American beat UFC legend Anderson Silva, 47, over eight rounds to go 6-0.
      Paul appeared to respond to concerns over his next fight and pointed towards the pregnancy of Fury’s girlfriend Molly-Mae.
      He tweeted: “Hold your horses. The man’s having a baby.”
      But Paul looks to be on track still, having travelled to Dubai to finish his camp for the Saudi fight with Fury.
      And his boxing banner Most Valuable Promotions also posted: “Jumping towards that announcement? You know what it is. Coming soon.”
      Tommy Fury and Jake Paul are set to fight in FebruaryCredit: BT Sport More