EDDIE HALL and Hafthor ‘Thor’ Bjornsson are finally doing battle in the boxing ring TONIGHT.
The strongmen rivals will settle a long-term grudge in their rescheduled heavyweight boxing clash in Dubai.
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The bout was originally set to take place last September, before Hall had to pull out with a bicep injury.
Thor has been busy with exhibition boxing bouts for his preparation, while Brit Hall has instead trained with current world champions.
And Hall has said he believes Thor has lost TOO much weight, with the Game of Thones actor showing a far more defined body now as he prepares for the fight.
The two former World’s Strongest Man winners have both shed several stone ahead of the ‘heaviest boxing match in history’.
BETTING SPECIAL – GET EDDIE HALL AT 40/1 OR HAFTHOR BJORNSSON AT 50/1
But Bjornsson’s transformation has arguably been the more dramatic, with the 6ft 8in behemoth losing 55kg in just two years.
Hall told Muscle and Health: “Thor, for whatever reason, looks like a skinny dog on heat.
“For me, it’s just stupid. It’s supposed to be the heaviest boxing match in history, and he just looks ill.
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“It’s not just me saying that, I see comments all over the place from people asking if he’s sick. That’s not me saying that, but the general public.
“I think he has genuinely got a problem with cardio. I don’t think he can sustain the full six rounds. I believe that’s why he’s lost so much weight. because his fitness levels are terrible.
“I’ve wanted an excuse to punch this man in the face for a long time. Where I’m from, if someone burns you, you bite their nose off.”
Eddie Hall vs Thor: Start time and date
Eddie Hall vs Thor will take place TONIGHT – Saturday, March 19.
The big fight is expected to get underway at 9pm GMT – this is 1am in Dubai.
The Dubai Duty Free Stadium in the Middle East plays host.
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Eddie Hall vs Thor: How to watch for FREE?
Eddie Hall vs Thor will be available to watch totally for FREE with SEGI.TV holding the rights.
Simply view on SEGI.TV and watch on fight night.
The free live stream is set to kick off at 8.30pm GMT.
And there is no registration or sign up needed to watch on SEGI.TV.
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Ominous warning from Thor?
Thor said as the fight gets ever close: “Eddie Hall, you better be training your a** off.
“Because I’m coming for you, and I’m knocking you out – you’re going down.
“I respect you as an athlete, and I know you’re training hard, but I am going to knock you out, see you soon!
“Don’t miss my fight with Eddie Hall, it’s going to be a blast and I promise you I’m doing whatever I can to knock him out.”
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More from Eddie Hall
Hall continued: “I’m not a false person. I’m not two-faced. I hate Thor. And he hates me. We’re gonna settle this like men should settle things.
“This will not be left to the referee’s decision. This is either gonna be a knockout, or the fight will be stopped.
“Thor will either be on his back, or the referee’s gonna save his life before that happens.
“Just to finish up, Thor’s a c**t.”
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That’s Rash
Manchester United’s Marcus Rashford is here in Dubai with Brandon Williams.
The forward met with Regis Prograis after the American beat Tyrone McKenna.
Here’s their engage.
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Eddie Hall questions Thor’s cardio
Eddie Hall says he does not believe Thor has the capacity to go all six rounds tonight.
Hall said: “I think he has genuinely got a problem with cardio. I don’t think he can sustain the full six rounds. I believe that’s why he’s lost so much weight. because his fitness levels are terrible.
“We had to get along for professional reasons whilst presenting Strongman shows, but this fight- this is real.”
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Cut it out
Regis Prograis proved he was a cut above Tyrone McKenna – by leaving the Irishman with a gruesome gash.
The American former light-welterweight world champion insisted throughout the build up he was not one but several levels above.
And he proved good to his word by dominating McKenna, scoring a knockdown and leaving the referee with no choice but to stop it.
Prograis floored McKenna in round two with a perfect left hook over the top and it was one-way traffic soon after.
The ex-WBA title holder showed off slick defensive, flash combination punching and veteran ring control.
McKenna fought back in spurts – much to the excitement of the travelling and ex-pat Irish fans.
But nothing put a dent in dominant Prograis, who landed some spiteful left hands to run away with the fight.
Eventually, the ref called off the contest before the start of round seven.
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Thor’s daily diet
Thor has lost a whopping 10stone for the fight, coming in at a lean 24stone.
But just what does he eat every day? Starts off with a flank steak and then ends with some berries for supper..
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Eddie Hall vs Thor tale of the tape
How the fighters compare tonight for the BIGGEST fight in history.
Which former Worlds Strongest Man will be the victor?
Not long to wait now…
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Thor Bjornsson’s net worth
Hafthor Bjornsson’s net worth stands at £1.6m, according to reports.
Thor has made the money through endorsements and prize money from competing in the World’s Strongest Man.
And of course appearing at The Mountain in Game Of Thrones.
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Thor Bjornsson gives Hall warning
Thor has warned Eddie Hall he is ready to go the full six-round distance – despite carrying 23 STONE into their fight.
He told SunSport: “I can see myself knocking him out, but I’m also OK with going six rounds, if needed.
“I’m happy to do either way, I’m able to go six rounds, I’ve been sparring very often six rounds, even more.
“We do roughly six rounds sparring then I’ll do four rounds on the bags, so I do a lot more work than the six rounds.
“So I know for a fact that my shape is strong enough to go six rounds, so I’m ready to go there if needed.”
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Live from Dubai
Ex-world champion Regis Prograis has beaten Tyrone McKenna – leaving the Irishman bloodied and battered.
Prograis scored a knockdown in round two with a big overhand left and dominated from that point on.
And after McKenna was left with a gruesome gash, the bout was stopped before round seven.
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47 stones
Eddie Hall and Thor Bjornsson weighed in at a combined 47 – yes, 47 – stones at their weigh in, making tonight’s clash the HEAVIEST fight in boxing history.
Britain’s Hall came in at 22st 3lbs, while Thor was 23st 9lbs.
BIG, big, big fight coming up.
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Hall vs Thor fight rules explained
Tonight’s big fight will take place across six, 2min rounds.
Both fighters will be wearing bigger 12oz gloves, as apposed to the usual 10oz gloves for heavyweights.
There will be judges at ringside, and knockouts ARE permitted.
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What is Eddie Hall’s net worth?
Eddie Hall’s net worth is estimated to be £4m, according to reports.
In addition to endorsements, Hall has won prize money from competing in the World’s Strongest Man.
It is not known how much the fight purse is for Hall vs Thor in Dubai.
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Meet the hostess
Fitness model Danni Levy will be the hostess for the heaviest boxing match in history between Eddie Hall and Thor Bjornsson tonight.
Levy, who is based in Marbella, London and Los Angeles, is the editor-in-chief of Muscle and Health.
The former life on Marbs star will be back on screens helping host the pre-fight action for Hall vs Bjornsson.
Hall and Bjornsson will finally meet here in Dubai in the square circle in mere hours, two years on from when their rivalry ignited.
The feud started when Bjornsson enraged Hall by breaking the Brit’s world record 500kg deadlift by one single kilo.
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Just an Ed’s up
Eddie Hall has already lined up his next fight – calling out Polish strongman Mariusz Pudzianowski.
The British former world’s strongest man fights Games of Thrones star Hafthor Bjornsson – known as Thor – in a grudge match TONIGHT.
It includes a rematch clause if both rivals agree – but Hall insisted it will not be necessary.
He told Muscle and Health: “I wanna move on to another fight and I know for a fact Thor doesn’t want to rematch.
“I don’t blame him. He knows what’s coming to him and he doesn’t want that to happen twice.
“At the end of the day, I’ve been boxing for two years, and I’ve put my heart and soul into it, so it’d be a shame to fight once and make an exit. I’d like to carry on.
“I’m not saying I wanna fight with pro boxers, but I think this sort of clash of the celebrities has really taken off.
“Mariusz Pudzianowski has been coming onto my channel and having met him, he seems like a nice guy.
“So it’d be good to do business. It could be another battle of the strongmen. Another clash of the title.”
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Thor wow
Thor has lost over TEN STONE during his two-year preparation to face Eddie Hall.
He competed in three boxing exhibitions in the build-up to the fight of his life and revealed for the first time ever, he is injury free.
Bjornsson said: “I’m feeling absolutely great – apart from being sore which is normal and slightly tired – but I’m feeling ready, I’m feeling good.
“No injuries, I’ve taken good care of my body. Doing my hot and cold sauna treatments twice a week.
“Training almost twice a day, resting on Saturdays. So everything has been going extremely well and I’m extremely thankful that my body is not injured.”
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Sequel?
A rematch clause is believed to be included in Thor’s contract with Eddie Hall meaning a second fight has already been teased by both men.
And with the rise of celebrity boxing and returning legends, the weekend’s winner in the Middle East could be inundated with future fight offers.
But Thor – who played ‘The Mountain in HBO’s hit series Game of Thrones – has refused to think that far ahead.
He said: “I haven’t really thought about that, to be honest with you.
“I’m just focussed on this one goal now, to fight Eddie Hall, and after that I’m open to other suggestions.
“If there’s something exciting that comes up and it interests me, you know, maybe, possibly.”
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Hall pass
Hafthor Bjornsson warned Eddie Hall he is ready to go the full six-round distance – despite carrying 23 STONE into their fight.
The strongman rivals will settle their near five-year feud on Saturday night inside the Dubai Duty Free Tennis Stadium.
Two days before at the weigh-in the pair scaled a combined weight of 47 stone – living up to the heaviest boxing match in history billing.
Both have vowed to score thudding knockouts and secure bragging rights for life.
But 6ft 8in Bjornsson – nicknamed Thor – insisted he is good to go until the final bell – dispelling any fear of fatigue.
He told SunSport: “I can see myself knocking him out, but I’m also OK with going six rounds, if needed.
“I’m happy to do either way, I’m able to go six rounds, I’ve been sparring very often six rounds, even more.
“We do roughly six rounds sparring then I’ll do four rounds on the bags, so I do a lot more work than the six rounds.
“So I know for a fact that my shape is strong enough to go six rounds, so I’m ready to go there if needed.”
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Thor vs Eddie Hall simulated – but who wins?
In an effort to predict who will be in the winning corner on Saturday evening, Boxing Fight Simulations have run the battle through EA Sports’ popular Fight Night video game.
The simulation begins with a fairly equal first round, as the beefy fighters get acquainted with the power behind their respective punches.
In the real fight, the competitors have agreed to wear 12oz gloves – bigger and heavier than the standard 10z.
And you can expect some huge blows to rain down from both men in Dubai, with Hall emphatically dropped in the second round of the simulation by a giant Thor left to the temple.
The Beast is down but not out though, getting back to his feet and returning for the third round – only to take more punishment.
On Saturday, there will be knockdowns and KOs encouraged unlike Mike Tyson’s exhibition with Roy Jones Jr.
And the simulation suggests this might not be an ideal situation for Eddie, who was slammed by Thor earlier this week for looking ‘fat’.
The UK strongman gallantly fights on through the third, but is dropped again by a brutal left-hook.
The referee has seen enough, stopping the contest with 1:22 left in the third round.
Make sure you join SunSport for all the action, with our live blog bringing you all the drama for real.
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Live from Dubai
Inside the Dubai Duty Free Tennis Stadium, Olympian Peter McGrail has moved to 2-0.
He made easy work of Alexandru Ionita in two rounds to go 3-0.
Liverpool’s McGrail is one for the future, for sure.
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30 glove
A tennis stadium may appear an unorthodox venue for what is billed the heaviest boxing match in history.
But Hall of Fame promoter Richard Schaefer insisted the complex – which opened in 1993 – is capable of hosting just about any grudge match.
And even though the two gigantic super-heavyweights scaled a combined 47 STONE – the arena is still child-friendly.
Schaefer said: “These tennis stadiums are perfect for boxing. I’ve done fights in Carson, California, Los Angeles from a tennis stadium.
“And that tennis stadium established itself with the nickname ‘The War Ground’ because the fights were always so good.
“Dubai has these kind of infrastructures in a safe and clean environment where you feel comfortable, as a parent to take your kids.
“Or you grandparents, your whole family. And that is what is important.”
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Call of Duty
The Dubai Duty Free Tennis Stadium will play host to boxing’s heaviest ever fight – and has been hailed as a ‘modern day gladiator arena’.
Strongman rivals Hafthor Bjornsson and Eddie Hall will settle their score over six-rounds in the 5,000-seater stadium on Saturday night.
Just before, newly-formed promotion Probellum stage an evening of world title action headlined by Sunny Edwards, 26, and Muhammad Waseem, 34.
And Hall of Fame promoter Richard Schaefer warned the close proximity will lead to a bare pit-like atmosphere.
Schaefer told SunSport: “This is an absolute first-class venue. I’ve been at many venues. There is not one bad seat in the house.
“I went all the way up and honestly, the view you have right into the ring, it’s like a modern-day gladiator boxing facility, even though it’s a tennis stadium.”
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No Joshing
Anthony Joshua has revealed he is backing Eddie Hall to beat Hafthor Bjornsson tonight.
Joshua, who offered an update on his next fight if he fails to land his rematch with Oleksandr Usyk, said: “Eddie vs Thor? Go on Eddie.
“Good fight though, but I’m with Eddie. Eddie’s my guy.
“I’m looking forward to that one.”
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Eddie Hall vs Thor tale of the tape
How the World’s Strongest Men turned bitter enemies compare for tonight’s headline act.
Which way do you have it going?
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Probellum boxing
Before Thor and Eddie Hall settle the score, newly-formed promotion Probellum host a night of world title boxing beforehand.
At the same Duty Free Tennis Stadium, the likes of IBF flyweight world champion Sunny Edwards and American star Regis Prograis are in action.
SunSport will keep you up to date with the results.