HAFTHOR BJORNSSON endured a gruelling warm-up fight against Simon Vallily in his final exhibition fight before his 18 September bout against Eddie Hall.
Bjornsson, well known for his playing The Mountain in Game of Thrones, got four rounds of solid boxing in against pro boxer Vallily.
Both men approached the first round cautiously, testing one another at range.
Vallily tested the Icelandic former World’s Strongest Man winner’s chin with a solid left hook in round two, sending the big man stumbling.
But Bjornsson recovered well and caught Vallily, sending the 35-year-old tumbling.
However, it wasn’t counted as a knockdown.
The referee deemed Vallily’s fall due to the tangling of the pairs legs rather than the punch itself.
In round three, Bjornsson found himself on the canvas – but much like the round before the fall wasn’t counted as a knockdown.
The 32-year-old got back to his feet and came out fighting for the rest of the round, bundling Vallily over.
Round four was quiet, both men evidently tired from the prior rounds.
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The bout was ruled a draw due to exhibition rules, but Vallily looked the more polished boxer as expected.
After the fight, Bjornsson acknowledged that Vallily put him to the test: “Simon [Vallily] was a good opponent to me, this was good to test my chin as well as my ability to fight in the ring against a professional.
“He gave me some good shots, good hooks that landed well.
“I was very happy with my performance.”
The Mountain also issued a warning to his rival Hall – 2017 winner of the World’s Strongest Man – ahead of their fight which is being called the ‘heaviest fight in boxing history in Las Vegas later this year.
Bjornsson added: “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 in September.”
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