The size of the challenge facing Belfast boxer Steven Ward in Dubai was laid bare on Thursday.
Ward is preparing for a special exhibition bout with former World’s Strongest Man Hafthor ‘Thor’ Bjornsson this weekend.
Game of Thrones fans will recognise Bjornsson as Gregor Clegane, better known as ‘The Mountain’ because of his sheer size.
The Icelandic strongman and TV star stands at a towering 6ft 9in and weighs 344lbs.
That was the weight Bjornsson tipped the scales at during Thursday’s weigh-in, with Ward coming in a considerable 127lbs lighter.
The two men meet over 3 x 3 minute rounds at the sold-out Conrad Dubai, with viewers around the world able to watch the bout on coresports.world on Saturday at around 4:30pm (UK time).
“It has been a weird one to prepare for, because Bjornsson is so big,” Ward told Belfast Live.
“It has been difficult getting sparring partners due to Covid restrictions and not many people being in the gym.
“Plus you’re not going to find too many boxers the size of this fella.
“I was training in Monkstown, working on pads and working on attack. But it has been good. I am excited about it.”
(Image: ©INPHO/Jonathan Porter)
Ward, who admits to having never watched Game of Thrones, has seen Bjornsson work on the pads before.
The 32-year-old giant is also a former basketball player who represented Iceland at youth level.
“He is massive, but he can move a bit. He isn’t sluggish,” Ward added.
“I have never watched Game of Thrones so wasn’t aware of his character. But that just adds to the interest. The organisers they are expecting a lot of viewers, a few million anyway.”
Ward recently moved up to cruiserweight in his own professional boxing career, a division which has a weight limit of 200lbs.
He will fight at just over a stone heavier for this weekend’s bout in Dubai.
(Image: Getty)
“I obviously didn’t need to watch my weight too much for the fight, but I didn’t go mad,” he added.
“People talk about me bulking up, but I am never going to bulk up to your man’s size, am I?
“And if you bulk up too much my body will be out of sync, things like muscle memory.
“For me, I have just been training as normal, running up and down Cavehill with (Carl) Frampton who is preparing for his own fight against (Jamel) Herring.
“It has given me a reason to be in the gym It has given me some focus. If I didn’t have this then I wouldn’t have trained as much.
“I could be going to the gym one minute, and then the kids want to go to the ice cream shop.”
He added: “When I was offered the fight I didn’t know what to think at the start, but now the fight is here I am looking forward to it.
“It is an exhibition fight but it is a challenge, and it is something new.”
