![]() ![]() Steve started boxing in the Police Boy’s Club at age 11 in New York City. Canton has been involved in every aspect of boxing for over 65 years. CANTON Matchmaker, Manager, Trainer, Cutman That's just not me, I wasn't born that way.Board of Directors STEVEN J. Even though the odds might be against my favour I would never go into anything thinking that I would lose. "I don't have the mindset of 'I can't win'. The speed and experience, he obviously has so much experience, he's been fighting since he was a kid," he accepts. "We'll see if the power is going to overcome the speed of Stephen's. "There's obviously a lot of people that don't support other athletes going into boxing, but I'm not claiming that I'm professional, not at all," he says. If there is something to be said for the Icelander aside from his physical attributes, it is that although he may lack pugilistic experience, he is no stranger to the concrete mindset required to be elite in a discipline. "The plan is just to do a full Forrest Gump around the ring for nine minutes."ījornsson, too, is authentically interested to see if he can lay a glove on a man who he concedes inhabits a different stratosphere in terms of boxing ability. "I've replaced my boxing boots with a pair of runners," says Ward. The Belfast man will back himself with some degree of confidence to dodge any punches but acknowledges that walking onto one shot from the 156kg frame of Bjornsson would present all manner of problems. Ward's skill-set is of such a higher level that the contest would not get off the ground were he not facing a man who can make a claim to being the single strongest man on earth. Instead both men seem genuinely intrigued by what is a potentially interesting equation. The pre-fight bravado has been non-existent, and the pretence of a personal rivalry between the pair has not even been attempted. In the case of Bjornsson versus Ward however, neither participant appears interested in building their meeting into something that it is not. "You don't play boxing" is often the warning. A bit of a mad one like, but sure why not?" 'I've replaced my boxing shoes with a pair of runners'Įxhibition fights are not a new phenomenon in boxing, although recent years have seen a rise in the number of heavily-publicised contests involving celebrities drawn to a sport where there is exposure and money to be made from driving their sizeable audiences to pay-per-view platforms.įor die-hard fight fans such events do not sit easily. "This is an opportunity that was handed to me. "Life's about taking risks and taking opportunities, this is one that was handed to me," says Ward, who like all boxers had his career and earning potential thrown off course by the Covid-19 pandemic. What's in it for the Northern Irishman know as the 'Quiet Man'? It is still a hugely unusual proposition, but it makes sense for the Icelander. "We thought it was a great fit even though there's a huge size difference there, but there's also a huge difference in skill as well," explains Bjornsson. The backstory to the fight is perhaps not peculiar as the match-up on paper might suggest.ījornsson has signed up to face long-time strongman rival and 2017 world champion Eddie Hall in what is being dubbed 'the heaviest fight in history' in September.Īlthough considerably lighter, Ward's similar height to Hall and availability was deemed good enough to set up a three-round exhibition as Bjornsson steps up his training. ![]() "He's tall, but it's the width from his chest to his back and shoulder to shoulder." "The first time I met him, the lift doors open, he dips down and comes out sideways because he's so wide," laughs Ward. Bjornsson won the 2018 World's Strongest Man and set a new deadlift world record last year He is 2.05m (6ft 9in) tall and weighs in at around 156kg (24.5 stone).įor comparison, Ward's cruiserweight opponents weigh roughly 91kg - and having spent most of his professional career at light-heavyweight he is most used to fighting those around the 79kg mark. Or simply as 'The Mountain'.ījornsson's sheer size and presence saw him gain worldwide notoriety in the role of Ser Gregor Clegane in HBO's Game of Thrones. Standing in the opposite corner from Ward this weekend in Dubai will be Iceland's Hafthor Bjornsson as they battle in an exhibition bout.īetter known perhaps as the 2018 World's Strongest Man. That said, even for 30-year-old Belfast cruiserweight Ward, his upcoming venture inside the ring marks a peculiar leap. ![]()
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