Tyson Fury has promised to knock out Thor Bjornsson as the pair continue to hold talks over an exhibition fight.
The world heavyweight champion insists he is retired from professional boxing, and won't be paying attention to the winner of Anthony Joshua and Oleksandr Usyk's rematch next month. But he has always claimed that he would be willing to take on exhibition bouts similar to the ones which Floyd Mayweather, Mike Tyson and Evander Holyfield have done in recent years.
A bout between he and Bjornsson wouldn't go on the boxer's professional record, and would likely see them compete under modified rules with different gloves than a standard fight. But it would still be a huge draw, given Bjornsson's celebrity status as a former world's strongest man winner and Game of Thrones star.
The boxer has confirmed talks underway for he and Bjornsson to fight in a football stadium in November, although that may be a risky time due to weather. He believes that there would be 70,000 fans interested in attending such an event, although he is confident of a big stoppage.
"It would be a bit of fun," Fury told Telegraph Sport. "It would be great to get in there in front of, say, 70,000 fans and show him what boxing is all about, make him miss, and knock him out. We are talking to his team at the moment and it is definitely something I'm interested in.”
His promoter Frank Warren, as recently as last week, didn't seem particularly keen on the idea, but admitted he would look into it should Fury push the issue. He is generally a promoter of legitimate fights, as opposed to exhibitions, and was unsure how well an event of this scale would sell.
"There’s lots of things being said at the moment but to be honest nothing has been done," Warren told Express Sport. "Nothing will be done until I sit down with him (Fury). He’s got his tour at the moment, so he’s travelling around the country. Once that’s done in a couple of weeks’ time, he has a little break in-between, so we will sit down then and have a chat."
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"I don’t know, to be honest," Warren said of the potential exhibition. "I’ve never really done anything like that, so I couldn’t tell you if I’m perfectly honest. But there’s a massive interest in Tyson and it seems Thor as well. There’s nothing done so it is what it is at the moment."
Bjornsson has now expressed his interest on multiple occasions, most recently telling iFL TV that he would be honoured to step in the ring with Fury on the next step of his boxing journey. He has already beaten fellow strongman Hall, as well as arm wrestler Devon Larratt, in his career to date.
"I’ve said since day one when people have asked me, ‘Would you fight Tyson Fury?’, I’ve always said yes," Bjornsson explained. "It would be a huge honour for me to fight the best heavyweight boxer in the world and it would be an amazing experience for myself.
“Would I get beat? Probably, but I would not give a f***. I would do my best and who f***ing knows? I’m f***ing strong and my punches hurt so if it happens he can’t take it easy because I’m a warrior, I’m a Viking, and I’m going all in if it happens. Nothing is impossible if you have that mindset at least.”
