Sport

'Game of Thrones' star Bjornsson returns to the ring in Dubai

The 2018 world’s strongest man takes on arm-wrestler Devon Larratt in CoreSports Fight Night 3 heavyweight contest

Amith Passela
Amith Passela

September 17, 2021

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Hafthor Bjornsson - well known as The Mountain from the 'Games of Thrones' series - is set for a return to the ring for a heavyweight showdown with Devon Larratt in the MTK Global boxing CoreSports Fight Night 3 at Sport Society in Dubai on Saturday.

The Icelander, 32, enters the ring for the third time following exhibition bouts with pro boxers Steven Ward and Simon Vallily earlier this year.

The showdown with Larrat is seen as part of Bjornsson’s preparation for the long-awaited contest with strongman rival Eddie Hall, with the two men set to meet in 2022 in a clash dubbed the heaviest boxing match in history.

Bjornsson is the 2018 world’s strongest man while Larratt is widely regarded as one of the best arm-wrestlers of all time.

“I have no clue what is going through Devon's mind, and I don't really care,” he said at the pre-fight conference on Thursday.

“I have huge respect for him for taking this fight and won't underestimate him. For him to come here and accept the fight on five weeks' notice is already winning for him.

“It's hard to trash talk someone that accepts a fight with five weeks to go, so I like him. But I'll beat his ……. I'll probably break his nose, so I'm sorry, but that's just my job.

“Every experience I have helps me. I can already feel in boxing that my background from other sports is helping me a lot with this new journey, and helping me get ready for fight night."

Hafthor Bjornsson, left, and Devon Larratt ahead of their CoreSports Fight Night 3 bout in Dubai. Pawan Singh / The National
Hafthor Bjornsson, left, and Devon Larratt ahead of their CoreSports Fight Night 3 bout in Dubai. Pawan Singh / The National

Bjornsson’s meeting with Larratt in the main event of a stacked card at Sport Society in Dubai that will be broadcast live on CoreSports.World.

“Eddie Hall seeing all of my fights doesn't give him any advantage at all,” Bjornsson said.

“I don't care how much he sees of me, as actual competition gives you a much better experience than hiding behind closed doors. He can hide and work out in his garage, that's fine, but when we fight I'll knock him out.

“I want to focus on Devon as he's my rival and my enemy right now, and after I finish him I'll take care of the next one. I give it my best every single day. I've not seen my family for more than seven weeks, and that's how serious I'm taking this.”

Larratt, 46, has proven himself as one of the most fearsome arm-wrestlers on the planet. Now, he makes the transition into boxing.

“Thor has more experience but I know all you need in a fight is one shot, so get ready for it,” the Canadian said.

“Thor's nose will blow up. If he breaks my nose, I'll give him 500 dollars, but if I break his nose, I want 5,000 dollars from him!”

There are other big contests on the card, including heavyweight sensation Martin Bakole, who returns to action after almost a year to take on Haruna Osumanu.

Fight card

Super Lightweight: Khalid Naseer (PAK) v Abdul Malik Jabir (GHA)

Super Featherweight: Fahad Al Blouishi (UAE) v Ayubu Tezikoma (UGA)

Super Middlweight: Stephane Fondjo (CMR) v Badri Gogichasvili (GEO)

Bantamweight: Avril Mathie (AUS) v Jesca Mfinanga (TZA)

Featherweight: Stefi Cohen (USA) v Marcela Nieto (COL)

Heavyweight: Martin Bakole (COD) v Haruna Osumanu (GHA)

Lightweight: Anthony De Bruijn (NED) v Giorgi Gachechiladze (GEO)

CrossFit: Jacob Heppner (USA) v Josh Bridges (USA)

Heavyweight: Thor Bjornsson (ISL) v Devon Larratt (CAN)

  • Hafthor Bjornsson, right, of Iceland in action against former Commonwealth Games gold medallist Simon Vallily of England during an exhibition boxing match at the Conrad Dubai Hotel, Dubai. EPA
    Hafthor Bjornsson, right, of Iceland in action against former Commonwealth Games gold medallist Simon Vallily of England during an exhibition boxing match at the Conrad Dubai Hotel, Dubai. EPA
  • Professional strongman and actor Hafthor Bjornsson raises his glove after his exhibition bout against Simon Vallily in Dubai. EPA
    Professional strongman and actor Hafthor Bjornsson raises his glove after his exhibition bout against Simon Vallily in Dubai. EPA
  • Hafthor Bjornsson, who played Gregor 'The Mountain' Clegane in the first five series of 'Game of Thrones', was preparing for a September showdown with strongman rival Eddie Hall. EPA
    Hafthor Bjornsson, who played Gregor 'The Mountain' Clegane in the first five series of 'Game of Thrones', was preparing for a September showdown with strongman rival Eddie Hall. EPA
  • Hafthor Bjornsson had a 36 kilogram advantage over Simon Vallily. EPA
    Hafthor Bjornsson had a 36 kilogram advantage over Simon Vallily. EPA
  • Jamie King of England celebrates after winning against Medhat El Housny of Egypt during their undercard bout in Dubai. EPA
    Jamie King of England celebrates after winning against Medhat El Housny of Egypt during their undercard bout in Dubai. EPA
  • Jamie King floors Medhat El Housny during their fight on the Hafthor Bjornsson-Simon Vallily undercard. EPA
    Jamie King floors Medhat El Housny during their fight on the Hafthor Bjornsson-Simon Vallily undercard. EPA
  • Anthony de Bruijn, right, of the Netherlands catches Emmanuel Noi Mensah of Ghana during their bout in Dubai. EPA
    Anthony de Bruijn, right, of the Netherlands catches Emmanuel Noi Mensah of Ghana during their bout in Dubai. EPA
  • Anthony de Bruijn and Emmanuel Noi Mensah in action during their Universal Boxing Organization (UBO) Inter-Continental Lightweight title fight in Dubai. EPA
    Anthony de Bruijn and Emmanuel Noi Mensah in action during their Universal Boxing Organization (UBO) Inter-Continental Lightweight title fight in Dubai. EPA
  • Emmanuel Noi Mensah and Anthony de Bruijn throw lefts simultaneously, during their bout in Dubai. EPA
    Emmanuel Noi Mensah and Anthony de Bruijn throw lefts simultaneously, during their bout in Dubai. EPA
  • Anthony de Bruijn and Emmanuel Noi Mensah slug it out at close quarters in Dubai. EPA
    Anthony de Bruijn and Emmanuel Noi Mensah slug it out at close quarters in Dubai. EPA
  • Anthony de Bruijn raises his arms in victory after getting the decision against Emmanuel Noi Mensah in their UBO Inter-Continental Lightweight title fight in Dubai. EPA
    Anthony de Bruijn raises his arms in victory after getting the decision against Emmanuel Noi Mensah in their UBO Inter-Continental Lightweight title fight in Dubai. EPA
  • Emmanuel Noi Mensah and Anthony de Bruijn embrace after their UBO Inter-Continental Lightweight title fight in Dubai. EPA
    Emmanuel Noi Mensah and Anthony de Bruijn embrace after their UBO Inter-Continental Lightweight title fight in Dubai. EPA
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Mercer, the investment consulting arm of US services company Marsh & McLennan, expects its wealth division to at least double its assets under management (AUM) in the Middle East as wealth in the region continues to grow despite economic headwinds, a company official said.

Mercer Wealth, which globally has $160 billion in AUM, plans to boost its AUM in the region to $2-$3bn in the next 2-3 years from the present $1bn, said Yasir AbuShaban, a Dubai-based principal with Mercer Wealth.

“Within the next two to three years, we are looking at reaching $2 to $3 billion as a conservative estimate and we do see an opportunity to do so,” said Mr AbuShaban.

Mercer does not directly make investments, but allocates clients’ money they have discretion to, to professional asset managers. They also provide advice to clients.

“We have buying power. We can negotiate on their (client’s) behalf with asset managers to provide them lower fees than they otherwise would have to get on their own,” he added.

Mercer Wealth’s clients include sovereign wealth funds, family offices, and insurance companies among others.

From its office in Dubai, Mercer also looks after Africa, India and Turkey, where they also see opportunity for growth.

Wealth creation in Middle East and Africa (MEA) grew 8.5 per cent to $8.1 trillion last year from $7.5tn in 2015, higher than last year’s global average of 6 per cent and the second-highest growth in a region after Asia-Pacific which grew 9.9 per cent, according to consultancy Boston Consulting Group (BCG). In the region, where wealth grew just 1.9 per cent in 2015 compared with 2014, a pickup in oil prices has helped in wealth generation.

BCG is forecasting MEA wealth will rise to $12tn by 2021, growing at an annual average of 8 per cent.

Drivers of wealth generation in the region will be split evenly between new wealth creation and growth of performance of existing assets, according to BCG.

Another general trend in the region is clients’ looking for a comprehensive approach to investing, according to Mr AbuShaban.

“Institutional investors or some of the families are seeing a slowdown in the available capital they have to invest and in that sense they are looking at optimizing the way they manage their portfolios and making sure they are not investing haphazardly and different parts of their investment are working together,” said Mr AbuShaban.

Some clients also have a higher appetite for risk, given the low interest-rate environment that does not provide enough yield for some institutional investors. These clients are keen to invest in illiquid assets, such as private equity and infrastructure.

“What we have seen is a desire for higher returns in what has been a low-return environment specifically in various fixed income or bonds,” he said.

“In this environment, we have seen a de facto increase in the risk that clients are taking in things like illiquid investments, private equity investments, infrastructure and private debt, those kind of investments were higher illiquidity results in incrementally higher returns.”

The Abu Dhabi Investment Authority, one of the largest sovereign wealth funds, said in its 2016 report that has gradually increased its exposure in direct private equity and private credit transactions, mainly in Asian markets and especially in China and India. The authority’s private equity department focused on structured equities owing to “their defensive characteristics.”

Updated: September 17, 2021, 4:21 AM