The 'biggest' heavyweight boxing match is finally happening, and it is taking place in Dubai on Saturday night.
Former world’s strongest man and 'Game of Thrones' star Hafthor 'Thor' Bjornsson gets a chance to test his mettle against long-time rival Eddie Hall at the Dubai Duty Free Tennis Stadium.
It is a contest that took many years to reach fruition. The two were supposed to clash last year but an injury to Hall meant the match was postponed to 2022.
Bjornsson sent a strong message to Hall after stopping Devon Larratt, who is an arm wrestling star, in round one of their heavyweight contest at Fight Night-3 in Dubai in September.
The Icelander began preparations for the Hall contest with exhibition bouts against pro boxers Steven Ward and Simon Vallily earlier last year.
Both fighters have shed significant weight for the showdown. Hall weighed in at 142kg, while the taller Bjornsson tipped the scales at 152kg. The two strongmen have lost over 50kg each to be in fighting shape for the match.
"I'm coming for you, and I'm knocking you out - you're going down" Bjornsson said ahead of the clash.
"I respect you as an athlete, and I know you're training hard, but I am going to knock you out. It's going to be a blast and I promise you I'm doing whatever I can to knock him out."
Venue
The 'heaviest' boxing match will be held at the Dubai Duty Free Tennis Stadium.
Date and time
Eddie Hall v Thor Bjornsson takes place overnight on Saturday, March 19, from 1 am UAE time, 9pm UK time.
How to watch the match?
The match will be streamed on Segi TY for free.
Find the right policy for you
Don’t wait until the week you fly to sign up for insurance – get it when you book your trip. Insurance covers you for cancellation and anything else that can go wrong before you leave.
Some insurers, such as World Nomads, allow you to book once you are travelling – but, as Mr Mohammed found out, pre-existing medical conditions are not covered.
Check your credit card before booking insurance to see if you have any travel insurance as a benefit – most UAE banks, such as Emirates NBD, First Abu Dhabi Bank and Abu Dhabi Islamic Bank, have cards that throw in insurance as part of their package. But read the fine print – they may only cover emergencies while you’re travelling, not cancellation before a trip.
Pre-existing medical conditions such as a heart condition, diabetes, epilepsy and even asthma may not be included as standard. Again, check the terms, exclusions and limitations of any insurance carefully.
If you want trip cancellation or curtailment, baggage loss or delay covered, you may need a higher-grade plan, says Ambareen Musa of Souqalmal.com. Decide how much coverage you need for emergency medical expenses or personal liability. Premium insurance packages give up to $1 million (Dh3.7m) in each category, Ms Musa adds.
Don’t wait for days to call your insurer if you need to make a claim. You may be required to notify them within 72 hours. Gather together all receipts, emails and reports to prove that you paid for something, that you didn’t use it and that you did not get reimbursed.
Finally, consider optional extras you may need, says Sarah Pickford of Travel Counsellors, such as a winter sports holiday. Also ensure all individuals can travel independently on that cover, she adds. And remember: “Cheap isn’t necessarily best.”
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UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
Tearful appearance
Chancellor Rachel Reeves set markets on edge as she appeared visibly distraught in parliament on Wednesday.
Legislative setbacks for the government have blown a new hole in the budgetary calculations at a time when the deficit is stubbornly large and the economy is struggling to grow.
She appeared with Keir Starmer on Thursday and the pair embraced, but he had failed to give her his backing as she cried a day earlier.
A spokesman said her upset demeanour was due to a personal matter.
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City's slump
L - Juventus, 2-0
D - C Palace, 2-2
W - N Forest, 3-0
L - Liverpool, 2-0
D - Feyenoord, 3-3
L - Tottenham, 4-0
L - Brighton, 2-1
L - Sporting, 4-1
L - Bournemouth, 2-1
L - Tottenham, 2-1
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Read more about the coronavirus
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3.5/5
Chef Nobu's advice for eating sushi
“One mistake people always make is adding extra wasabi. There is no need for this, because it should already be there between the rice and the fish.
“When eating nigiri, you must dip the fish – not the rice – in soy sauce, otherwise the rice will collapse. Also, don’t use too much soy sauce or it will make you thirsty. For sushi rolls, dip a little of the rice-covered roll lightly in soy sauce and eat in one bite.
“Chopsticks are acceptable, but really, I recommend using your fingers for sushi. Do use chopsticks for sashimi, though.
“The ginger should be eaten separately as a palette cleanser and used to clear the mouth when switching between different pieces of fish.”
