Iranian Hulk has denied using steroids to bulk up for his heavyweight clash with Martyn Ford.
The 30-year-old - real name Sajad Gharibi - has attracted a lot of attention on social media for his huge physique, standing at six feet two inches and weighing around 390lbs. He will meet Ford at The O2 arena on April 30, but has been accused of using steroids to bulk up his physique further ahead of his maiden ring appearance.
However he responded defiantly by offering to do a blood test to prove his innocence. "I am ready to do a blood test to prove that I have never used steroids," Gharibi said on Iranian TV when asked if he uses steroids by the host. He was later asked for an explanation after fans accused him of being "fake" on social media to which he responded: "Look, those who have been following me on Instagram and know me since the old days.
"They have watched my live videos and the ones I had posted and have seen me when I had just joined Instagram and had a lot more weight on. I had 120,000- 200,000 followers then. If you ask my followers about how I lost weight, they would say I had done it little by little. I was categorised in the extra heavy weight category in 2019.
"After the pandemic was started in 2020 and after gyms were closed, I slowly lost weight; but the question is why do they compare photos from 2017 with the recent ones? Some rumour-making press would come and make such comparisons, while I posted some old videos and videos cannot be photoshopped.
"There are also some of my live videos available on YouTube, they are undeniable! I wear XXXXXXXL sized clothes. When I used to weigh more, those clothes looked tight for me."
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Fans continuously question his physique under his regular Instagram posts. His upcoming boxing rival Ford also claimed that he could be photoshopped, after declaring his rival had a "tiny" physique in real life when the pair came to blows in Dubai. These claims have also led to fans concerns that Gharibi will be "destroyed" by Ford due to the vast stature difference.
Despite being offered a way out of their meeting, Gharibi has vowed that he is ready and has made significant cardiovascular and endurance improvements. “I am very excited for this fight, I will put everything I have got into this for the people of my nation," he said during a press conference.
"My stamina and heart rate have both improved and I am ready to do the rounds. This is going to be a very difficult night for Martyn. I believe that Martyn has a very weak chin coupled with the fact I have a very strong punch and I believe I am going to knock him out."
