Iranian Hulk has been forced to train in sub-zero temperatures for his upcoming fight with Martyn Ford.
The Iranian strongman - real name Sajad Gharibi - is scheduled to face Ford on April 30 in London. Their fight, which headlines a Boxstar Celebrity Boxing event, will be held over four two-minute rounds and has been sanctioned by the Professional Boxing Association.
Gharibi's training methods have been questioned ahead of his fight with Ford, who has been dubbed the 'World's Scariest Man'. Most of the footage posted by Gharibi shows him lifting weights for the fight instead of implementing any traditional boxing training methods.
Speaking with Iranian TV, Gharibi described the brutal conditions he has trained in recently. "I worked out in the worst conditions for six to seven years. I have worked out in hot weather, 50 degrees in Bushehr. In these few recent months, I have worked out in below zero degrees in a parking lot.
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"Not even the trainer could come there. There are videos to prove I am right. It would make everyone wonder how I work out in a place like that, but I did anyway and I never said a word in objection."
Standing at 6'8" and weighing 145kg, Ford will hold a huge size advantage over his strongman rival. This will visible at their face-off earlier this year as Ford towered over Gharibi before pushing him to send him flying across the ring.
Gharibi weighed over 145kg before his fight with Ford was announced, but has trimmed down to 130kg in recent weeks. The Iranian has credited martial arts and the high cost of living as the two reasons for his weight loss.
"Yes, I decided to [lose weight], to stay in martial arts. One other reason is the high costs of being a heavyweight athlete. You can ask them how much money it costs to keep on the weight and handle the body, considering all the high costs of living in Iran. It needs between 25-30 million Tomans (£680-£880) per month.
"No one sponsored me, it all was on me to pay all expenses. There was no sponsor. I did my best to reach what I want and to get to an acceptable condition, but if you only compare that to my opponent’s facilities, it is like a drop in the sea.
Gharibi said he found it hard to travel to Dubai for his face off with Ford in February and fears he will be homesick when visiting the UK for the fight later this month.
