The Iranian Hulk has threatened to take legal action against fellow heavyweight Martyn Ford following the postponing of their much-anticipated fight this month.
The Iranian Hulk - real name Sajad Gharibi - was set to face off against Ford on 30 April at London’s O2 arena.
Ford - who is billed as the 'World's Scariest Man' - announced on Monday that their showdown was currently off, prompting Gharibi to write on social media on Tuesday that his ‘legal team are looking into it’.
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Gharibi wrote on Instagram on Tuesday: "Today I heard Ford doesn't want to fight, it is not me [and] not any other fighters.
“I never cancelled any fight between us but he doesn't want see me again! It is against the contract and my legal team have started looking at it.
"Actually 'pretty boy' can't ever fight, he just hides and runs away, he must have a permission from a women first.
“I can't believe an opponent like him, it's shameful. This victory isn't an honour for me, it's a century joke not a century fight." [sic]
It comes after Ford told his 3.9 million Instagram followers on Monday: "This is a statement I didn't want to have to release but unfortunately my fight is going to be postponed.
"The event is still on, it's just my fight. The event will still go ahead and there are some great people and fights on.
"Unfortunately mine won't be one of them, for reasons out of my control. It doesn't take a genius to figure them all out. I don't want to go down the route of talking about it; too much time and energy has been wasted.
"I'm still training hard, there will be a debut. There will be a fight, I'm just not 100 percent sure who, when or why, but it will happen."
Ford added: “Naturally, I’m hugely disappointed my fight against Iranian Hulk will no longer be going ahead, particularly given the fact I have dedicated so much time to my training programme and doing everything to ensure I was in the best possible shape to headline the event.
“Although I will no longer be involved, I now look forward to attending the Boxstar Celebrity Boxing event as a fan, and showing my full support for those brave competitors who are taking part, some of whom will be competing in a boxing match for the first time in their lives.
“I would like to thank my fans for their continued support, and I hope to return to the ring in a competitive nature as soon as possible.”
This is now the second time Gharibi and British fighter Ford’s fight has been postponed, with the fierce rivals’ match being initially scheduled for 2 April before being pushed.
London's Boxstar Celebrity Boxing event will go ahead as planned on 30 April and will feature the likes of former Premier League footballers Patrice Evra and Jamie O’Hara.
Aisha Nozari