Iranian Hulk has revealed how his family reacted to his viral face-off with Martyn Ford.
The pair squared off in Dubai ahead of their highly-anticipated boxing match on April 30. It is being billed as somewhat of a ‘David v Goliath’ affair, with Ford towering over his opponent at 6ft 8in.
Their face-off left fans with no doubt who their favourite is to pick up the victory. After attempting to tackle Ford to the ground, Iranian Hulk – real name Sajad Gharibi – was on the receiving end of a push and was hurtled towards the floor.
The footage further emphasises the size difference between the two men, as well as the task Iranian Hulk has got on his hands to win the fight.
Why Iranian Hulk has been involved in controversy
Under his Iranian Hulk nickname, Sajad Gharibi has over 1.1 million followers on Instagram. He regularly posts images and videos which portray him as a physical monster.
However, he has been the subject of backlash from fans. That is because some believe that he Photoshops his photos to make him look more powerful.
Even Ford has doubts about the legitimacy of his opponent. He explained to the Daily Star: “He was not what I expected. I think he’s just fooled the world with Photoshop, if I’m honest.
“Seeing him in real life is not as impressive as seeing him in pictures. So, disheartening I think is the word. He was tiny.”
Read more: Martyn Ford reveals his first thought when he saw Iranian Hulk in person
How has Iranian Hulk been preparing for the fight?
Iranian Hulk claims he has lost 30 pounds ahead of his showdown fight against Martyn Ford. Furthermore, he has posted a string of videos to his YouTube and Instagram accounts to prove his dedication to training.
He explained (quotes via Daily Mirror): “I have been training vigorously for this day. I have brought down my weight and put everything on the line to make this happen. Know this: I am putting everything behind me. I will do whatever it takes to make this fight.”
Read more: Iranian Hulk shares physical transformation ahead of Martyn Ford fight
Iranian Hulk’s emotional admission after face-off
Although he is clearly putting in the effort, fans fear he has too much work to do even to match Ford in the fight. That’s despite Iranian Hulk’s confidence that he will be ready for the bout. The face-off underlined fan opinions.
The bodybuilder has now revealed the impact that the one-sided face-off has had on his relationship with his family.
In an emotional recent TV interview, which brought him to tears, he revealed (quotes via talkSPORT): “I cannot call my family. I can’t talk to my father and my mother. When I spoke to her, she said: ‘The person in this video that I saw was not my son, my son is way stronger than this’.
“It hurts my heart when I can’t talk to my family. I have lost my pride, and I am destroyed. How can I explain?
“They deceived me, and I fell to the ground. My family said that you will go there and finish him [Ford]. They expected the other way around. How can I sleep or get any rest? I personally feel very bad and I cannot sleep, but now I am taking sleeping pills.”
With this latest revelation, it appears the Iranian Hulk is more determined than ever to defeat his social media foe. We will find out whether he can when the two fight each other on April 30.
Featured Image Credit: Martyn Ford VS Iranian Hulk / YouTube