Beazt Fight takes over Tallinn on Saturday. Kalle Palander and Aleksi Valavuori got on stage and chatted during the weigh-in.
Aleksi Valavuori arrived on stage with tentacle bags. Vinski Virtanen
The Gämblers Cast podcast is hosted by Kalle Palander and Aleksi Valavuori slapped hands from a boxing match half a year ago.
Now is the time to strike. In view of the fact that there was pain on Saturday night, the atmosphere was surprisingly relaxed at the Beazt Fight show weigh-in in Tallinn on Friday night.
– Really calm feeling. The last two weeks were fucked up when you had to wait, Valavuori tells Iltalehte.
When we arrived in Tallinn and things started to materialize, I felt easier. However, the preparation did not go without problems at Valavuuori.
– After all, all kinds of emotional scales have gone through this. Amin’s Customer hit a rib like shit, and I was afraid I was going to be skinny, he says.
The guy gets hit
According to Valavuuori, it’s a strange and contradictory feeling that now you have to hit a friend seriously.
However, he reminds us that in childhood there were fights between best friends in the yards.
– It brings a sense of security to it. Of course, we will pull as much as we can tomorrow, but the respect is there. It would be more exciting if there was someone with a vat head in front. But you still don’t know what to expect from the other person. Kongi collapses and it’s in the master’s possession.
Ex-alpine skiing star Palander also had a smile on his face, but became thoughtful when his friendship with Valavuuori came up.
– How do you forget for a moment that you are a friend when you start hitting? It’s a hot situation. I hope we get a good match.
“Quite a trip”
Kalle Palander is worried about punching a friend. Sami Kuusivirta
Palander feels a little timid when they enter the ring with their skills bare.
It’s been only half a year of training, and the other matches of Beazt Fight are so-called encounters between genuine combat athletes. Palander and Valavuuori must now appear on the stage clearly worse than the others.
– It will look like crap, that’s for sure. There are professionals around us, but to get some kind of cool bet, Palander thinks.
– Everything here is new, I’m completely new to weigh-ins and such. This has been quite a journey.
A surprise encounter
Both seemed to have a slightly incredulous feeling that the now much talked about boxing match was finally coming to fruition.
Valavuori says that he saw Palander after a long time when he arrived in Estonia. The duo unexpectedly met a long-time friend without any involvement in the match.
– He said that you guys are crazy. Kalle and I looked at each other and concluded that we are the same.
– I could see that Kalle was enjoying himself, although he was probably more excited than I was, Valavuori continued.
Palander was thoughtful. He had no way of predicting how his opponent would react to being hit.
– You can’t escape from that cage, said the ex-athlete.
– This sport is so damn hard. It surprised me that this is such a tricky sport. There have been a lot of difficulties and I’m still looking for the rhythm of my hands and feet, Palander admitted.
Does it rattle?
Valavuori and Palander are also podcast host colleagues. Tomi Natri / AOP
There was still a small confrontation on the eve of the match.
Valavuori brought two heads of tentacles to the weigh-in, justifying his decision by the fact that the opponent weighs that much more.
According to Palander, he has an advantage because he is heavier.
– When you have much more mass than Aleks, everyone knows that you don’t need many punches in boxing when you start to knock. Is he really fit enough? I’ve been training hard and there’s a clear tactic for how to get him frozen.
Iltalehti asked Valavuore if he believes that Palander can have an advantage from the mass.
– Well, I don’t. If this was a sumo wrestling match, that fatness could be a small advantage.