Norwegian sporting greats Petter Northug and John Arne Riise will face each other in the boxing ring this fall. The show boxing match is planned for October.
Two Olympic victories and 13 world championship titles in cross-country skiing in one corner, a Champions League triumph and two UEFA Cup victories in the other: Norwegian sporting greats Petter Northug and John Arne Riise will face each other in the boxing ring this fall. The show fight between cross-country idol Northug (40) and soccer hero Riise (45) in Larvik is scheduled for 17 October.
“I have no experience in the ring,” Northug confessed in the newspaper Verdens Gang, which is co-hosting the event. However, that doesn’t stop the eternal braggart from running his mouth full. Riise may have an advantage in the first few rounds, but then his stamina will come into play and his opponent will have to “buckle up”, he said.
Riise, who had his best time at Liverpool FC and played 110 international matches for Norway, countered that Northug can talk. In the ring, however, he would have nothing to oppose his “power and strength”.
“I love cross-country skiing, Petter was my role model”
However, the two opponents did not want to get carried away with the usual boxing exchanges below the belt. “I love cross-country skiing, Petter was my role model,” said Riise. However, even as a footballer he was used to having to stand up to opponents in his own team who wanted his place, he emphasized.
Northug countered that Riise “didn’t have it in his legs” and had always been “carried” by his teammates throughout his career. “Let’s see how he copes alone in the ring.” Nevertheless, Northug also promised his opponent a “fair fight”.
