Valavuori and Palander face off in exhibition boxing match

Media personality Aleksi Valavuori and former alpine skier Kalle Palander fought in an exhibition boxing match at a private event in Tallinn on Saturday, with Palander winning the bout, Yle reports.

The match was streamed online, as no tickets were sold for in-person attendance, according to promoter Eemil Ordell, who called the event a success and confirmed plans for future fights.

Ordell cited three reasons for the growing popularity of combat sports: social media-driven polarization, a fitness boom, and global insecurity. He suggested these factors may be encouraging more people to take up fighting.

Both Valavuori and Palander reportedly stated after the match that they would never fight again, though Valavuori has previously challenged controversial streamer Jouko “Pottukoira” Kärkkäinen. Ordell noted that such exhibition matches help draw broader attention to combat sports, benefiting professional athletes by increasing their visibility and market value.

Ordell, a longtime combat sports figure with a background in Brazilian jiu-jitsu and submission wrestling, runs his own gym and club in Tampere.