Egyptian man "fights" a boring match with a lion

Al-Sayed al-Essawy, an Egyptian self-proclaimed world strongest man  challenged a six year old male lion in a cage in a rural wheat field in the village of Saba’a Al Thabit. Despite vows he would be unarmed, Mr. Al Essawy brought with him a double-pronged spear, the satellite-dish “shield’ spiked with nails, a machete on his belt and a dagger strapped to his ankle. Too scared to go in unarmed?

However, if you're expecting something that looks like a scene from "Gladiator" you’ll be disappointed. After 20 minutes of watching the swaggering and speech-making, the lion briefly roused itself for a short roar when Mr. Al Essawy thrust his spear a little too close. But when Mr. Al Essawy hardened his jaw and grinned aggressively, the lion sat down, apparently unmoved even when Mr. Al Essawy called it a coward. That was enough for Mr. Al Essawy to declare victory. He emerged from the cage, and friends and relatives lifted him onto their shoulders.

This man vs. ferocious feline cage match is all hype and no delivery. In fact, the whole thing sounded like a giant disaster. According to one of the spectators, the beast ate a whole donkey before the “strongman” gets in the cage. Most in attendance for the spectacle were disappointed.