The Scouting Report: A weekly digest

Canada’s strongman, an aging nation, S.D. history students, leopard alarms

Which world leader would have the best chance at prevailing in a contest of physical combat? SportsLens.com, an online betting site, has established the odds for which leader would win in a hypothetical “royal rumble style super-fight.”

Canadian strongman Justin Trudeau came out on top, priced at 7/4 odds. Lee Astley, SportsLens’ head of news, said Trudeau’s youth compared to other world leaders – he’s 54 – plus his victory in a celebrity boxing match against a Canadian senator in 2012, give him a clear advantage over other world leaders.

Russian President Vladimir Putin came in second, priced at 7/2. 

“Trudeau also stands at 6-foot-2, and would have a greater reach than the majority of the opposition within the ring,” Astley said. “Russian President Vladimir Putin also has a strong chance, with the 70-year-old holding plenty of experience in the world of martial arts, having practiced Judo since the age of just 11.”

Putin’s age as well as rumored health issues held him back. The Russian kleptocrat exhibited extreme paranoia about catching Covid, a sign that his health might not be great.

President Joe Biden failed to crack the top 10, coming in at 50/1 odds. Still, that was well ahead of United Kingdom Prime Minister Rishi Sunak, who came it at 100/1.

“Biden is now 80 years old, which makes the prospect of him being victorious look far-fetched, and whilst Sunak is 37 years younger, he is just five-foot-six, therefore the likes of Trudeau and Putin should make light work of him,” Astley said.