Eddie Hall vs. Hafþór Björnsson explained

Fight Date:19 March 2022
Location:Dubai Duty Free Tennis Stadium
Titles:Titan weight belt
Fighter1: Eddie Hall
Fighter2: Hafþór Björnsson
Nickname1:"The Beast"
Nickname2:"The Mountain"
Reach1:"80inch"
Reach2:"80inch"
Hometown1:Clayton, Newcastle-under-Lyme, England
Hometown2:Reykjavík, Iceland
Record1:0–0
Record2:1–0–2
Height1:6 ft 2 in[1] [2]
Height2:6 ft 9 in (205 cm)
Weight1:142 kg
Weight2:152 kg
Style1:southpaw slugger
Style2:orthodox outboxer
Recognition1:World's Strongest Man 2017
Former Deadlift World Record 500kg (strongman)[3]
Recognition2:30 international titles including
World's Strongest Man 2018
International Sports Hall of Famer
Current Deadlift World Record 501kg (strongman)[4]
Result:Björnsson wins via unanimous decision

Eddie Hall vs. Hafþór Björnsson, known as "The Heaviest Boxing Match in History" at its time,[5] [6] was a boxing match between strongmen Eddie Hall and Hafþór Björnsson who both have won the World's Strongest Man, that took place on 19 March 2022.

Hall started the first round with continuous haymakers but Björnsson kept his composure and stuck to the basics, focusing on a solid jab and better footwork. Once Björnsson realized Hall's game plan, he took control of the fight by bludgeoning and knocking down Hall twice to the floor in rounds three and six. Hall sustained bleeding lacerations on top of both eyes and Björnsson won the fight via unanimous decision, having won all but the second round.[7] [8] [9] [10]

Background

Both Hall and Björnsson went into the fight with numerous accolades in strength athletics. Hall holds the title of 2017 World's Strongest Man and won UK's Strongest Man and Britain's Strongest Man multiple times. Björnsson holds the title of 2018 World's Strongest Man and has placed in the top three positions of the competition every year since 2012. He is also the 2018 World's Ultimate Strongman, 3 times in a row Arnold Strongman Classic champion, 5 times Europe's Strongest Man, 8 times Strongman Champions League champion, 9 times Giants Live champion, and 15 times Iceland's Strongest Man and Strongest Man in Iceland champion.

In 2016, Hall set a world record in deadlifting with 500 kg (~1102 lbs) at the 2016 Europe's Strongest Man competition. However, Björnsson deadlifted 501 kg (~1105 lbs) at the 2020 World's Ultimate Strongman - Feats of Strength series and broke the world record[11] to the dismay of Hall. Immediately after breaking the world record Björnsson challenged Hall, to a boxing match[12] and the fight was officially announced in November 2020.[13]

Despite Hall having prior experience in boxing and fighting in general, Björnsson didn't. Both underwent significant bodyweight and bodyfat reductions, where Hall dropped from 163abbr=onNaNabbr=on to 142abbr=onNaNabbr=on and Björnsson dropped from 208abbr=onNaNabbr=on to 144abbr=onNaNabbr=on. Hall incorporated a lot of explosive punches, punching boxing machines and many athletes including gymnast Nile Wilson, pop star Peter Andre and his training partners as hard as he can.[14] [15] Björnsson learned the fundamentals of boxing and did two exhibition fights against ex-WBO European light-heavyweight champion Steven Ward in January 2021,[16] 2010 Commonwealth Games Heavyweight Gold Medalist Simon Vallily in May 2021,[17] and a third real fight versus Canadian professional arm-wrestler Devon Larratt in September 2021[18] and defeated him in the first round itself via technical knockout.

Aftermath

On 20 April 2022, Hall got a tattoo on his foot stating "World’s Strongest Man - Hafthor Julius Bjornsson" to commemorate the fight and his loss.[19]

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Tao . David . Here's How Top Strongman Athletes Stack Up In Height . 9 June 2023 . Barbend.com . 18 October 2018.
  2. Web site: IMDB.com . Mini Bio . Eddie Hall Biography . 19 March 2022 . IMDB . 19 March 2022.
  3. Web site: Walker. Graham. 11 July 2016. Strongman Eddie Hall deadlifts world record HALF A TON then passes out at Leeds Arena. 28 December 2020. Yorkshire Evening Post.
  4. Web site: Heaviest Deadlift . Guinness World Records . guinnessworldrecords.com . 10 May 2020 . 25 March 2022.
  5. Web site: Hafthor 'The Mountain' Bjornsson and Eddie Hall to fight in Las Vegas on 18th September 2021 . Wison . Scott . 4 May 2020 . givemesport.com . 5 May 2020 .
  6. Web site: YouTube boxers weigh combined 800lb as heaviest-ever fight is made official . Davies . Ben . . 12 May 2023 . 18 May 2023.
  7. Web site: Andrews . Connor . Thor wins boxing's heaviest match as he sends Eddie Hall to the floor twice . talkSPORT . 20 March 2022 . 20 March 2022.
  8. News: Eddie Hall fans convinced Thor Bjornsson looks "unhealthy" after weight loss. Harry. Davies. 25 February 2022. Mirror. 20 March 2022.
  9. News: Thor smashes Strongman rival in brutal boxing fight . 20 March 2022 . Fox Sports . 20 March 2022 . en.
  10. Web site: 20 March 2022 . Thor wins boxing's heaviest match as he sends Eddie Hall to the floor twice . 20 March 2022 . talkSPORT . en-US.
  11. Web site: May 2, 2020. Hafthor Bjornsson breaks world record with 1,104-pound deadlift.. live. ESPN. December 16, 2020. https://web.archive.org/web/20200503032457/https://www.espn.com/olympics/weightlifting/story/_/id/29126863/hafthor-bjornsson-breaks-world-record-501-kilogram-deadlift . 2020-05-03 .
  12. News: Fordham . Josh . 19 March 2022 . How Eddie Hall vs Hafthor Bjornsson rivalry started as pair set for boxing clash . 26 March 2022 . talkSPORT.
  13. Web site: 2020-11-24. Hall vs Bjornsson fight date confirmed for 'heaviest boxing match in history'. 2021-01-03. talkSPORT. en-US.
  14. Web site: 15 March 2021 . Watch Strongman Eddie Hall Punch an Olympic Gymnast as Hard as He Can . 3 November 2022 . menshealth.com . en-UK.
  15. Web site: 14 September 2021 . Watch Eddie Hall Punch This British Pop Star in the Chest as Hard as He Can . 3 November 2022 . menshealth.com . en-UK.
  16. News: 17 January 2021 . Steven Ward vs Hafthor Bjornsson results . 23 March 2022 . British Boxing News.
  17. Web site: Michael . Benson . 29 May 2021 . Hafthor Bjornsson vs Simon Vallily: 'The Mountain' staggered in final exhibition fight before Eddie Hall bout as both men touch canvas but no knockdowns are given . Talksport.com . 24 March 2022.
  18. Web site: September 19, 2021. Hafthor Bjornsson vs Devon Larratt full highlights as Thor batters arm wrestler.. live. GivemeSport. October 8, 2021. https://web.archive.org/web/20210920114005/https://www.givemesport.com/1755299-hafthor-bjornsson-vs-devon-larratt-full-highlights-as-thor-batters-arm-wrestler . 2021-09-20 .
  19. Web site: 22 April 2022 . Eddie Hall Gets A Tattoo That Reads 'World's Strongest Man Hafthor Julius Bjornsson' . 3 November 2022 . barbend.com . en-UK.