Tag: Boxing
Hafthor Bjornsson Shows Physique Transformation Ahead Of Boxing Match
Hafthor Bjornsson posted a physique update ahead of his boxing match with Devon Larratt.
Hafthor Bjornsson is known as a powerlifter who holds the world record for the heaviest raw deadlift. In May 2020, Bjornsson set a new mark at 501kg (1,105lb), beating the previous mark held by Eddie Hall by a single kilogram. Now, Bjornsson has gone through the ultimate transformation as he begins to work his way into the boxing world.
In a recent Instagram post, Bjornsson looks extremely shredded at 340 pounds. He has gone down from 450 pounds during his days of powerlifting.
Hafthor Bjornsson is set to take on arm wrestler Devon Larratt on Sept. 18. Larratt recently replaced Hall, who was forced to back out due to an injury, in this match. Hall has already began training following a torn bicep. There is a chance that Bjornsson and Hall get in the ring at some point moving forward when they are both healthy.
The battle between Bjornsson and Hall was going to settle some issues that the two have had in recent years. They have been connected in both deadlifting and World’s Strongest Man competitions. In 2017, Hall won the WSM title with Bjornsson finishing as the runner-up. The very next year, Bjornsson was able to rise to the top and win his first WSM championship.
It is clear that Bjornsson has a serious passion for boxing. The recent transformation for Bjornsson has him looking shredded and slim. This shows that the increased cardio training associated with boxing has been paying off in a big way.
This is a chance for Bjornsson to continue his goal of bursting onto the scene in the boxing world. He has a couple exhibition fights under his belt against Steven Ward and Simon Vallily. Recently, it has become clear that Bjornsson has been training in the necessary ways to look like a fighter.
Bjornsson’s battle with Larratt is less than a month away. As we creep closer to the big night, the former powerlifter continues to get in fighting shape and make the ultimate body transformation.
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Devon Larratt To Replace Eddie Hall In Match Against Hafthor Bjornsson
Hafthor Bjornsson has a new opponent and it is arm wrestler Devon Larratt.
Hafthor Bjornsson has a new opponent. The news broke on July 25 that Eddie Hall would have to bow out of his boxing match against Bjornsson after suffering a torn biceps. Since that day, there was plenty of speculation on who would replace Hall in the fight. On Monday, we got our answer.
Matt Rhodes announced on his Instagram and YouTube page that arm wrestler Devon Larratt would replace Hall and take on Bjornsson in the ring. The fight will take place in Dubai on Sept. 18.
“Some rumours Devon has experience from his special forces career. He’s also been training with @mrlennoxlewis! What’s your thoughts?!”
Devon Larratt will enter this bout at 46 years old. He has a competitive arm wrestling record of 53-8 since making his debut in 1999. There is a strategy when arm wrestling and the same can be said about boxing — even though it is in different ways.
Larratt will not enter the fight blind. He has been training with Lennox Lewis and will be in a position to compete come fight night.
When looking at this matchup on paper, Bjornsson seems to have a bit of an edge. He stands at 6-foot-9 compared to Larratt, who is 6-foot-5. Bjornsson is about 51 pounds heavier and 14 years younger than Larratt. Bjornsson has a couple exhibition fights under his belt against Steven Ward and Simon Vallily. Larratt is used to head-to-head competition but it is in the sport of arm wrestling and not boxing.
This boxing match will take place the night before World’s Ultimate Strongman contest, and the first-ever strong woman competition. The undercard for the night will have CrossFit Games veterans Josh Bridges vs. Jacob Heppner and powerlifter Stefi Cohen vs. Avril Mathie.
The match between Bjornsson and Hall has not been rescheduled just yet. If social media is any indication, it could happen once Hall is healthy. He has been posting updates on his Instagram page throughout rehab performing different boxing exercises. Until that time comes, Bjornsson will continue to gain experience and Larratt is the next opponent on the list.
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Hafthor Bjornsson ‘Wouldn’t Say No’ To Fight With Logan Paul
Hafthor Bjornsson not against the idea of fighting Logan Paul in the future.
Hafthor Bjornsson has not been shy about documenting his venture into the boxing game after making the transition from strongman. Bjornsson has flooded his Instagram page with different training videos showing off his recent progress. This was all in preparation for a showdown with fellow strongman turned boxer, Eddie Hall.
This fight has been postponed after Hall suffered a bicep tear. This leaves Bjornsson open for a new opponent and he served up an opinion on a rather well-known name in a recent interview.
Hafthor Bjornsson made it clear that he would be open to the idea of fighting Logan Paul if the opportunity presented itself.
“If he would want to fight me, I wouldn’t say no.”
“I mean, Logan Paul fought Floyd Mayweather and there was some height difference between those those guys plus weight difference. Logan Paul is 188cm tall, I’m 205cm, so I think there was a similar height differences from Floyd to Logan as Logan to me, but probably more weight difference, though.”
This would pair two fighters who made a name for themselves in different areas. Bjornsson set the deadlift world record of 501kg in May 2020. He took the record from Hall, who previously held it at 500kg since 2016. This was the initial intrigue of the Bjornsson-Hall boxing match. Paul became a YouTube sensation, along with his brother Jake, and now both are trying to make it in the boxing world.
This is something that Bjornsson acknowledged and admitted that he respects.
“You know, boxing is always huge, boxing is huge,” Bjornsson said. “But getting two brothers like the Paul brothers, who have millions and millions of followers following them, it’s just gonna get more attention to the sport. So I think it’s a good thing. It’s a good thing, because they’re taking it serious as well. I’ve seen at the beginning a lot of criticism and stuff like that, but, you know, you have two young brothers that are very successful, very dedicated, and motivated.”
Hafthor Bjornsson referenced the exhibition fight between Paul and Mayweather. This is a fight that went the distance and there was not a winner. There were mixed feelings after the fight because of the reason it happened and the effort put forth by both fighters. Regardless, Paul stepped into the ring with Mayweather and this shows that boxing is something he takes seriously.
Jake Paul has three professional fights under his belt to this point. He has picked up victories against fellow YouTuber AnEsonGib, former NBA player Nate Robinson, and MMA fighter Ben Askren. He is scheduled to take on Tyron Woodley on Aug. 29. There are no plans as of now for Logan Paul’s next fight. He has been linked to Conor McGregor but that does not seem to be on the horizon.
The same can be said about Hafthor Bjornsson. After his fight with Hall was postponed, there is no immediate for Bjornsson to face. He has been active in training and serious in his dedication to boxing. This means that a new opponent could surface quickly and Bjornsson could get back in the ring.
There will be more updates provided on Hollingshead’s status as it becomes available. For more news and updates, follow Generation Iron on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.
Hafthor Bjornsson vs Eddie Hall: Who Has Better Boxing Skills?
Both Hafthor Bjornsson and Eddie Hall show off their boxing skills on the heavy bag during training.
Hafthor Bjornsson or Eddie Hall. Who appears to be the better boxer heading into their September clash? A recent video of both men working on the heavy bag has proven to be illuminating.
The battle between strongman rivals Hafthor Bjornsson and Eddie Hall is fast approaching. Both men have been prepping hard in the gym ever since the fight was first announced. Now that the date is drawing near the question is becoming who looks to have done the better work in their preparation?
As it stands Hafthor Bjornsson has been putting in more diverse work than Eddie Hall. While Hall has no doubt been training hard for the match, there seems to be a lack of training variety (at least from what we’ve seen). Bjornsson is an entirely different story however. The Icelandic strongman has competed in a number of exhibition matches with pro boxers in the lead up to his bout with Hall. That kind of preparation has likely gotten Bjornsson not only physically but mentally prepared to take on Hall.
Recent videos of both Eddie Hall and Hafthor Bjornsson recently dropped online. Both men can be seen working on the heavy bag and getting some solid rounds in. This has proven to be the perfect opportunity to compare and contrast both men’s styles and approach to training.
Hafthor Bjornsson
12 minutes on the bag with a resistance band. My god my shoulders were pumped after that! ?
We can see that Hafthor Bjornsson is more fleet of foot in his video. What is also clear is that he appears more technically sound than Hall. There’s definitely a smoothness and high quality to his punches that are cleaner than his counterpart’s.
Eddie Hall
1000’s of hours in my basement just plodding away getting s**t done! My cardio level is insane and I loving my new passion for Boxing ? ❤️ RDX heavy bag weighs 150kg ?348lbs / 158kg bodyweight ?
What Eddie Hall lacks in clean technique he clearly is making up for in raw power. The sound of his punches exploding on the heavy bag shows clear signs of massive punching power. If he’s able to hit Bjornsson with one of those bombs, it could end up being a short night.
At the end of the day it remains a toss up as to who will win. It is intriguing to see that both men are focused on different aspects of the game. Where Hafthor Bjornsson appears more technique focused, Eddie Hall is embracing his incredible power. It should prove to be an interesting bout.
Who do you think looks more impressive in their training, Hafthor Bjornsson or Eddie Hall?
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Managing Editor at Generation Iron, Jonathan Salmon is a writer, martial arts instructor, and geek culture enthusiast. Check out his YouTube, Instagram, Twitter, Facebook, and Sound Cloud for in-depth MMA analysis.
Details Revealed For Hafthor Bjornsson vs. Eddie Hall Boxing Match
A location and cost to watch the fight between two strongmen competitors has been announced
Hafthor Bjornsson and Eddie Hall are both transitioning into the world of boxing. The two strongmen competitors will do so by facing each other in a boxing match slated for Sept. 18th. It’s an event that both strongman and boxing fans have been hyped about for quite some time. Now we’re finally getting some new solid info about the match. Details have been released about the event location and fans will now know how they can watch.
This fight was supposed to take place in Nevada but there is a new location. VyStar Veterans Memorial Arena in Jacksonville will be the new host of this event. Tickets went on sale on July 5th and fans who cannot attend will be able to purchase the fight through pay-per-view. This can be done via CoreSports.world and it will cost $9.99.
Hafthor Bjornsson and Eddie Hall have developed quite the rivalry over the years. Hall was crowned the World’s Strongest Man in 2017 and was dethroned by Bjornsson a year later in 2018. In 2019, Bjornsson broke Hall’s deadlift world record of 500 kg (1,100 lb). He did this by getting 501 kg (1,105 lb) off the ground and this took their feud to a new level.
Now, the two will have a chance to settle this in the ring.
Leading up to the event, Bjornsson and Hall have been promoting themselves in different ways. Bjornsson has not been shy about sharing sparring videos on Instagram along with taking some exhibition fights to fine tune his skills.
In his first fight, Bjornsson took on Steven Ward and it ended in a draw. In fight two, it was not a good showing from Bjornsson. He took some good shots and was even knocked to the mat. Following his second fight, Bjornsson vowed to knock out Hall when they meet.
Hall has taken a more conservative approach. He has displayed some power along with his weight-loss journey but there is not much else out there. Hall seems like he is going to let his actions do the talking.
Bjornsson and Hall will be the main event of the night with two other bouts scheduled on the card. CrossFit athletes Jacob Heppner and Josh Bridges will go against each other while Stefi Cohen and Avril Mathie will meet for the second time.
It is always better to go into an event such as this one with a backstory. There is clearly some bad blood between Bjornsson and Hall, which will make this event an exciting one to watch.
Is this a boxing match that will you will be watching? For more news and updates, follow Generation Iron on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.
Eddie Hall Claps Back at Thor and Larry Wheels After Recent Post
Eddie Hall fires back at Larry Wheels and Thor Bjornsson.
It appears that Eddie Hall has clapped back at Hafthor “Thor” Bjornsson and Larry Wheels. His vitriol was in response to a recent demeaning piece of artwork of the 2017 World’s Strongest Man has made the rounds.
The artwork definitely caught the attention of Eddie Hall. It has become obvious over the last several weeks who Larry Wheels is supporting in the battle between Eddie Hall and Thor Bjornsson. Larry Wheels made it a point to throw his support behind Bjornsson.
Brutal Artwork
But he didn’t do it in a particularly neutral manner. On the contrary. Larry Wheels let his support for Thor be screamed from the rooftops. A recent post on the powerlifter’s Instagram showcases a work of art that depicts Thor Bjornsson holding the severed head of Eddie Hall. You can see in the image below that the artwork leaves no room for interpretation.
*Viewer Discretion Advised
My prediction for the match
Suffice it to say, Eddie Hall wasn’t impressed by the post at all. The 2017 World’s Strongest Man had some choice words for the powerlifter who showed his support of Thor.
Eddie Hall followed up with another response, this time taking aim at Thor himself.
Great artwork from Thor and also great to see his professionalism and sportsmanlike behaviour has transferred over from strongman into boxing ?Iv never felt so confident over an upcoming fight in my life so stuff like this just makes me laugh. Il be sleeping like a baby after what I just saw at the weekend and that deluded numb nuts hasn’t a clue what’s coming ?
Clearly there is no love lost between the two World Strongest Man champions. Both men are itching to throw down at this point and with so much preparation, as well their natural dislike of each other, things are beginning to boil over.
Pay-Per-View Details Revealed
Besides these three trading barbs, insults, and artwork depictions of each other, it appears that more news about the fight has come out. A new poster was recently released revealing the other fights that will be on the Thor vs Hall card. It also gives details on how much the pay-per-view will cost.
Early bird PPV tickets are now on sale for $9.99. If you like extreme plastic surgery, you’ll love watching me give Eddie a much-needed facelift–maybe a nose job as well if he can stay standing long enough. In-house seats go on sale July 5th.
What do you think of this latest beef between Eddie Hall, Larry Wheels, and Thor?
For more news and updates, follow Generation Iron on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.
Managing Editor at Generation Iron, Jonathan Salmon is a writer, martial arts instructor, and geek culture enthusiast. Check out his YouTube, Instagram, Twitter, Facebook, and Sound Cloud for in-depth MMA analysis.
Victor Martinez: Logan Paul Isn’t Hurting Boxing, Lack Of Prime Athletes Is
Victor Martinez reacts to the upcoming boxing match of Logan Paul and Floyd Mayweather.
Victor Martinez may be a bodybuilder first and foremost but he’s also an avid fan of pro boxing. Admittedly, boxing has fallen quite a bit in popularity from its heyday in decades past. There is one exception – spectacle super fights that have brought in record amounts of revenue. The latest spectacle fight in boxing is Logan Paul vs Floyd Mayweather. But is the spectacle worth it? Or simply diminishing the respect of boxing even further to a sideshow attraction? In our latest GI Exclusive interview, Victor Martinez shares his thoughts on boxing super fights, Logan Paul, and the current state of boxing.
Logan Paul is a YouTuber with a massive following and a strong personality. This leads to him being a lover him or hate him kind of influencer. So of course, when he started dipping his toes in to boxing – it led to mixed reactions. Now he’s set to face off against Floyd Mayweather in a super fight expected to bring in record amounts of profits. But is allowing YouTubers special exhibition matches damaging to the reputation of the sport?
We asked this very question to Victor Martinez. A pro bodybuilder who is also a deeply passionate boxing fan. How does he feel about Logan Paul’s entrance into the world of boxing? Victor admits that the fight is pure spectacle. It’s for money and it will succeed in bringing in tons of cash. That being said, Victor doesn’t see this as primarily a bad thing.
If anything, Logan Paul is bringing more attention to boxing at a time when it needs it most. UFC and MMA as a whole has taken a lot of boxing audience into a new direction. MMA is now arguably a more popular sport than boxing. It’s brining in fight fans and fight talent and away from boxing. The Logan Paul might not be a respectable title fight – but it’s still bringing young new energy into a sport that has diminished slowly over the years.
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Check out the latest GI Exclusive segment with Victor Martinez above!
In fact, Victor Martinez does not see Logan Paul or any social media influencer to be the actual problem for boxing. It’s simply a reaction to a deeper problem with the sport. According to Victor, the main problem with boxing is a lack of premiere talent – especially in male boxing. There is no Muhammad Ali or George Foreman. Even the last legendary boxer, Floyd Mayweather, has been retired and only comes out for special fights.
Logan Paul vs Floyd Mayweather is a direct reaction to the fact that current title holders don’t hold the same kind of popularity as legendary boxers in the past. Simply put, these super fights are the only way for boxing to get attention. Victor Martinez has no solution to fixing this problem other than hoping that more notable talent comes into the sport in the coming years.
This brings Victor Martinez to a bigger point regarding social media, influencers, and their place in professional sports. Bodybuilding faced a similar intersection of social media and competition over the past 10 years. You now have bodybuilding influencers who hold more attention than actual champion athletes. Is this bad? Victor says no.
In fact, Victor Martinez thinks that those who are angry about social media influencers taking the spotlight away need to start adapting to the new world. The world will not change back to what it used to be. Bodybuilders, or any athletes, that cannot adapt to social media will eventually be left behind (with rare exception). If they don’t want to adapt, that’s fine. But they also shouldn’t be angry about the new influencers gaining attention. If you don’t like it adapt.
You can watch Victor Martinez’s full comments on Logan Paul, boxing, and social media influencers in our latest GI Exclusive interview segment above!
Mike O’Hearn: People Want To See Logan Paul Get His Ass Kicked… And He Knows It
Mike O’Hearn Answers: Is Logan Paul vs Floyd Mayweather bad for the sport of boxing?
With the Logan Paul vs Floyd Mayweather boxing match right around the corner, the controversial influencer has been making headlines again after an eventful press conference for the bout. Logan Paul as a public figure has been a hotly debated topic for years now. Is his success bad for the future of entertainment? And now more specifically, is his latest fight against Mayweather bad for the future of boxing? In our latest GI Exclusive interview, Mike O’Hearn weighs in on whether or not Logan Paul is a good or bad change for boxing.
The Logan Paul vs Floyd Mayweather boxing match is not the first of it’s kind. Not only has Paul been doing super exhibition PPV matches in the past, but there was also the UFC/boxing crossover of Conor McGregor vs Floyd Mayweather. These “super fights” fall outside the traditional norms of professional boxing. However, they also bring in massive amounts of interest and money. They are arguably more financially successful than real title matches in the sport.
Of course, popularity does not always equal quality. This is the main controversy behind Logan Paul’s entire career. Whether it’s boxing, YouTube, or any other place he appears – Logan Paul brings in massive views and massive money. But does it come at a cost? Does it diminish the credibility and quality of entertainment and sports?
We asked this question during our latest interview with Mike O’Hearn. Mike O’Hearn is a bodybuilder and public figure who’s familiar with controversy. He’s a bodybuilder who has consistently claimed to be all-natural. But the general bodybuilding public don’t believe he’s telling the truth due to his incredible physique. Not only that but O’Hearn is also a man who is familiar with building his own brand and personality beyond just being a bodybuilder.
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Check out our GI Exclusive segment with Mike O’Hearn above!
So what does he think of Logan Paul? His personality, love him or hate him, brings in attention. That attention creates massively attended events. That brings in money – which in turn can help bolster whatever industry Paul is engaging with. His latest, a boxing match against Floyd Mayweather – is set to potentially break records in terms of sales.
Mike O’Hearn sees no problem in Logan Paul’s tactics. While O’Hearn personally does not find Paul entertaining, he also sees the numbers. Most people enjoy watching Paul, either to “hate watch” him or because they are legitimate fans. Either way, Logan Paul is aware of this fact. He’s taking advantage of it. O’Hearn sees no problem in that.
Ultimately the success of Logan Paul relies 100% on his fans continuing to take an interest. He’s not forcing fans to enjoy his boxing crossover events. In that sense, it’s less Logan Paul that is the problem and more the audience. They decide what interests them. Right now, Logan Paul is the thing they want.
Mike O’Hearn goes on to mention that anything you can do to trigger society will always get attention. If you can monetize that attention, then you’re finding success in a tactic that always works.
Mike O’Hearn even relates Logan Paul, his success, and his controversy to modern bodybuilding.
“I said this to some old time bodybuilders that don’t have a big following on social media,” Mike O’Hearn states in our interview. He goes on:
“They’re like, ‘I won the titles, I won all of this, and I don’t get the respect I deserve.’ And it’s like – it’s the world that changes. You have to keep adapting. You have to keep moving with it. It’s the personality. Bruce Lee and Arnold [Schwarzenegger] made it because of their personality. If they were boring cardboard they wouldn’t have made it.”
You can see Mike O’Hearn break down his thoughts on Logan Paul and viral personalities in sports above. Check it out in our latest GI Exclusive interview segment!