John Haack is in the final weeks of his prep for his return to the platform at the 2025 ABS Clash of Titans III event in Dublin, Ireland, on Saturday, April 19, 2025. Based on the highlights of his prep, he seeks monumental performance and total.
Haack lifted 227.5 kilograms (501 pounds) six weeks out in a mid-March bench press session. Check out the big lift from March 7, 2025, at the 10:29 mark of the video below:
Haack trained squats before his bench work, climbing to a top weight of 350 kilograms. Once warm, Haack unracked the big weight alone, slowly lowered it to his chest for a brief pause, then pressed it to lockout, where he paused again before reaching.
He wore wrist wraps but no lifting belt or other accessories. Haack trains his bench press with chains but uses less weight for three sets of six reps.
“The bench session went pretty decent overall. We worked up to the top single of 227.5 kilograms (501 pounds),” Haack confirmed. “I’m very happy with how it moved. It felt controlled — good to be back in the 500s.”
501 pounds is a far cry from Haack’s all-time competition best. As the all-time world record holder in the 90KG and 100KG categories, Haack pressed 272.5 kilograms (600 pounds) at the 2022 USPA Pro Raw Championships as a 100KG competitor. Considering Haack has been recovering from a shoulder injury, reentering the 500-pound range is satisfying progress.
This session came less than two weeks after Haack deadlifted 395 kilograms in a conventional stance. When Haack debuts at the Clash of Titans meet in Dublin, the title of “World’s Strongest Powerlifter” will be on the line against 10 other elite powerlifters.
2025 Clash of Titans III Roster
- Dave Richardson (England)
- Nicolaas Du Preez (South Africa)
- Fernando Arias (USA)
- John Haack (USA)
- Dan Bell (USA)
- Colton Engelbrecht (South Africa)
- Shane Haller (USA)
- Frank Allan (USA)
- Justin Zottle (Canada)
- Luke Tolman (England)
- Jake Brennan (Ireland)
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Featured Image: @bilbo_swaggins181 on Instagram
