• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
BarBend

BarBend

The Online Home for Strength Sports

  • News
    • CrossFit
    • Strongman
    • Bodybuilding
    • Top Athletes
    • Powerlifting
    • Weightlifting
    • Competition Results
    • Latest Research
  • Reviews
    • Recovery
      • Best Cold Plunges
      • Best Saunas
      • Best Mini Massage Guns
      • Individual Recovery Reviews
    • Supplements
      • Best Protein
        • Best Whey Protein Powders
        • Best Vegan Protein Powders
        • Best Whey Isolate Protein Powders
        • Best Mass Gainers
        • Best Protein Bars
      • Best Pre-Workouts
        • Best Pre-Workouts for Women
        • Best Pre-Workouts for Men
        • Best Non-Stim Pre-Workouts
        • Strongest Pre-Workouts
      • Best Creatine
      • Best Electrolyte Supplements
      • Best Greens Powder
      • Best Meal Replacements
      • Best Nitric Oxide Supplements
      • Best Fat Burners
        • Best Fat Burners for Men
        • Best Fat Burners for Women
        • Best Non-Stim Fat Burners
      • More Supplements
        • Best Supplements for Muscle Growth
        • Best Supplements for CrossFit
        • Best Supplements for Weight Loss
        • Best Supplements for Bodybuilding
        • Best Supplements for Men
        • Best Supplement Stacks
      • Individual Supplements Reviews
    • Equipment
      • Cardio
        • Best Treadmills
        • Best Rowing Machines
        • Best Exercise Bikes
        • Best Ellipticals
        • Best Recumbent Bikes
      • Strength
        • Best Adjustable Dumbbells
        • Best Dumbbells
        • Best Kettlebells
        • Best Barbells
        • Best Squat Racks
        • Best Free Weights
        • Best Weight Benches
        • Best Resistance Bands
        • Best Slam Balls
        • Best Weighted Vests
        • Best Leg Extension Machines
        • Best Cable Machines
        • Best Power Racks
        • Best Pull Up Bars
      • Best Home Gyms
        • Best Smart Home Gyms
        • Best Gym Equipment Under $100
        • Best Home Gym Essentials
        • Best Home Gym Flooring
      • Individual Equipment Reviews
    • Fitness Accessories
      • Apparel
        • Best Weightlifting Shoes
        • Best Cross Training Shoes
        • Best Gym Bags
        • Best Gym Shorts
      • Training
        • Best Weightlifting Belts
        • Best Knee Sleeves
        • Best Lifting Straps
        • Best Grip Strengtheners
        • Best Wrist Wraps
        • Best Lifting Gloves
      • Individual Fitness Product Reviews
    • Certifications
      • Best Sports Nutrition Certifications
      • Best Personal Trainer Certifications
      • Best Nutrition Certifications
      • Individual Certifications Reviews
    • Programs
      • Best Online Workout Programs
      • Best Workout Streaming Services
      • Best Home Workout Programs
      • Individual Program Reviews
  • Nutrition
    • Diets
      • Carb Cycling
      • Vertical Diet
      • Reverse Dieting
      • Carnivore Diet
      • Ketogenic Diet
      • Intermittent Fasting
      • IIFYM Diet
    • Fat Loss
      • Macros for Fat Loss
      • Calorie Deficits
      • Natural Fat Burners
      • Cut 2 Pounds Weekly
    • Muscle Gain
      • How to Dirty Bulk
      • Go From Cutting to Bulking
      • Eat These Carbs
      • How to Eat for Muscle
    • Supplement Guides
      • Pre-Workout
      • Whey Protein
      • Mass Gainers
      • Greens Powders
      • Creatine
      • BCAAs
    • Nutrition Tips
      • Daily Protein Needs
      • Pre- and Post-Workout Nutrition
      • Foods With Creatine
      • Bulking Tips
  • Training
    • Workouts
      • Back Workouts
      • At-Home Workouts
      • Chest & Back Workouts
      • Full-Body Workout
      • HIIT Workouts
    • Exercise Guides
      • Deadlift
      • Bench Press
      • Back Squat
      • Overhead Press
      • Bent-Over Row
      • Lat Pulldown
      • Crunches
      • Farmer’s Carry
    • Best Exercises
      • Shoulder Exercises
      • Back Exercises
      • Chest Exercises
      • Glute Exercises
      • Ab Exercises
      • Hamstring Exercises
      • Quad Exercises
      • Calf Exercises
      • Biceps Exercises
      • Triceps Exercises
    • Programs
      • Push-Up Program
      • Pull-Up Program
      • German Volume Training
      • 5/3/1 Program
      • Powerbuilding Program
      • The Cube Method
      • 5×5 Program
      • Bodybuilding Programs
      • Build Your Own Program
    • Fat Loss
      • How to Burn Fat
      • Spot Fat Reduction
      • How to Train on a Cut
      • Body Conditioning
      • Workouts
        • Kettlebell Circuits
        • Dumbbell Complexes
        • Farmer’s Carry Workouts
    • Muscle Gain
      • Muscle Hypertrophy Explained
      • How to Build Muscle
      • How to Maintain Muscle
      • What Researchers Say About Muscle Gain
        • Workouts
          • 20-Minute Workouts
          • Kettlebell Circuits
          • CrossFit Workouts for Muscle
          • Bodybuilding Workouts
  • Calculators
    • Protein Intake Calculator
    • Macros Calculator
    • BMR Calculator
    • Squat Calculator
    • Calorie Calculator
News

Strongman Eddie Hall Reacts to the Hafthor Björnsson vs. Devon Larratt Boxing Match

Hall wanted to fight Björnsson with one arm.

Written by Phil Blechman
Last updated on August 1st, 2023

On Sept. 18, 2021, in Dubai, UAE, 2018 World’s Strongest Man (WSM) champion Hafthor “The Mountain” Björnsson defeated Canadian arm-wrestler Devon Larratt via technical knockout (TKO) in the first round of their main event boxing match of CoreSports’ Fight Night 3. Larratt was the last-minute replacement for 2017 WSM champion Eddie Hall who had to withdraw from the bout two months beforehand due to rupturing his left biceps in a sparring session.

With only six weeks to prepare, Larratt was a heavy underdog against Björnsson, who held the height, weight, reach, and age advantage. The bout was a quick victory for Björnsson. Hall watched the bout and filmed his live reaction for his YouTube channel. Check out his thoughts below:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_P5MZIxY-Dw&ab_channel=Eddie%27TheBeast%27Hall

Although there is no confirmation of it, Hall alleges that Björnsson’s first two exhibition opponents — Steven Ward and Simon Vallily — were told to go easy on “The Mountain.” Hall is unimpressed by the output in the main event bout that didn’t last a full round. According to Hall’s video, Björnsson landed nine punches to Larratt’s five.

Hall immediately noticed Björnsson’s strategy to strike first and claim control of the center of the ring. A right jab pushed Larratt to the outside, where the Canadian danced a bit to get a sense of Björnsson’s reach. Another flurry by Björnsson was met with a clinch by Larratt before he threw his first punch. The two boxers lost their balance and toppled into a corner, where the referee reestablished the fight.

Hall wasn’t impressed with Björnsson’s seemingly loose jab. Nor was the 2017 WSM champion impressed by how Björnsson threw the punch without much intent of how to follow it up. It was punished by a big right hook by Larratt. Björnsson’s retaliation was a giant cross that sent Larratt backward into the ropes. The referee jumped in to perform a standing count that confused Hall.

I’ve never seen that in boxing before. That’s weird. 

Hall had critiques for Larratt as well; mainly about Larratt’s squared stance toward Björnsson, which Hall deemed as “dangerous.” A recurring muttering from Hall while watching the bout was “sloppy.”

The fight was stopped with 20 seconds to go in round one, but Hall was keen to the pace change at the end when Larratt’s cardio seemed to wane.

“When your cardio goes — his arms dropped, he had no…offense or defense,” Hall explains.” Unless you’ve been training for a long time…three minutes is a long time to be in the ring with someone with that adrenaline going.

Hall believes that Björnsson had the skill advantage but thought that gap should have been wider given that the discrepancy in prep time for the bout — 18 months for Björnsson versus six weeks for Larratt.

That’s nothing to be proud of on Thor’s behalf. Not impressed with that, to be honest.

By the end of his reaction video, Hall’s education for ring generalship was apparent. He noticed how Björnsson moved to the right against Larratt, “which is what you do against an Orthodox* fighter.” Despite that, Hall encouraged Björnsson to continue to do what he is doing in training as Hall believes it will result in an easy victory for him when he meets “The Mountain” in the ring.

The Beast vs. The Mountain

There is no current date set for Björnsson and Hall’s eventual match, but CEO of CoreSports Don Idrees has confirmed in an interview with strongman Laurence Shahlaei that the fight will definitely happen. The tentative time frame for the bout at the time of this article’s publication is March 2022.

Hall confirmed that he has returned to training, including sparring three times per week. He has plans in place to spar against legitimate fighters in the coming weeks but is unlikely to share any of that footage as he “only puts out what he wants [us] to see; what he wants Thor to see.”

At the end of the fight, Björnsson called out Hall, saying that he would “knock [him] out soon.” Hall received that by fake crying while squealing that his feelings were hurt. Hall was not impressed with Björnsson’s trash talk. Hall’s confidence after seeing the main event is “through the roof.”

We’ll see come early 2022 if the fireworks that Hall promised at the eventual press conference will be lead to haymakers in the ring.

*An Orthodox boxing stance is where the fighter’s left foot leads. A Southpaw stance is the opposite — right foot leads.

Featured Image: @eddiehallwsm on Instagram

About Phil Blechman

Phil is a native New Yorker passionate about storytelling, bodybuilding, and game design. He holds a BFA from Syracuse University.

View All Articles

Primary Sidebar

Latest News

Samson Dauda Trains Chest With Sam Sulek During 2023 Mr. Olympia Prep

Men’s Open Bodybuilder Charles Griffen Trains Back With Brett Wilkin Before 2023 Legion Pro Show

2023 Daytona Pro Bodybuilding Show Results

2023 Rising Phoenix and Arizona Pro Results

Nathan De Asha Wins 2023 Sheru Classic France Bodybuilding Show

Latest Reviews

Alaskan Cold Plunge Feature

Redwood Outdoors Alaskan Cold Plunge Review

Living.Fit Grip Strengthener Review

Bells of Steel Competition Kettlebell Review

Bells of Steel Barenaked Powerlifting Bar 2.0 Review

REP BlackWing Feature

REP Fitness BlackWing Weight Bench Review

Be the smartest person in your gym

The BarBend newsletter is everything you need to know about strength in a 3 minute read.

I Want In!
BarBend

BarBend is an independent website. The views expressed on this site may come from individual contributors and do not necessarily reflect the view of BarBend or any other organization. BarBend is the Official Media Partner of USA Weightlifting.

  • About Us
  • Advertise With Us
  • Contact Us
  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • Twitter
  • YouTube
  • Pinterest

Sections

  • CrossFit
  • Strongman
  • Bodybuilding
  • Powerlifting
  • Weightlifting
  • Reviews
  • Nutrition
  • Training

More

  • BarBend Newsletter
  • BarBend Podcast
  • The Ripped Report
  • 1RM Calculator
  • BMR Calculator
  • Macros Calculator
  • Protein Calculator
  • Squat Calculator

Policies

  • Accessibility
  • Advice Disclaimer
  • Cookies Policy
  • Disclaimers
  • Disclosures
  • Editorial Policy
  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms of Use

Copyright © 2023 · BarBend Inc · Sitemap