Eddie Hall, the 2017 World`s Strongest Man, made a remarkably swift and decisive entry into the world of mixed martial arts. His debut at KSW 105 was short-lived, but undeniably impactful. Facing a seasoned combat sports veteran in Mariusz Pudzianowski – himself a five-time World`s Strongest Man and veteran of 28 professional MMA bouts – Hall needed just 30 seconds to secure a knockout victory.
Fresh off this stunning debut, speculation immediately turned to Hall`s next move. A potential rematch with Pudzianowski was mentioned, as was a high-profile crossover bout with former UFC heavyweight champion Francis Ngannou. However, the landscape of potential opponents recently gained a rather unexpected addition.
A Legendary Heavyweight Calls Out The Beast
Stepping forward with a challenge is none other than Eric Esch, widely known by his fighting moniker, Butterbean. The heavyweight boxing icon, who carved out a unique niche in combat sports with his aggressive, knockout-focused style, has announced intentions to return to action in 2025 at the age of 58.
Butterbean`s list of desired opponents features prominent names like Jake Paul, Brock Lesnar, and Mike Tyson. Yet, in a recent interview, he specifically included both Mariusz Pudzianowski (to whom Butterbean lost in an MMA fight 15 years ago in a mere 75 seconds) and, intriguingly, Eddie Hall as fighters he would like to face.
“I`d love to fight Pudzianowski again,” Butterbean stated, adding, “I`d love to fight Hall, too. If Hall wants to fight in a boxing match, I`m game.” He followed with a direct challenge: “If he thinks he`s tough, I would show him who`s tough.”
Boxing Only: The Crucial Condition
Crucially, Butterbean`s challenge to Eddie Hall comes with a specific stipulation: the fight must take place under professional boxing rules. Esch was quick to clarify that a return to mixed martial arts competition is not possible for him.
He explained that while he previously competed in various MMA promotions like PRIDE, K1, and Cage Rage, the modern landscape and personal health concerns prevent an MMA comeback. Specifically, Butterbean revealed he has undergone double hip replacement surgery, which prohibits him from engaging in the grappling and ground work inherent to MMA. He also humorously recalled the UFC`s former under-265lb weight limit, a barrier that once prevented him from competing there, noting he is currently around 280lbs but could potentially make the cut – were it not for his surgical history.
For Eddie Hall, this presents an interesting proposition. While his recent success came in MMA, he does have one professional boxing match on his record – a points loss to fellow strongman Hafthor Bjornsson in 2022. Accepting Butterbean`s challenge would mean returning to a ruleset where he previously tasted defeat, rather than continuing in the sport where he just achieved a dramatic debut victory.
Whether `The Beast` will entertain a pivot back to the boxing ring to face the 58-year-old legend known as `The Bean` remains an open question, adding an unexpected layer to the burgeoning combat sports career of the World`s Strongest Man.
